Faculty Leader

• Dr. Setsu Shigematsu, Associate Professor of Media and Cultural Studies

Classes

• MCS 184 / ASN 184 / JPN 184 Japanese Media & Cultural Studies (4 units)
• MCS 120 Major Figures in Film & Media (4 units)

This program provides students the unique experience of studying modern Japanese history, culture and film while being immersed in contemporary Japanese society. This four-week study abroad program teaches students about Japan's modernization through Japanese film and media (including literature and anime), with a focus on Japan's relationship with the United States. Students will study the history of World War II, the transformative impact of the U.S. occupation of Japan and the history of social movements during the 1960s and 1970s. Students will also have the opportunity to train in martial arts and gain the experience of traveling in Japan, visit Hiroshima and Miyajima, and meeting some of Japan's leading social movement activists.

Apply Here: Media and Cultural Studies in Chiba, Japan

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Randol Contreras, UCR Associate Professor of Media and Cultural Studies

Classes

• MCS 159: Race, Space, and Identity (4 units)
• MCS 190: Special Studies on Racism and Anti-Blackness (4 units)

The professor teaches two courses, MCS 159: Race, Space, and Identity and MCS 190: Special Studies on Anti-Blackness. The course, MCS 190 (Anti-Blackness), introduces students to racism and colorism in Puerto Rico. The course, MCS 159, examines the intersection of race, space and identity in modern and contemporary Puerto Rican culture, including an exploration of PR's reggaeton music and culture. To supplement both courses, guest lecturers will teach students about PuertoRico's history, government, drug policies, and laws. In all, students will get a global understanding of the links between racism, colonalism, identity, and reggaeton in Puerto Rico.

Activities in San Juan include guest talks from El Otro PR, the Hasta Bajo Project, a guided community tour of La Perla in Old San Juan, a visit to Urbe Apie, including a discussion with an organization representative, a visit to Colectivo Ile, including a discussion with an organization representative, cultural guided visits/activities alking tour of Old San Juan, and more. There will be a walking tour of Loíza, including a discussion on Black history with a representative from Taller Salud, the organization that runs the Acuerdo de Paz project. Finally, there is a day trip to El Yunque National Rainforest and local beaches.

To decrease student costs, the professor will hold the program's first two weeks at UCR. This ensures that the students develop a solid knowledge base without the distractions of being in out of the state for the first time. Also, it decreases the overall costs for students since they will be abroad for only three weeks rather than five weeks.

Apply Here: Race, Identity, and Reggaeton in Puerto Rico

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Irene Hatzopoulos, UCR Lecturer of Italian

Classes

• ITA / EUR 43: Italian Cuisine (4 units)
• ITA 45 / MCS 44: Italian Cinema (4 units)

The purpose of the course is to explore Italy's rich cultural history through the vehicles of food and film. By focusing on this topic, we will do a deep dive into the unification of Italy, spend a significant amount of time on Pellegrino Artusi, the father of Italian cuisine, passing through the alimentary restrictions of the Fascist period into the abundance of the economic boom to arrive to modern-day Italy and how food is all at once a function of individual and collective identity. By having Bologna as our home base, we'll be able to explore all of these avenues, primarily through the Cineteca di Bologna (Cinema Ritrovato), taking a short trip to Forlimpopoli to Casa Artusi, a quick stint to Florence to highlight the foods Artusi studied, and a short trip to Rome to experience food and multiculturalism (specifically the presence of the Jewish Ghetto and their culinary delights).

Apply Here: Italy through Food and Film

Faculty Leader

Dr. Marta Hernández Salván, UCR Associate Professor of Spanish

Classes

Note: Classes are taught in Spanish. If you speak Spanish at a high intermediate or advanced level, you are welcome to apply! Please email the professor if you haven't completed the prerequisites below.

• SPN 122B: Spanish Transatlantic Cultural Studies (4 units)
• SPN 103: Spanish Culture and Civilization (4 units)

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Dr. Covadonga Lamar Prieto, a different UCR professor, ran a very similar FLEAP before. Here is media coverage about that program:

• StoryMap (2021)
• YouTube Video (2021)

Apply Here: Madrid, Spain: Interculturalism in the Crossroads

Faculty Leader

Dr. Huda Aljord, UCR Lecturer of Arabic

Classes

The Arabic study abroad program in Spain is designed to offer a comprehensive exploration of the Arabic language and culture. The curriculum is carefully crafted to cover the following subject matter:

1. Language Proficiency: Intensive Arabic language courses catering to different proficiency levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced), focusing on listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
2. Cultural Studies: In-depth exploration of Arab history, literature, art, and customs to provide students with a holistic understanding of the cultural context in which the language is embedded.
3. Contemporary Issues: Discussion of current events, social issues, and trends in the Arab world to provide students with a real-world understanding of the language's relevance in today's global context.

The program is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes:

1. Arabic Language Proficiency: Attain a higher level of proficiency in Arabic language skills, enabling effective communication in both academic and everyday settings.
2. Cultural Competence: Develop cultural competence by understanding the historical, social, and cultural aspects of the Arab world, fostering respect and appreciation for diversity.
3. Global Perspective: Gain a global perspective by exploring the intersection of Arabic and Spanish cultures, preparing students for international collaboration and engagement.
4. Practical Application: Apply language skills in real-life situations through language exchanges, cultural activities, and interactions with local communities.

Location in Spain:
The program will be located in Granada, a strategically chosen city in Spain, selected for its historical significance, cultural vibrancy, and conducive environment for language learning. The chosen location provides:

1. Historical Context: Opportunities to explore remnants of Arab influence in architecture, art, and history, offering a unique backdrop for learning.
2. Cultural Diversity: Exposure to diverse regional cultures within Spain, enriching the overall experience and fostering a deeper understanding of cross-cultural dynamics.
3. Supportive Infrastructure: Well-established language schools and institutions, ensuring a high standard of education and support for students throughout the program.
4. Arabic-Speaking Communities: Access to local Arabic-speaking communities, facilitating language exchange and authentic cultural interactions outside the classroom.

Experiential Activities:
The program includes a range of experiential activities to enhance learning and cultural immersion:

1. Language Exchanges: Opportunities for students to practice Arabic with native speakers in informal settings, promoting practical language application.
2. Cultural Workshops: Interactive sessions covering literature, music, art, and traditions, providing hands-on experiences to deepen cultural understanding.
3. Field Trips: Visits to cultural and historical sites, museums, and events related to the Arab world, reinforcing language learning in real-world contexts.
4. Guest Speakers: Invitations to experts in relevant fields to share insights and experiences, connecting theoretical knowledge with practical applications.

The combination of subject matter, learning outcomes, location, and experiential activities ensures a well-rounded and immersive Arabic study abroad program in Spain, providing students with a transformative educational experience.

Apply Here: Granada, Spain: Arabic Culture and Civilization

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Fuson Wang, UCR Associate Professor of English

Classes

• ENGL 128J Jane Austen (4 units)
• ENGL 166T Topics in Romantic Literature (4 units) 

"Austen and the City" offers students the opportunity to experience the cultural transformation of Romantic-era revolutions by connecting the groundbreaking works of authors like Jane Austen, William Wordsworth, William Blake, Anna Letitia Barbauld, Felicia Hemans, Letitia Landon, Percy Shelley, Friedrich Engels, and more to the places that inspired them. Students will learn how these authors were awed, disgusted, amused, or motivated by the people and places around them.

Bath was a holiday town where fashionable society came to mingle, and Jane Austen was right there to document their human foibles with acerbic wit and moving characterizations, especially in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Although we'll be based in London, we will take a trip to Bath to see how the landed gentry lived it up in the southern English countryside, away from the urban noise of London. With walking tours, a visit to the Jane Austen Centre, and a bus trip to Chawton House, students will see how an industrializing empire tried hard to maintain fictions of gentility, picturesque gardens, and bucolic bliss. In addition to English 128J's focus on Jane Austen, students will also experience in English 166T the darker urbanity of Romantic literature with the work of someone like William Blake. There will be a hands-on tutorial on Blake's unique printmaking process that allowed him to meld visual and verbal art into idiosyncratic expression and revolutionary mythmaking. Michael Phillips has recreated Blake's copper plates, ink blends, and even his star press so that students can experience first-hand how Blake had to create his own printing process to do justice to his anti-industrial, anti-capitalist, and anti-establishment verse.

This program exposes students to these generative contradictions of Romantic-era England to show how this era dealt with issues that we're still grappling with today. In the ruptures of these contradictions, these authors dared to envision a world without perpetual war, the abolition of the slave trade, the flourishing of professional women writers, and the world-shaking agency of the human imagination.

Apply Here: Austen and the City in London

Faculty Leaders

• Dr. Brian Crites, Lecturer in Computer Science
• Dr. Samuel Fullerton, Lecturer in History

Classes

• CS 110: Principles of Web Development (4 units)
• HIST 108: Technology in the Premodern World (4 units)

This interdisciplinary program will integrate two upper-division courses, Web Development (CS 110) and Technology in the Premodern World (HIST 108), to create an interdisciplinary experience in which students will use the long and complicated history of the early modern "printing revolution" to give a historical perspective on the issues we see today around access, moderation, censorship, and funding mechanisms of the modern web and social media platforms. The program will be conducted in Seoul, South Korea, where metal-type printing was first invented and which remains one of the world's leading technology and innovation hubs. We will take advantage of this setting by engaging in experiential learning activities relating to both the history of print (HIST 108) and its interconnectedness with the most recent publishing medium, the modern-day website via web design (CS 110). All told, the program will equip students to think critically about the power (and pitfalls) of digital media and the power and responsibilities of developers within that milieu by positioning them geographically and historically within the heart of the world's first communications revolution.

Apply Here: Digital and Social Media in Seoul, South Korea

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Muhamad Ali, UCR Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Classes

• SEA 149: Southeast Asian Religions (4 units)
• RLST 190: Independent Study (4 units)

The program is aimed at introducing students to Southeast Asian through Indonesian cultures and religious traditions, practices, and institutions.

The learning outcomes are:

1. Students are able to use secondary sources as well as primary sources, including observations, visits, and interviews of local people in carrying on research in religious studies.
2. Students demonstrate effective writing and speaking skills in communicating their knowledge about the elite and popular religions, the normative and practical life. 
3. Students demonstrate an ability to record videos about religions and religious peoples, and communicate them to the class as well as to the public via social media.
4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of world and local religions, particularly indigenous religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism/Chinese religions, Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and Islam.

Apply Here: Bali, Indonesia: Culture, Nature, and Religion

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Sherryl Berg-Ridenour, UCR Lecturer of Business

Classes

• BUS 117: Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications
• BUS 190: Special Studies on Consumer Behavior 

Scotland is a compact country densely packed with an astounding amount of history, culture and educational ingenuities. Home to several of the oldest and most fascinating universities in the world, Scotland is an excellent choice for students interested in studying abroad. Studying abroad in Scotland offers a unique perspective into the rich culture and tradition that impacts everyday life. Scotland's culture can be traced back almost a thousand years and it's just as alive today as it has ever been. From the ancient clans of the 12th century, each generation has added their own cultural thumbprint, creating a unique and vibrant country. It is the perfect place to study the ebb and flow of advertising and see how it changes throughout the country of Scotland and in England.

Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is home to some of Scotland's best cultural attractions and best of all, most of them are completely free! You could easily fill your time exploring the different neighborhoods, and enjoying the amazing shopping, dining and attractions in Glasgow. A city walking tour will take you passed ruins of a castle as well as a skyscraper. Edinburgh is home to an iconic castle, an extinct volcano, Scotland's Crown jewels, world class art as well as remnants of the medieval past. Scotland beckons with a rich history and cultural heritage as well as with iconic attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, the historic city of Glasgow, and the mysterious Loch Ness. Castles, Highlands and Monsters.

BUS 117: Advertising could be a more innovative and globally interactive marketing course. It is applicable as an elective in any of the business majors. BUS117 will address issues in cross cultural advertising with tools to including assess cultural environments, setting objectives, media, creative, ethics and social responsibility. We will examine the subtle and not so subtle differences in advertising perspectives in Scotland, England and the USA. Some aspects of multicultural international advertising in new media environment will be covered in this course. This course emphasizes an application of the principles of advertising to the marketing of services and ideas. In addition to cultural awareness, students will gain more insight into how to shape marketing tactics to communicate effectively with different cultures. Scotland is also a gateway to Europe with so many options available. Studying in this environment can provide exposure to different perspectives and ideas, which can be beneficial in the field of advertising where understanding diverse audiences is crucial. English Proficiency: The majority of Scottish are proficient in English, making it an accessible destination for international students. This is particularly important for students studying in fields like advertising where language skills are crucial for effective communication.

BUS190: Special Studies will offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit by participating in independent study or a group research further exploring a more detailed research into the consumer behavior and segmentation of the Scottish population under the supervision of a faculty member. Students can choose to examine to delineate a special focus on sports, fashion, to develop the brand reputations of companies and to learn about what makes consumers tick and to sell a certain image. Various cultures and backgrounds help to develop universal messages, how to appreciate various perspectives and how one business can reach a diverse range of people. Marketing programs abroad enrich your perspective on what makes for effective marketing campaign with this increasingly global economy. Students will be asked to set up interviews with local business professionals giving them a chance to really learn from the local culture.

Apply Here: Business Marketing in Scotland.

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Kyle Ingram, UCR Assistant Professor of Teaching in Management

Classes

• BUS 145: Designing and Leading Teams
• BUS 190: Special Studies

The Brazilian Leadership Experience encourages students to engage in a deeper understanding of human behavior within organizations. The program works on the idea that behavior is a function of a person in his/her environment (i.e., the way in which we behave is largely dependent on who we are and the various contexts we find ourselves in.

Both courses encourage students to form a deeper understanding of who they are and how they are already primed for successful leadership and teamwork. Delivering these two courses in the international context will highlight new challenges that students should be ready to face in an increasingly globalized world. The courses are designed to take students out of their comfort zone to inspire personal development and growth.

Studying theories of leadership and international management amongst top academics and practitioners in Brazil will only further expand the knowledge and perspective gained through these courses. Special Studies (BUS 190), in particular, will offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit by participating in independent study or group research to further explore the business practices, of Brazilian business leaders, particularly around the concept of sustainable leadership. Under faculty supervision, students will observe how business practices vary and align across our two national cultures (see potential topics under course syllabi).

Understanding various cultures and backgrounds will help students develop universal messages, appreciate various perspectives, and examine how businesses can reach a diverse range of people through understanding and respecting these differences. International management is invaluable to students wishing to increase their presence in a global economy, and the trip will provide students with the opportunity to see, first hand, sustainability efforts in Brazil.

This program has run before in London, so here is media coverage about it:

• "Study abroad program grows in popularity" (2024)
• "London is Waiting" (2021) 
• StoryMap (2021) 
• YouTube video (2020)

Apply Here: The Brazilian Leadership Experience

Faculty Leader

• Dr. Tabassum "Ruhi" Khan, UCR Associate Professor of Media and Cultural Studies

Classes

• MCS 110J: Post-War Cinema - Heritage Dramas and British National Identity 
• MCS 132: Examining Intersections of Media and Popular Culture and How They Shape Our Political-Economic Contexts  

Join the Media and Cultural Studies faculty-led Summer Abroad program in London and learn how our pleasurable past times are not frivolous activities. Come to London to learn how our supposedly insignificant engagements significantly influence the organization of production in society, the determination of avenues for employment, and ultimately, the regulation of our lives. Participate in exploratory and experiential learning in the capital city of the former British Empire to learn how ideological domination replaces military might and how British Period dramas or ‘hat and frock shows’ like Downton Abbey have become Britain’s most important cultural export as well as cultural manifestation of globally ascendant neoliberal political-economic policies which underline current sharp socio-economic inequalities. Soak in the ambiance of this exciting city and address a simple but meaningful query—how do some elements of popular culture support hierarchies, and what are the others that challenge them?

Take courses MCS 110 J on Post World War II cinema focusing on period dramas and MCS 132 examining intersections of media and popular culture and how they shape our political-economic contexts.

Apply Here: British Pop Culture: London the Imperial City