COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Related to Travel Programs
Although strongly encouraged, participants on University-Sponsored International Travel for summer 2023 onward will not be required to be vaccinated against COVID, except where required by the local government, partner institution, or activity. Arcadia strongly encourages all participants, in consultation with their physicians, to follow CDC guidance to remain up-to-date with COVID vaccinations, along with other recommended vaccinations. These are important measures to mitigate the risk of severe illness in our travelers as well as mitigate the spread of COVID and other diseases to the communities in which our students study.
Arcadia does require all students to disclose COVID vaccination status. Students that have been vaccinated will be asked to provide additional information for use as necessary in mitigation efforts.
Global Field Study Frequently Asked Questions
What are Global Field Study Courses?
Global Field Studies (GFS) are 4-credit semester-long courses with a global focus and planned travel component. They are open to juniors and seniors, and sometimes sophomores and graduate students. They can meet major requirements and carry AUC designations. Some courses have prerequisites or other eligibility requirements; see course descriptions for details. Graduate students earn 3 grad-level credits for GFS courses.
Who is eligible to participate in the GFS courses?
- Full and part-time matriculated juniors and seniors. Some courses accept sophomores and graduate students.
- Transfer students who have completed at least one semester (a minimum of 12 credits) of coursework at Arcadia.
- See course descriptions for details on prerequisites and additional eligibility requirements.
How do I apply for and enroll in a GFS course?
GFS courses are not open to direct registration and appear closed in Self-Service. This is because students must submit an application and meet other eligibility requirements. Most students wishing to apply for GFS courses will receive an emailed invitation to apply for GFS with a personalized application link. If you did not receive an invitation to apply, please contact globalengagement@arcadia.edu for assistance.
Enrollment in GFS courses is on a first-come, first-served basis, and in addition to the GFS application, all GFS applicants must submit a GFS deposit of $300 to finalize registration in their chosen course. This deposit will apply toward the total travel fee for the course and can be paid in person at the Office of Student Accounts or online through Self-Service.
How are the Field Study topics and location focuses chosen?
Each semester, Global Engagement puts out a call to Arcadia faculty and staff for Global Field Study course proposals. The courses we offer are based on the research interests and expertise of our faculty and staff who lead them. We strive to offer a varied slate of courses, based in different academic disciplines and in different corners of the world, including North America.
What are GFS Travel Fees?
Global Field Study courses carry a travel fee, in addition to your regular tuition. The travel fee range for courses will be listed on the GFS Courses page. Payments can be made online via Self-Service/eBill, or you may pay by cash or check at the Office of Student Accounts. Make checks payable to Arcadia University.
GFS travel fees vary by course and will be finalized early in the semester the course runs. Total fees depend on the location and the length of the field study. The travel fee typically includes:
- Airfare
- Accommodations
- In-country ground transportation
- All tours, lectures, and group activities
Travel fees can be paid in installments through any method you usually use to pay account charges. Other cost details specific to your field study location will be outlined by your faculty leader.
Passports
Do I need a passport or visa for a GFS course?
Passports are required for all international travel, and you will need to submit a copy to Global Engagement. We strongly recommend that students request expedited passport processing (additional fee applies) for new passport applications and renewals because regular processing time is approximately 3 months. If you currently have a passport, be sure the expiration date is at least 6 months after your return date.
Passport Application and Documentation
Passport application available through the U.S. State Department website.
Please see this excerpt from the Global Field Study Enrollment Agreement on travel documentation, including valid US passports:
Proper Travel Documentation:
I understand that it is my responsibility to have all travel documents necessary for domestic and/or international program travel. For international travel, this includes a valid passport for the duration of my time abroad and for any required amount of time after I return as stipulated by the immigration policy of my host country. I agree to obtain any and all visa and clearances prior to my time abroad and ensure I have obtained the proper authorization to study in my host country. I understand that Arcadia University is not responsible for any decisions made by foreign embassies or consulates regarding approval of visa documentation and/or immigration clearance. I understand that the failure to obtain appropriate travel documents may result in my removal from the program and that I will be responsible for the travel fee and any additional non-recoverable costs incurred by Arcadia University on my behalf.
Passport Processing
Need a passport? All international travel will require one, and processing time is around 12 weeks, so apply now! Visit travel.state.gov for application information. Email globalengagement@arcadia.edu with questions.
Travel Plan Changes, Dropping Courses, Cancelations and Refunds
What if it's not possible to travel to the planned field study location?
Sometimes, Arcadia needs to change travel plans in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Please read this excerpt from the Global Field Study Enrollment Agreement with more information:
Arcadia University reserves the right to cancel, alter, suspend, or amend any part of any program or to increase fees should circumstances make these actions advisable or necessary. I understand that the program calendar dates posted on the Arcadia University website are tentative in nature, and can change at any time. Arcadia University will alert me of any such changes and will work to minimize any disruption to my planning.
Can I drop a GFS Course?
The drop period for GFS courses ends one day (24 hours) after your first class meeting. At that time, you will be responsible for the entire amount of the travel fee for your GFS course, even if you later withdraw. In most cases, students who drop a course before it begins will not be refunded their GFS deposit because the university will have incurred costs on the students' behalf.
Please see this excerpt from the Global Field Study Enrollment Agreement pertaining to the drop policy for GFS courses:
I understand that the drop period for GFS courses ends one day (24 hours) after my first class meeting. After the 24-hour drop period, the travel fee for the GFS course will be placed on my student account and must be paid in full 2 weeks before the end of the semester in which the course travels. The travel fee will remain my responsibility to pay even if I withdraw from the GFS course at any point during the semester after the initial 24-hour drop period. Withdrawals or dismissals from the program for academic or disciplinary reasons are subject to additional fees for non-recoverable expenses.
Cancellation/Refund
In the case of the total cancellation of your course, students will be refunded any monies paid toward the course. If a course continues but the field study portion is altered, students may be responsible to pay alternate programming costs necessary to meet the academic goals of the course, such as local excursions and guest speakers, etc. Students will be informed in a timely manner about these fees.
Global Field Study Courses
Fall 2023 Global Field Study Course
*AUC = Arcadia Undergraduate Curriculum
AUC fulfillments shown with an asterisk (*) are anticipated but pending, awaiting final approval.
Please note that travel locations, dates, and fees are subject to change. For more information, see the Global Field Study FAQs listed above.
GFS courses are not open to direct registration; students must submit an application and meet other eligibility requirements. Most students wishing to apply for GFS courses will have received an email with a personalized application link; if you aren’t able to locate that email or believe that you did not receive it, please contact globalengagement@arcadia.edu.
GFS 308 Dominica
Instructor: Thomas Brinker & Meg Nolan
Meeting Time: Tuesdays 2:10-3:50pm
Travel Dates: January 2/3 through 10/11
Travel Fee Range: $2,995-$3,295
AUC Fulfillment: GCE/GCR, SS
This is an interdisciplinary upper level four credit course that studies the pre-history, politics, economics and/or artistic heritage of a foreign culture. It is not intended for tourists, but rather for individuals with a sincere interest in learning about and interacting with people and events in another culture. In January, we travel to the Capitol, Roseau, and throughout Dominica during our visit.
The trip to Dominica will take you out of your comfort zone and will strengthen you in more ways than you can imagine. It will open your mind and give you the chance to really see how other cultures live. Less developed regions of the world can be difficult to witness firsthand, but there’s no better way to change your perspective on life than to witness how little people in the rest of the world have and live with on a daily basis. Moreover, you will have an opportunity to visit and interact with factories, power plants, organic farming, community leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, local citizens and high-ranking civil servants.
Developing countries are in the midst of economic and cultural upheaval; they are always changing and Dominica is no exception, especially after Tropical Storm Erika, Hurricane Maria and the Covid Pandemic. This small island nation is undergoing a massive transformation in the areas of commerce, infrastructure and politics. Studying in an area where poverty is high usually means educational opportunities are low, which also means that there are plenty of opportunities to lend a helping hand. We will be including community service activities throughout our stay.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Spring 2023 Global Field Study Course
*AUC = Arcadia Undergraduate Curriculum
AUC fulfillments shown with an asterisk (*) are anticipated but pending, awaiting final approval.
Please note that travel locations, dates, and fees are subject to change. For more information, see the Global Field Study FAQs listed above.
GFS courses are not open to direct registration; students must submit an application and meet other eligibility requirements. Most students wishing to apply for GFS courses will have received an email with a personalized application link; if you aren’t able to locate that email or believe that you did not receive it, please contact globalengagement@arcadia.edu.
AH 224 Baroque Art with travel to Italy
Instructor: Jill Pederson
Meeting Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Travel Dates: 5/28-6/6/23 (please note later departure date)
Travel Fee Range: $2,250-2,550
AUC Fulfillment: CB/VL
This course considers works of art and architecture in Southern Europe from the end of the sixteenth through the beginning of the eighteenth centuries. This period is characterized by massive upheaval in religious systems, vast scientific discoveries, and political turmoil, all of which contributed to the fundamental reconsideration of the values that had underpinned European society for centuries, leading to a range of dramatic responses in the visual arts. Students in this course will be introduced to artistic production across a range of media, including painting, sculpture, and architecture, in important European artistic centers. Special emphasis will be placed on Rome, the political and cultural center of Western Christendom. Though the authority of this city was undermined in the sixteenth century, it emerged in even grander glory in the Baroque period as it came to represent the cultural jewel of the West, reflecting the power and wealth of kings, popes, and cardinals. As much of Baroque art is predicated on the manipulation of light and scale, students in this course will have the essential opportunity to fully appreciate these works on site in Rome’s palaces, churches, and museums.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors
GFS 320/420 Castles, Forests, and Fairy Tales: Mapping the German Landscape
Travel Location: Bavaria, Germany
Instructors: Allyson McCreery and Rhianon Visinsky
Meeting Time: Tuesday 7:00-10:00 pm
Travel Dates: 5/20-5/30/23
Travel Fee Range: $2995-$3400
AUC Fulfillment: IL, CE, NP, GCE/GCR
This Global Field Study will examine the literary, architectural, and landscape intricacies of the region of Bavaria, Germany. Using geocritical theory as a guide, students will explore the ways in which the German landscape influenced the creation and adaptation of narratives and how those narratives, in turn, influence the ways in which the land is viewed by those “reading” it. We will do this, in part, by reading select fairy tales, myths, and legends from around the globe and comparing those tales to the landscapes of Germany. We will create our own visual landscapes of the tales using various methods of computer and artistic generation; research the origins of the tales, the landscape and architecture; write a research essay and a group project; and create a map utilizing GIS technology. The field component of this course will explore the storied landscapes of Germany.
GFS 317/417 Inspired by the View: The Beauty and Boldness of Ireland
Travel Location: Ballyvaughan, Ireland
Instructors: Maryann Worrell and Christian Patchell
Meeting Time: Tuesday 2:10-3:50 pm
Travel Dates: 5/20/-6/17/23
Travel Fee Range: $4,600-4,800
AUC Fulfillment: VL, GCE/GCR
This course provides students with the tools to generate creative works, and rediscover and reflect upon the natural world through the medium of their choice (photography, fine art, writing, performance, research, etc.) The experience will be classroom-based at Arcadia during the Spring 2018 semester, as well as include a four-week stay in the West of Ireland from May 20th-June 17th. This course is for sophomore- graduate students, studying any major, and combines lectures, studio work and field trip excursions. Students and two faculty members will be living and studying in Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, a rural village in the West of Ireland. Students will be attending The Burren College of Art, which will provide all living arrangements, studio space and limited transportation (5 days a week, 9am and 5pm) to and from the College from Ballyvaughan. Weekly courses at AU will cover a variety of topics including Ireland’s history and culture, artists and writers, various art studio methods, generating creativity, environmental issues (home and abroad), etc.; applicable to studio and writing course works.
Students will be required to attend all field trips, as well as work in College studios or on campus daily from 9:30am-5pm, with an hour lunch. Students will share studios, two students per 14’x14’ space and studios are available to students 24/7. Students will present their works or research in a gallery setting, open to the public, at the end of their stay.
Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
GFS 381 Environmental Sustainability in Bali, Indonesia
Travel Location: Bali, Indonesia
Instructor: Prash Naidu
Meeting Time: Tuesday 4:00-7:00pm
Travel Dates: 5/22-6/7/2023
Travel Fee Range: $3,350-$3,650
AUC Fulfillment: * NP, SS, CB
*AUCs currently waiting approval.
During our field study, Bali is our “living classroom” where we examine the ways that individual, community, and environmental well-being are intertwined and connected to global economies and local ecologies. Exploring Bali’s challenges through interactions with the island’s NGOs provides real-world context for issues discussed in the classroom. Students have multiple learning opportunities including visiting revered Balinese temples and royal palaces, exploring sustainability in a national park, snorkeling over coral restoration sites, speaking with a member of the Balinese royal family, and visiting an organization that brings simple technologies to communities in need. This GFS combines experiential learning with reflective writing, culminating in a project where you explore podcasting or photoethnography based on your experience in the field study.
Open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
GFS 306 Marine Biology and Cultural History of Fiji
Travel Location: Nadi and Nacula Island, Fiji
Instructors: Naomi Phillips and Kelila Jaffe
Meeting Time: Friday 2:00-4:00 pm
Travel Dates: 3/10-3/21/23
(Please note spring break travel dates, students responsible for any missed 3/10 courses and will attend Monday classes after 3/21 am return)
Travel Fee Range: $3,400-$3,700
AUC Fulfillment: CL, NPL, GCE/GCR
This course will focus on the marine biology and cultural history of Fijian Islands, culminating in a 12-day field study to the Fijian island chains. This is a global experience course with an optional global reflection piece. The Fijian archipelago has more than 330 islands with 110 permanently inhabited encompassing a land area of about 18,300 square kilometers (7,100 sq mi). We will be taking daily trips to explore and learn about key marine habitats and cultural sites of the islands. We will learn about both the marine plants and animals of the island, but will focus on the marine plants since these are less well characterized. Evening activities include lectures, night snorkels, and other lab activities. Prerequisites: An interest in nature, marine biology and/or Pacific culture. Trip includes rigorous daily hikes and snorkeling, thus one needs to be in reasonable physical shape and a capable swimmer. Snorkeling and water safety will be taught in the required pre-trip classes. Students will need to pass a swim test before the first class meeting.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
GFS 321 Exploring National Identity in Central Europe
Travel Location: Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria
Instructor: Christopher Cerski
Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-5:40pm
Travel Dates: 5/20-6/1/23
Travel Fee Range: $2,975-$3,375 depending on enrollment and variable costs
AUC Fulfillment: CL, GCE/GCR
This course will study how nation-states develop a common national identity and its importance to governmental power. Students will develop an awareness about a nation-state’s use of visual culture to form or project a national identity. This course will study the cultural artifacts that have been used throughout history to form national identity and national narratives, including architecture, monuments, memorials, and art. Students will visit Munich/Nuremberg, Germany and Vienna, Austria, and read an array of sources that examine the importance of capital city architecture, memorialization of key historical monuments, as well as the use of museums to preserve artifacts and art that construct national narratives, identity, and history. Before exploring the international sites, students will examine the United States’ national identity and visit Washington, D.C. to explore how our government uses architecture, monuments, memorials, and art to construct an American identity that shapes the country’s cultural and historical narratives.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
