Kent State College of Arts and Sciences is planning a faculty-led trip to Iceland this May, offering an exploration of the country’s landscape, sustainability, culture and geology for the first time in 15 years.
Kent State offers over 200 study abroad programs, including this 10-day trip to Iceland, which provides students the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences beyond the classroom.
Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Scott Sheridan, Professor & Interim Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, will lead the program. The program’s interdisciplinary approach makes it available to students from a wide range of majors.
“Students can use it as an elective for other majors as well, so I have nurses, I have biologists, chemists, physicists, fashion majors and environmental studies majors,” Munro-Stasiuk said.
Together, they will travel to destinations including the Gullfoss Waterfall, the Blue Lagoon and several glaciers on the south coast. Students will learn about landscape formation, volcanic activity and witness new landscapes in the making.
Unlike traditional study abroad programs, there are no classrooms, and students will be learning primarily outdoors.
“The classroom is outdoors, and so, we’re always sort of looking at things outdoors and we’re always exploring,” Munro-Stasiuk said.
Students will be enrolled in GEOG 40492, Study Away: Exploring Iceland: Landscape, Culture and Sustainability, a 3-credit course exploring Iceland’s landscapes, sustainability, and culture. Currently, 13 students are signed up, and scholarships are available to support participation. This program offers a unique cultural experience.
“There are no big cities there,” Munro-Stasiuk said. “Most of the towns are like 400 people, so the students will be immersed in these smaller places and get to meet a lot of the locals there as well and participate in some of the local cultural events.”
Kristin Stasiowski, assistant dean of International Programs at Kent State, pointed out the uniqueness of faculty-led study abroad programs.
“Those are some of the most exciting programs outside of our destinations, because they’re really tailored to what students like to do,” Stasiowski said.
Kent State’s Iceland program is one of many study abroad options. It lets students learn by embracing Icelandic culture, making it a special experience.
For students considering going abroad, Munro-Stasiuk said, “If you have any doubts, I would say just do it, because it’s going to be an amazing experience no matter what.”
Samantha Abate is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].