Honors Study Abroad

Education Abroad with Honors

Each year, the Fishback Honors College provides an opportunity for students to participate in an interdisciplinary study abroad adventure. Students take a class together during the spring semester, along with the Honors staff and faculty who are leading the experience. Then, the group travels abroad for 10-14 days during the summer--usually departing in the week immediately following final exams and graduation.

These experiences are organized through the SDSU Education Abroad Office and include exciting excursions, unique opportunities and thorough vetting for safety, convenience and maximum benefit.

A group of honors students pose for a photo in Greece
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Study Abroad
Honors Education Abroad 2024: Greece

What does it mean to be ‘honorable’; to ‘live the good life’ in an increasingly complex, cosmopolitan world? In what ways and to what extent are the ideas of the ancient Greeks relevant and resonant to the contemporary Honors College student experience? How do their approaches continue to influence disciplines such as philosophy, education, politics, science, math, medicine, and the arts?

These issues—and more—will be explored during an eleven day field-based course in Greece. Destination highlights include Athens—the Acropolis, Parthenon, Agora and the Academy of Plato; Corinth; Delphi; 11th century monasteries on pillars of rock known as Meteora; island of Samos (home to Pythagoras and the Hera temple); and an excursion to Turkey and the ancient city of Ephesus. This exciting course, based in Socratic dialogue, will have students read important Greek texts and will be actively engaged in study, presentation, and reflection, around course themes.

Interested? Email Dr. Rebecca Bott-Knutson.

Program Cost

ItemCost
TOTAL AMOUNT BILLED BY SDSU
Off-Campus Tuition (2 credits spring)$354.75
Off-Campus Tuition (1 credit summer)$1,064.25
Program Package Cost (includes housing, airfare, ground transportation, excursions, daily breakfast, data/risk management, and med/sec evac insurance)$5,727.00
APPROXIMATE ADDITIONAL COSTS (NOT BILLED BY SDSU)
Additional Lunches$85.60
Additional Dinners$162.64
TOTAL APPROXIMATE COST$7,394.24


 

Studying abroad allowed me to experience things that I never would have been exposed to otherwise. Study abroad helped shape me as a student, person and global citizen!
Jacob Gubbrud, Electrical Engineering
This experience has and will continue to be applied to my personal life and my relationships with others, to my role as a global citizen, my future career and my own sense of identity.
Hannah Smith, Early Childhood Education
Everything about this trip scared me. However, I am so incredibly thankful that I went. I became friends with people I never would’ve otherwise, I learned a lot about another country and about myself, and I had a dang good time.
Amanda Husted, Human Development and Family Studies
Honors students exploring a cave in Halong Bay, Vietnam
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2023 highlights
Where did we go in 2023?
The Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College partnered with the College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Sciences as we traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia. Students explored both historical and modern sites such as the Angkor Wat temples, Halong Bay, the incredible terraced rice fields at Sapa, the Hoa Lo Prison (commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton), the Vietnamese Women's Museum, the War Remnants Museum, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the U.S. Embassy.
Students traveled into the country to visit various farms, and each day also included stops at local attractions and restaurants.
Throughout, students discussed a variety of topics related to food imports and exports, agriculture, healthcare, education, culture, art, religion, military conflicts, human rights, international relations and other historical and contemporary issues in Vietnam, Cambodia and the surrounding region.
Past Study Abroad Locations & Themes
  • Greece - Exploring the Ethos of Honors (2015)
  • Ecuador/Galapagos Islands - The Voyage of Honors (2016)
  • Ireland - Interdisciplinary Immersion in the Emerald Isle (2017)
  • Indonesia - Textiles and Trade Routes (2018)
  • Netherlands and Belgium - An Honors Exploration of Human Rights and Global Relations (2019)
  • Winnipeg - Past and Present (2022)
  • Vietnam/Cambodia - Yesterday and Today (2023)
Highlights From Previous Trips