Featured programs

• 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 8-17 in the U.S. (at UW Bothell and online)
• $5,400

Explore 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. Visit Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford.

• Led by Jong Yoon, STEM
• 12 credits: BME 493/BST 293, BCUSP 296
• $5,100

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

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

Examine the possibilities and challenges of smart city policy, planning, and urbanism in the context of three modern cities in Korea: Seoul, Daejeon and Busan. Engage 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.

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

Delve 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. Visit Dublin, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Scottish Highlands, and London.

• Led by David Goldstein, IAS, (davidgs@uw.edu) and Paola Rodriguez Hídalgo, STEM (paola@uw.edu)
• 12 credits, including NSc, A&H/SSc

Experience a total solar eclipse from northern Spain! Study the science of solar eclipses and other astronomical phenomena, as well as stories and artwork about eclipses from various cultures and historical periods. Stay with a host family in Leon, visit Madrid and an astronomical observatory.

Contact the program directors or complete this interest form to receive more details about the program.

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

Examine the policy contexts in which health care is delivered in resource-poor settings. Conduct 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.

• Led by Avery Shinneman and Sara Maxwell, IAS
• 5 credits

More details coming soon!

• ed by CSS faculty Munehiro Fukuda, Jeffrey Kim and Mike Stiber
• 5 credits of CSS 390
• $4900

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. This program traces 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. Classes will be held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in central Tokyo, with accommodations in dormitories originally built for the 1964 Summer Olympics.

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

Explore 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, we will analyze sustainable alternatives for the conservation of this world biodiversity hotspot.

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

Immerse yourself 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 will have 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.

• Led by James Reinnoldt, Business
• 5 credits of BBUS 490
• $5,000

Visit 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. You’ll follow 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. You’ll analyze 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, you’ll explore the economic, historical, and social dimensions of food in each region. The course also addresses complex ethical and sustainability issues in the Thai food industry.

• Led by Linda Eaton and Jamie Shirley, NHS (12 credits)

This program will provide students with an experiential learning opportunity while examining how resource limitations and the social determinants of health intersect with population health. In collaboration with the Christian Medical College (CMC) in Vellore in southern India, students will have to opportunity to work in the community through College of Nursing Community Health (CONCH) programs to explore innovative systems of community care intended to reduce health inequities, the impact of health and social policies, as well as the cultural influences of post-colonialism and historical caste-based systems. Students will participate in classes throughout the summer quarter leading up to the two-week study abroad.

Learn more about the India program Learn more about the India program

• Led by Jin-Kyu Jung, IAS, and Gunwha Oh, Geography, UW Seattle (12 credits)
• 5 credits BISGST 497 Smart Cities South Korea, 5 credits BIS 498 independent research, 2 credits Korean language
• June 22 – July 19
• ~$6,050 program fee

Through hands-on experiences in three Korean cities, this community- and student-centered program will provide students with a critical reflection on the possibilities and challenges of smart city policy, planning, and urbanism in the context of modern cities in Korea.

• How are innovations bounded, produced, and organized by individuals, communities, and institutions in the cities?
• How does the production of new digital technology and new forms of innovative economic activity blend into the existing urban fabric?
• What would be forms of collaborative democracy and inclusive citizen participation in smart city planning, and how could it respond and address inequality, justice, and the social and digital divide?

Learn more about the Korea program Learn more about the Korea program

• Led by James Reinnoldt, Business (5 credits of BBUS 490)
• Aug 23 – Sept 13
• $4,900 program fee

CSR refers to a company’s responsibility beyond its traditional shareholders; companies need to be responsive to the needs of a broader group of stakeholders that are directly and indirectly impacted by their actions: shareholders, consumers, employees, business partners, suppliers, and local communities. This program provides students with the opportunity to observe firsthand how companies in Thailand and Cambodia are responding to these challenges through CSR programs in partnerships with NGOs, government agencies and local communities. Housing in hotels with breakfast, a few other meals, and all local activities and excursions are included in the program fee.

Learn more about the Thailand program Learn more about the Thailand program

• Led by Santiago Lopez, IAS (5 credits of BIS 480)
• Aug 23 – Sep 12
• $5,300 program fee

This study abroad program in Ecuador offers students immersive cultural engagement while exploring the diverse landscapes of the Ecuadorian Andes and the Galapagos Islands. Participants will engage in fieldwork and apply geotechnologies and data analysis techniques to study environmental systems, gaining hands-on experience in one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. The course covers both environmental and quantitative literacy topics introducing students to various aspects of the geography in mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, analytical, and field-based approaches to geographic research. Key topics include Latin American geography, ecology, human-environment interactions, sustainability, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Science. The course integrates field visits daily journal entries, compositions, and class discussions and debates on assigned topics. Students will be evaluated based on their active participation in field activities, journal entries, oral presentations, short written essays, and a final exploration report.

Learn more about the Ecuador program Learn more about the Ecuador program

• Led by Mike Stiber and Jeff Kim, STEM-CSS (5 credits of CSS 390)
• Aug 24 – Sept 13
• $4,450 program fee

Spain’s membership in the EU and NATO presents opportunities for UW students to broaden their thinking beyond technology topics and beyond the context of US government and industry. Participants will engage with faculty and students from the University of Leon’s Research Institute of Applied Sciences in Cybersecurity, as well as local industry representatives, such as the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE). Working on case studies or technical challenges in small project teams consisting of pre-majors, CSS majors, and students from the local institution, they will apply their technical skills in an intercultural context. Company visits and guest lectures will explore current challenges in software development and expose students to career pathways.

Learn more about the Spain program Learn more about the Spain program

• Led by Ursula Valdez, IAS and Tim Billo, UW Seattle (5 credits of BIS 480)
• Aug 27 – Sept 18
• $3,950 program fee

We will explore 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, we will analyze sustainable alternatives for the conservation of this world biodiversity hotspot.

Learn more about the Peru program Learn more about the Peru program

• Led by Ron Krabill and Ben Gardner, IAS (5 credits)
• Aug 28 – Sept 19.
• $4,500 program fee.

In this three-week study abroad program, students will immerse themselves in Rwanda, a country that has reimagined itself and rebuilt its economy and society after the 1994 genocide. We have built a unique partnership with the African Leadership University, a university that serves students from many different African countries. UW students will have the chance to collaborate closely with university students from Rwanda and several other African countries during their time in Rwanda. Students will learn about Rwanda’s efforts to rebuild its society after the genocide. After learning about history, culture, economics and leadership, students will have the opportunity to focus on a particular topic or theme to explore. Themes include Human Rights, Post-Genocide Peace and Reconciliation, Sports and Development, Global Health. Women’s Rights, Tourism and Eco-Tourism, and Urban Planning and Development. UW students will work in teams with ALU students on final projects and presentations.

Learn more about the Rwanda program Learn more about the Rwanda program

• *Note: This program is cancelled. It is hoped that it will be offered for 2026.”
• Led by Salwa Al-Noori, STEM (5 credits of B BIO 430, NSc, DIV)
• Aug 24 – Sept 14
• $4,650 program fee

This multi-disciplinary program introduces students to biotechnology, including foundational concepts, approaches, methods, techniques, and applications focused on current local and global needs. Students will be exposed to clinical contexts (both diagnostic and therapeutic) and disease physiology (examples include diabetes, stroke, various neurological conditions, and various immunological conditions, among others) that biotechnology and its applications are developed to address. An application-based component will interface students with the biotechnology sector in the form of guest presentations / workshops / information sessions with biotechnology practitioners along with either “shadowing” or “mini-internships” in which students will be able to observe and engage in biotechnology applications.

Learn more about the Jordan program Learn more about the Jordan program

• Led by David Goldstein, IAS (12 credits)
• Sept 24 – Dec 5
• $7,500 program fee

Compare aspects of Japanese and American history and culture through film, media and cultural site visits in the greater Tokyo region. The program begins with 1.5 weeks of prep activities in the Seattle area, followed by 8 weeks in Japan. Participants will collaborate with peers at the Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba Prefecture for several weeks of the program. 

Participants will earn the following credits:

• BIS 162: Race, Gender, and Sexuality through Film and Television (A&H, DIV, 5 credits) 
• BIS 464: Topics in Advanced Cinema Studies (A&H, 5 credits) or BISGST 497: Advanced Topics in Global Studies (SSc, 5 credits)
• BIS 499: Directed Reading (2 credits)

Learn more about the Japan program Learn more about the Japan program