Faculty-Led Programs

For the most up to date information regarding each program please contact the Office of Study Abroad.

Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)

KIIS is a non-profit study abroad consortium of which Marshall is a member. KIIS is committed to offering high-quality, low-cost study abroad options for undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree seeking students. KIIS has 25 four-week summer programs  and four semester programs in Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada, and Central & South America with courses in Business & Economics, Humanities, Health Sciences, Language Study, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Programs are faculty-led so Marshall students and faculty can apply to study/teach with KIIS. The program cost typically includes six credit hours (summer) and 12-15 credit hours (semester), transfers between airport abroad and program site, on-site orientation, accommodations, some meals, local transportation for group excursions, comprehensive medical insurance and security evacuation insurance. Learn more about this program at the Marshall/KIIS Program Website, or visit www.kiis.org.

KIIS Summer Program in Argentina

Led by Marshall University Professor of Political Science, Dr. Shawn Schulenberg, this four-week summer program takes students to beautiful Buenos Aires, Argentina.  From the Andes Mountains to the bustling port city of Buenos Aires, Argentina embodies the richness of both South American and European cultures. Based in Buenos Aires, a fascinating urban landscape with famous streets, cafes, architecture, cuisine, music and dance, group excursions include visits to museums, outdoor markets, historic mansions, national monuments, government ministries and soccer stadiums. Courses make Argentina the focus of discussion through hands-on learning opportunities and guest lectures by local Argentine experts. Students enjoy free weekends to travel independently to other regions in Argentina.  The early application deadline for Summer is December 1st, but students may apply for the program up through February 5th.

KIIS Winter Program in Italy

Led by Marshall University Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Rosalynn Quinones, this two week trip occurs over the MU holiday break.  The KIIS winter program in Italy is a twelve-day program that begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.  The early application deadline is August 1st, but students may apply up through September 15th.

KIIS Summer Program in Berlin & Barcelona

Led by Marshall University Professor of Communication Studies, Dr. Julie Snyder-Yuly, this four week summer program takes students to beautiful Berlin and Barcelona in Europe.  KIIS Berlin & Barcelona takes full advantage of two diverse and vibrant cities in Germany and Spain. The program begins in Berlin, in the vibrant and centrally located Prenzlauer Berg district. Here students have a unique chance to explore Germany’s thriving art, culture, and history. The program then moves to Barcelona, a cosmopolitan seaport on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Walking through this city reveals its Roman past, distinct gothic quarter, sublime modernist expansions, and experimental contemporary architecture. Classes are divided between formal classwork, field workshops, and guided excursions that provide students direct contact with the cities, and their museums, galleries, cafés, and parks.  The early application deadline is December 1st, but students may apply up through February 5th.

KIIS Winter Program in Florence & Rome

Led by Marshall University Professor of Art, Ian Hagarty, this two week winter program occurs over the MU holiday break from December 26 – January 7.  The KIIS winter program in Italy is a twelve-day program that begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.

KIIS Summer Program in Japan/Korea

Led by Marshall University Professor of Japanese, Dr. Zelideth Maria Rivas, this two-week summer program will visit Daegu, Seoul, Nagoya, and Osaka. In addition to regular classes, students will visit Gyeongju, Seoul Animation Center, Toyota Commemorative Industry Museum, and other educational institutions and cultural sites in order to explore the evolution of contemporary and popular cultures. Note: Students should be aware that excursions may be physically strenuous and involve walking several miles at a time.  The early application deadline is December 1st, and students can apply up through February 5th.

Tropical Biology and Conservation Field Course in Costa Rica

This course will provide first-hand experience of ecology and conservation in a tropical environment and give students a foundation in a range of topics including biodiversity, community ecology, ecosystem processes, anthropogenic impacts, and conservation. Tropical forests are some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth and play critical roles in climate regulation. However, they are undergoing rapid transformation through deforestation and land-use change. This course will provide an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of how these ecosystems function and an appreciation of conservation and management of tropical forests. The 10-day field component will take place in Costa Rica, Central America. Osa Conservation’s Piro Research Station will be the primary field site. It is part of the largest block of intact tropical forest north of the Amazon. Throughout the course there will be a strong emphasis on practical training. Key topics will be introduced during a series of lectures and seminars, and then developed through structured field activities. Students participating in the field component will receive hands-on direction in wildlife monitoring, measuring animal behavior and applied conservation.

For more information: Home – Biological Sciences (marshall.edu)

Tropical Ecology Course 

Tropical Ecology is designed to introduce non-science majors, science majors, and graduate students to the cultural components, human impacts, basic ecology, habitat types, biodiversity, plant communities, vertebrate life histories, and conservation of tropical ecosystems.  The location of the field component changes each trip but this portion is required. Focus is on coral reefs, rainforests, tropical dry forests, mountainous areas, and ecologically sensitive/significant resources. Students get full immersion in the ecosystems studied from scuba surveys on coral reefs to banding birds in a rainforest. Most of the international trips are limited to 2 week trips to reduce the financial limitations on students. An extra fee is required to cover the costs of the international travel. One of the goals of Marshall University is to help produce students who are prepared for a world-wide job market. The thread that runs throughout this class is how can the scientific method be used to answer questions significant to the protection and sustainability of these resources. We firmly believe that students at every level can have a role in the conservation of these globally significant ecosystems.

Contact Us


Telephone: 304-696-6229

Location

Office of International Student Services

Old Main 321

1 John Marshall Drive

Huntington, WV 25755