UMBC Faculty-Led Programs

Make the world your classroom.

Take the journey of a lifetime and earn UMBC credits that count! The world becomes your campus when you join a study abroad program taught by UMBC’s own faculty. What are the advantages of a faculty-led study abroad program?

  • You get to travel with and learn from UMBC faculty alongside your fellow students.
  • You’ll gain a global experience that meets UMBC graduation requirements.
  • You go abroad for a short-term experience which makes it easier to juggle a rigorous course load, work schedule and/or responsibilities at home.
  • Your classes will be fun and interactive.
  • Your itinerary is set for you and your accommodations are prearranged.


Winter 2026 Faculty-Led Programs

The Practice of Management: Global Perspectives in Panama


Panama Skyline

Course Overview
MGMT 210: Practices of Management (3 credits) -or- IS 400: Independent Study (3 credits)


Comparative Politics and the Italian Political System


Roman Forum Italy

Course Overview
POLI 260: Comparative Politics (3 credits) (GEP: Social Sciences) -or- POLI 469: Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (3 credits)

Phage Hunters in Barcelona, Spain


Barcelona, Spain

Course Overview
Non-BIOL majors: BIOL 216L:  Phage Hunters Genome Analysis for non-majors (3 credits, GEP: Lab Component for Science or Writing Intensive)
BIOL majors: 3 credits (2 credits + 1 credit):
BIOL 302L:  Molecular and General Genetics Laboratory (2 credits, GEP: Lab Component for Science)
or BIOL 316L:  Phage Hunters Genome Analysis (2 credits) and BIOL 499 – Undergraduate Laboratory/Field Research (1 credit)


Spring Break 2026 Faculty-Led Programs

International Health Policy in Switzerland


Switzerland

Course Overview
PBHL 385: International Health Policy and Delivery (3 credits, GEP: Culture)


Global Experiential Learning in MENA: Exploring Morocco


Morocco

Course Overview
MLL 300: Selected Topics in Modern Languages and Linguistics (3 credits, GEP: Upper Level Elective)


Summer 2026 Faculty-Led Programs  Coming soon! Applications open in November 2025

French in France

                                                   Course Overview                                                                 FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103, FREN 201, FREN 202, FREN 304 – 4 credits (FREN 201 – Language GEP) (FREN 202 – Culture GEP) *Course selection depends on French placement test score

 Justice, Agency, and Culture in Kenya

Course Overview
HONR 310: Special Topics (3 credits)  *This course is open to honors college students and non-honors college students

 Interpreting Vietnam: the Past and the Future

Course Overview
ENGL 291: Creative Nonfiction (3 credits) -or- ASIA 214: Focused Cultural Study (3 credits, Culture GEP)

Theater in London

Course Overview
THTR 120: Intro to Theater: Theory & Production (3 credits, Arts & Humanities GEP)  -or- THTR 470:Drama Seminar: Theatre Creation in the U.K. (3 credits, Pre-req: THTR 120)

International Labor Economics Focusing on Gender and the Economy in Portugal

Course Overview
ECON 250: Gender and the Economy (3 credits) -or- ECON 451/*651: Labor Economics (3 credits, pre-req: ECON 311) *ECON 651 is a graduate level course

Global Health and Aging in Japan

Course Overview
SOCY/GERO 410: Special Topics (undergraduate option, 3 credits) -or- SOCY/GERO 710: Special Topics (graduate option, 3 credits)

Dawg Days Abroad: Dublin: The Heroic Journey

 

Course Overview
FYS 101: First Year Seminar: The Heroic Journey (3 credits, Arts & Humanities GEP) *This program is only open to first-year and transfer students starting in Fall 2026*

Picturing Italian Art and Culture in Context

Course Overview
ART 216 or ART 329: Italian Visual Culture (cross-listed)(ART 216- Culture GEP) (ART 329 – Visual Arts Major elective)

Check out these Abroad Blogs from our study abroad ambassadors for a student perspective on what it’s really like to go abroad on a faculty-led study abroad program.

Spring Break 2025

Sara Howley on International Healthy Policy in Geneva, Switzerland

Winter 2025

Abhi Ajay on Phage Hunters in Barcelona, Spain

Juliana Blakely on Comparative Politics and the Italian Political System

Thalia Añora on The Practice of Management: Global Perspectives in Panama

Summer 2024

Erik Martin on Intercultural Communication in Morocco and Spain

Aashna Gupta on Social and Ethical Issues of Information Technology in the UK

Liz Weir on Summer Creative Writing in Wales

Summer 2023

Liz Weir on Art and Power in Japan

Kayla Nemirovsky on Global Community Engagement and Social Change in South Africa

Jaya Marshall on Picturing Italian Art & Culture in Context in Rome, Italy

Winter 2020

Catherine Jean on Dance in Slagelse, Denmark

Summer 2019

Sam H on Dylan Thomas Creative Writing Summer School (Lampeter, Wales)

Pauline R on Biology and Spanish Language in Barcelona, Spain

Olubusola O on American Literary Perspective in Paris, France

Mickayla B on Spanish Language Immersion in Colombia (Barranquilla, Colombia)

Lexi S on Dawg Days Abroad: Bristol and London

Bria H on Picturing Italian Art & Culture in Context in Rome, Italy

Winter 2019

Katie A on Industrial/Organizational Psychology in Tel Aviv, Israel

Summer 2018

Tenzin Y on Italian Politics in Siena, Italy

Tyler E on Spanish Language Immersion in Colombia (Barranquilla Colombia)

Jessica K on Biology and Spanish Language in Barcelona

Mary G on English as a Global Language in Amsterdam