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This is a spring semester course that includes travel to Costa Rica for nine days over spring break, where you will explore the amazing biodiversity of both tropical rainforests and so-called dry forests. You will conduct fieldwork examining how human-induced changes in the environment — such as defaunation, invasive species, and global warming — impact these two forest types. In addition, you will have the opportunity to zipline through the forest canopy, spend some time at the beach, and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of tropical forests. Upon return to the U.S., you will spend the rest of the semester drawing upon your travel experience to help identify strategies to protect these natural systems from further human disturbance. Note that this course can be taken at either the 200- or 400-level, with enrollment at the 400 level having greater expectations in terms of both depth of study and workload, and serving as research team leaders on group projects before, during, and after travel to Costa Rica. 

This course runs every other year and takes place over Spring Break.

Travel to Denmark in May to explore how business can be a force for positive impact through change leadership. This undergraduate course will include both theory and practical case work and focuses on the power of change and continuous improvement leadership now taking shape in Copenhagen. Highlights include business visits, lectures, sightseeing tours, and cultural excursions.

Travel to Helsinki, Finland, over spring break to discover the innovative teaching methods that have made Finland a global leader in education. Through school visits, seminars, and discussions, you will investigate comparative education theories and learning philosophy. In addition to visiting multiple schools, you will explore Finnish food, culture, and sauna. This course fulfills Human Experience (HE) and Social Global Awareness (SGA) requirements. 

This course runs every other year.

Complete your Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) over six weeks in May and June at the University of Granada in beautiful Granada, Spain. This APPE provides you with a Spanish language and cultural immersion experience, as well as two courses at the University. Through lectures and experiential learning, you will examine the Spanish healthcare system within the European and U.S. context and reflect upon the changing healthcare landscape in the U.S. and abroad.

Travel to Guatemala in May to visit clinics, rehab settings, non-governmental healthcare related organizations and local PT programs. The course begins on campus in Portland with research and examination of some differences between the U.S. and Guatemala in the areas of PT education, healthcare, and culture, and the travel portion will allow you to demonstrate cultural competency and sensitivity with a variety of populations. Cultural excursions include a coffee plantation tour, visit with a local Shaman, and chocolate-making class. This course is also open to students in the Occupational Therapy program.

This spring semester course takes place in May and provides an in-depth study of the unique ecosystems for marine and terrestrial organisms, as well as the unique human history and culture of Iceland. You will explore geological features like volcanic craters and geysers, hike in the fault line between the American and the European plate and learn about adaptations to a subarctic climate. You will also explore the Viking history of Iceland, which is tightly related to the discovery of America, and Iceland's sustainable energy production.

Travel to Iceland in April to experience the differences between the U.S. and Iceland in areas of PT education, health care, and culture. You will engage in collaborative learning alongside Icelandic PT students, gaining firsthand insight into their specialized pedagogical approach. Through site visits to diverse clinical settings, you will engage in high-level briefings with regional and national physical therapy leaders to discuss the legislative and professional hurdles of the Physical Therapy profession in Iceland.

This spring semester course takes place in May and introduces students to the field of futures studies and strategic foresight. You will use these frameworks in real-world contexts spanning business strategy, public policy, environmental planning, and global challenges. In Tangier, you will participate in site visits, workshops, and applied foresight activities. Other highlights include sightseeing tours, cultural excursions to Asilah, Chefchouen and Tetouan, a cooking class, a camel ride, and more. The group will stay at the on-campus residence hall. Honors College students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Explore the history and vibrant culture of Portugal by exploring the historical sites and museums of Lisbon and Sintra over Spring Break. This undergraduate travel course will visit the capital city’s iconic landmarks, including the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and Castelo de São Jorge, and the ³ÉÈËÖ±²¥SCO World Heritage site of Sintra. You will learn about Portugal’s unique Fado music, instruments, and artists; attend a Fado show; and visit Lisbon’s interactive Fado Museum. Delve into the rich culinary and artistic heritage of Portugal through museum visits and cooking classes. This course fulfills Power, Knowledge, Justice (PKFO) and Social Global Awareness (SGA) requirements. 

Travel to the north shore of Puerto Rico in May to meet local athletes and explore the culture of sport. This course views sport as a social institution and microcosm of the larger social processes that stage, reinforce, and perpetuate myriad inequalities in society. In addition to exploring the beaches of Isabela and the history and architecture of Old San Juan, you will tour sports facilities, visit the Puerto Rican headquarters of Major League Baseball, and meet female athletes who surf and contribute to the culture of athletics on the island. This class runs every other year.

Travel to Stockholm, Sweden, over Spring Break to investigate how the built environment of cities impacts physical and mental health as well as occupational participation. This joint undergraduate- and graduate-level course will explore how urban planning can promote health through universal design, an approach focused on creating environments that actively support well-being. You will analyze how universal design principles, green infrastructure, walkable communities, public transit systems, and inclusive public spaces support population health and health equity.

Use your Spring Break to travel to the city of Liverpool and beyond to meet explore the organization, educational models, and prevention strategies of oral healthcare in the United Kingdom. Through site visits, clinical observation, and community outreach program engagement, you will meet local oral health care providers and analyze the initiatives and structures that influence access to dental care and oral health equality. Time will be allotted for local cultural experiences.