Featured programs

Programs led by UW Bothell faculty

Study abroad programs offered at all UW campuses are available to UW Bothell students. This page features a list of all opportunities led by UW Bothell Faculty.

For full UW lists, visit the following directories:

• List of all UW programs now accepting applications.
• UW Study Abroad program search.

Past Programs: 2026

Explore previous study abroad programs led by UWB faculty. Visit UWB Global Blog to read stories and reflections from students who went on these programs!

Summer Term A 2026

Resistance and Resilience in Ireland: Arts, Advocacy and Health Promotion

• Led by Jody Early and Andrea Stone, NHS (2 credit, BHLTH 492 pre-departure seminar in Spring Quarter + 12 credits in Summer Quarter: BHLTH 494 (7), BHLTH 426 (5, A&H))
• Hybrid format: June 19 – July 3 in Ireland + July 8-22 in the U.S. (at UW Bothell and online). $5,150 program fee.

Students explored how Ireland’s rich history, culture and the arts have shaped its contemporary policies and advocacy in public health, healthcare, human rights, and social justice. They visited Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford.

Korea Engineering Experience: Innovation, Culture, and Global Collaboration

• Led by Jong Yoon, STEM (12 credits: BME 493/BST 293, BCUSP 296)
• $5,050 program fee

Through design projects with Korean students and industry site visits in Seoul, Jeju Island and Daejeon, students explored engineering design principles in a tech context, global innovation, and cross-cultural engagement. This program was open to engineering majors, as well as pre-majors.

Smart Cities South Korea: Communities, Technologies, and Climate Resiliency

• Led by Jin-Kyu Jung, IAS (12 credits: BISGST 497, BIS 498)
• $6,000 program fee

Students examined the possibilities and challenges of smart city policy, planning, and urbanism in the context of three modern cities in Korea: Seoul, Daejeon and Busan. They engaged with community partners and Korean students. Learn more about the Smart Cities program from the 2025 program website and Study Abroad Ambassador Stanley Xiao’s blog.

Representing Empire: Media, Colonialism and Human Rights in the UK and Ireland

• Led by Lauren Berliner and Camille Walsh, IAS (12 credits: BIS 480, BISMCS 471)
• $6,300 program fee

Students delved into the interplay of history, current events and popular culture in the UK and Ireland, revealing how the legacy of Empire shapes various fields, from public culture and human rights to literature and tourism. They visited Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, and London.

Summer Term B 2026

Spain: The Science and Art of Solar Eclipses

• Led by David Goldstein, IAS and Paola Rodriguez Hídalgo, STEM (12 credits, including NSc, A&H/SSc)

Students experienced a total solar eclipse from northern Spain! They studied the science of solar eclipses and other astronomical phenomena, as well as stories and artwork about eclipses from various cultures and historical periods. They stayed with a host family in Leon, and visited Madrid and an astronomical observatory.

Summer Quarter 2026

Guatemala: Health Services Delivery in Resource Poor Settings

• Led by Mabel Ezeonwu, NHS (12 credits: BNURS 424/ BNURS 597/ BHLTH 496)
• Hybrid format, with classes at UW Bothell and online, plus two weeks of fieldwork in Guatemala. $6,500 program fee.

Students examined the policy contexts in which health care is delivered in resource-poor settings. Students conducted community-based work in health clinics run by Guatemala Village Health in villages of the Rio Dulce region of Guatemala. Learn more about the Guatemala program from previous participants’ travel blogs.

Early Fall 2026

Iceland: Water, Fire, and Ice: How Geology shapes Sustainability in Washington and Iceland

• Led by Avery Shinneman and Sara Maxwell, IAS (5 credits of BIS393)
• 08/26/2026 – 09/17/2026. $4,700 (most meals are included).

Both Iceland and Washington State are geologically active areas, with geography shaped through volcanic eruption, glaciers, and rivers. They are also both sustainably minded places and leaders in sustainable energy production, with some strong similarities and quite a few key differences. Students visited and explored hydroelectric and geothermal power in both places to better understand their geologic, geographic, and cultural impacts.

Japan: Computing, Connection and the Digital Future

• Led by CSS faculty Munehiro Fukuda, Jeffrey Kim and Mike Stiber (5 credits of CSS 390)
• $4900 program fee

From the robotics boom and the 5th generation computing systems project of the 1980s to today’s AI-driven innovations, Japan has continually redefined how people understand the relationship between humans and machines. Students traced those transformations, focusing on how emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, are reshaping ideas of identity in Japan’s evolving sociotechnical landscape – where AI is imagined not only as a tool of efficiency but also as a companion and caregiver, raising new questions about community, aging, and social connection. The program is designed as a gateway into computer science for pre-major students and as an opportunity for CS majors to deepen their technical knowledge in a global setting.

Peru: Andes to Amazon – Biodiversity, Conservation, and Sustainability

• Led by Ursula Valdez, IAS (5 credits of BIS 480)
• Late August – mid-September. $4,000 program fee

Students explored the fascinating diversity of this region, while studying the conservation challenges confronting it. Through surveys of the biodiversity, and meetings with indigenous people, land-use managers, conservationists, and other stakeholders, they analyzed sustainable alternatives for the conservation of this world biodiversity hotspot. Check out Harris’ blog to read about what it’s like!

Rwanda: Leadership and Nation Building

• Led by Ben Gardner, IAS (5 credits)
• Late August – mid-September. $4,500 program fee

Students immersed themselves in Rwanda, a country that has reimagined itself and rebuilt its economy and society after the 1994 genocide. Through a unique partnership with the African Leadership University, UW students had the chance to collaborate closely with peers from across Africa on projects related to these themes: human rights, post-genocide peace and reconciliation, sports and development, global health, women’s rights, tourism and eco-tourism, and urban planning and development. Check out Kalkidan’s blog to learn more!

Thailand: Thai Food: Feeding a Nation and the World

• Led by James Reinnoldt, Business (5 credits of BBUS 490)
• $5,000 program fee

Students visited four dynamic regions of Thailand — Central (Bangkok), North (Chiang Mai), Northeast (Kon Kaen), and South (Phang Nga) — to explore how culture, commerce, and cuisine intersect in the country’s dynamic food economy. They followed the entire agrifood value chain — from farms to markets to kitchens — experiencing the unique flavors, food traditions, and culinary innovations of each region. This immersive academic experience goes far beyond the plate. Students analyzed how culture, geography, and trade policy shape Thailand’s food economy, and compare its global competitiveness to regional neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia. Through hands-on cooking sessions, site visits, and local peer learning, they explored the economic, historical, and social dimensions of food in each region. The course also addressed complex ethical and sustainability issues in the Thai food industry.

Contact us

Both virtual and in-person appointments are available!

Peer Study Abroad Advisors
Email: uwbworld@uw.edu

Natalia Dyba, Director of Global Initiatives
Email: nataliak@uw.edu
Phone: (425) 352-3261

*Note: Graduate students, alumni, faculty and staff: please email to schedule an appointment