Going Abroad in the Summer Sun
So, you stopped by the Off-Campus Study Fair and now you’re thinking to yourself, “When is the soonest I can possibly study off-campus?!” You are in luck, dear reader, because the St. Lawrence University Center for International and Intercultural Studies office is offering five amazing summer courses in a variety of disciplines across the globe. Earn credit towards your degree while engaging in hands-on research and riveting discourse led by SLU faculty alongside local experts for a uniquely immersive cultural and academic experience. Here is an overview of the programs being offered for the Summer of 2026.
“The Neuroscience of Fear” is making a highly anticipated return this summer, taking students to London for an in-depth analysis of human cognition and the development of the fear response. Led by Dr. Bill DeCoteau and Dr. Ana Estevez, participants can expect a multidisciplinary approach to uncovering the science and history of human instinct and the treatment of psychological disorders. If you are considering a degree in biology, neuroscience, psychology or related fields, this three-week course is something you don’t want to miss.
Another returning favorite is the “Kenya Biodiversity Safari” course. Biologist Megan Lane and Dr. Abdelwahab Sinnary will take students on a month-long field research adventure, driving through savannah parks teeming with megafauna – elephants, giraffes, leopards, lions, hyenas and more. Venturing to Kenya’s Great Rift Valley will provide students the opportunity to learn about mammal and avian ecology, as well as the impacts of poaching, tourism and geothermal development on the local economy. Finish the course with a one-week backpacking journey to summit Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain, while studying human and animal physiological adaptations to altitude and climate. This course will challenge students to consider the implications of conservation versus sustainable development for Kenyan communities.
For a course exploring Korean culture through art, media, music, film and food, join Dr. Sarah Knobel and Dr. In-Sil Yoo for “Imagine Korea Through Media: Tradition to Modernity.” In this two-week program, students will engage with a wide range of Korean musical genres, from traditional to contemporary, and explore diverse artistic expressions, including photography, media and digital art. This immersive course will deepen participants’ appreciation and understanding of how creative expression has historically been and continues to be a pillar of Korean culture.
“Exploring Ecuador’s Biodiversity: From the Amazon to the Andes” to the Galapagos is any ecologist’s dream come true. Follow Dr. Sue Willson through this immersive, three-and-a-half-week course exploring biodiversity in Ecuador’s tropical ecosystems. Students will have the opportunity to learn first-hand from Ecuadorian biologists, and will examine the country’s rich cultural heritage, which is invariably intertwined with the environment, in the context of conservation, climate change and resource extraction.
Dr. Precious Hall and Dr. Eloise Brezault will be taking students to Senegal and France for “Blaxit: French Colonialism and Black Political Thought.” This two-week off-campus course explores the political influences that have inspired the movement known as Blaxit, where Black Americans, seeking a refuge from the toxicity of racism and anti-Black policies, have expatriated in a pursuit to find a safe space in which they can flourish. This interdisciplinary program will uncover the cultural legacies of colonialism and how it has shaped political thought and activism in the United States, France and Senegal. It will emphasize the unique ways in which a community can both be harmed and helped in finding a voice and a counter-narrative.
Locations of summer courses vary by year, both due to the availability of faculty as well as to diversify the world regions and areas of study represented. That means if you are excited about one of the courses being offered next year, be sure to send in an application by Dec. 6, 2025, at 11:59pm in Studio Abroad! As always, be sure to check the CIIS website for more information or follow up with a CIIS staff member or peer advisor with questions.