Current Study Abroad Programs
Jamaica: Water, Hazards, and Coastal Change
Leader: Dr. Derek Martin (martindj1@appstate.edu)
Dates: June 5 - 18, 2026 (tentative)
Description:
This 14-day study abroad experience will take students to Jamaica’s quieter, lesser-known southwest coast. Students will earn 6 credits for completion of two courses, GHY 4820 - Geographical Hydrology, and GHY 4530 – Jamaica: Environment and Culture. Students will learn first-hand about the impacts of climate change on Jamaica’s hydrosphere, from the coast to the mountains. They will investigate these topics through field measurement and observation, discussions with local stakeholders and community members, and student-led discussions of relevant literature. In addition to studying the physical processes associated with Jamaica’s hydrosphere, students will engage in literature reviews and discussions that consider how climate change impacts on the local population may be exacerbated by the legacy of colonial settlement on the Island. Students will perform their coursework amongst the stunning backdrop of Jamaica’s southwest coast and its equally vibrant culture, providing them with an unforgettable, transformative study abroad experience. Additionally, students will experience a sense of accomplishment as they work with non-profit organization Jah-Works to install a rainwater catchment system at the home of a community-member in need. In addition to formal coursework, students will also take excursions including: 1) A trip to Jamaica’s famous YS Falls where they will have the opportunity to swim in tropical waterfalls and zipline above them, 2) Snorkeling at Moore Reef, 3) A tour of the Appleton Estate to see how one of the Caribbean’s most well-known exports, rum, is produced, 4) a hike through the lush mountain forest where local experts will describe the native flora and fauna of Jamaica, and 5) A 10-mile coastal boat cruise that will also take them 5 miles up the Black River through one of Jamaica’s largest Mangrove ecosystems. This course is limited to students at the junior or senior level, and to 9 participants.
Courses: Students must be enrolled in the following courses:
- GHY 4530 - Jamaica: Environment and Culture
- GHY 4820 - Geographical Hydrology
Graduate students may inquire about taking a 3 credit independent study.
Cost: ~ $3,800
For more information and to apply, see the Office of International Education and Development's Faculty-Led Programs page.
Walkable Scotland
Leaders: Dr. Elizabeth Shay (shayed@appstate.edu) and Dr. Kara Dempsey (dempseyke@appstate.edu)
Dates: May 17 - 31, 2026
Description:
Join us for an unforgettable walking journey in Scotland to explore lively cities, plucky and resourceful towns, and stunning and remote Highland scenes—all while connecting Scotland’s rich history, culture, and landscapes to our own Southern Appalachian home. We will explore historic and cultural sites in a variety of urban, small-town, and rural settings in Scotland.
In Edinburgh, we’ll walk down the famous Royal Mile, climb the nearby ancient volcano of Arthur’s Seat, and wander the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Old Town and New Town. Heading north then west, we will take in the stunning panoramic views of the Silvery (River) Tay from Perth’s Kinnoull Hill; sample design and architecture in Dundee; pace the Culloden Battlefield and the River Ness in beautiful Inverness; and catch part of the West Highland Way (an iconic and ancient walking trail) out of the recreation gateway of Fort William. We will explore a community-owned estate set within the striking rugged landscape of Knoydart in the ‘rough broads’—one of the U.K.’s most remote regions, then head toward Glasgow on the iconic Harry Potteresque West Highland Rail.
Along the way, we will meet with experts—both academics and practitioners—in community and economic development, land ownership and use, and regional planning. These professionals will offer a behind-the-usual-scenes look at how towns, cities, and regions function and change, and how urban and regional planning shapes communities and impacts individual lives.
Please note that this program will involve quite a bit of walking! Aside from traveling by rail between cities, our main mode of transportation will be on foot.
Program Leader Elizabeth Shay: Dr. Shay is an Associate professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University. She teaches courses in community and regional planning, urban systems, transportation planning and travel behavior, and community-engaged regional planning. Dr. Shay spent a fall 2023 sabbatical in the Scottish Highlands, interviewing experts and residents about regional planning.
Co-leader Kara Dempsey: Dr. Dempsey, Associate Professor at Appalachian State University, grew up between Europe and the United States. She worked and studied in several European countries, especially throughout the British Isles. She studies ethnonational conflicts, forced migration, and peace-building processes. Dempsey is the author of Geopolitics of Nationalism, Conflict and Reconciliation in Ireland (2022), and co-editor of Making and Unmaking Refugees (2023), and Making Geographies of Peace and Conflict (2023). She is President-Emeritus of the Political Geography Organization of the American Association of Geographers (2021-2023).
Courses: Students must be enrolled in the following course:
- PLN 4530/5530 - Beyond cities: Community planning and development in Scotland
Cost: $4,580
For more information and to apply, see the Office of International Education and Development's Faculty-Led Programs page.