Study Abroad

Geography and Anthropology Study Abroad Opportunities

Department of Geography and Anthropology faculty regularly teach in study abroad programs. These programs provide students with the opportunity to study geography, anthropology, and other subjects while immersed in the culture and landscape of another country. For more information about any of these amazing opportunities, visit KSU Education Abroad.

2024 Study Abroad Opportunities

Explore the options and opportunities to study abroad during summer 2024. Regardless of what field of study or country you are passionate about, there is an education abroad program for you. Where will your education take you? See below for links and exciting details to travel with our faculty this summer!

  • June 2024, Porto, Portugal

    Study geography with Dr. McDaniel and more abroad in Porto, Portugal, in June 2024 through the USG Goes Global Porto summer study abroad program! 

    Dr. McDaniel will be teaching GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography (satisfies general education Area E4 Social Sciences requirement) and GEOG 4300 Urban Geography in the USG Goes Global Summer 2024 Porto study abroad program in Porto, Portugal (approximately two weeks abroad in mid-to-late June 2024). Imagine yourself studying in a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage City wedged between a famed river and 2,000-year-old ancient grape vineyards on verdant hills. Porto, the second-largest city in Portugal is listed as a staple on best places to visit in Europe and only a three-hour train ride away from Lisbon. In addition to Dr. McDaniel's geography courses, other lower- and upper-division courses are offered in Environmental Psychology, Introduction to Hospitality, and Beverage Management. Students on this program are expected to enroll in two courses for a total of 6 credit hours. Students will be responsible for summer coursework before, during, and after program travel. Coursework will be completed through onsite lectures, field trips and walking tours, and group discussions coupled with readings, writing assignments, and online lectures. Courses begin before the program departs and may continue after the program returns via online content. Time abroad onsite in Porto is approximately two weeks in mid-to-late June 2024. Contact Dr. McDaniel to request additional info and to express interest in this program. 

    For more information and details visit:

    Summer Study Abroad Program in Porto, Portugal

2023 Study Abroad Opportunities

The following geography and anthropology study abroad opportunities were available with our faculty in 2023 in France and Italy. Below this listing, please find examples of additional past geography and anthropology education abroad programs led by our faculty.

  • June 29- July 31, 2023 Paris, France

    Study geography with Dr. McDaniel and more abroad in Paris, France, in Summer 2023 through the USG Goes Global Paris summer study abroad program! 

    La “Ville Lumière,” Paris is home to countless museums, cafés, and medieval streets that wind around contemporary architecture. A city à decouvrir, Paris is an invitation to experience all the world’s cultures while maintaining a proud and distinctly French feeling. Picture yourself spending a summer studying in the “City of Light,” the “museum without walls,” immersed in history and surrounded by some of the world’s finest art, architecture, and music. As a participant in the Paris Study Abroad Program, you won’t have to imagine these things—you can live them. The “Capital of the World” is your classroom as you study history where it was made, attend theater and music performances by world-renowned companies and ensembles, write in parks and cafés where Fitzgerald and Hemingway wrote, and learn French immersed in the language. Paris offers all of this and more as part of this study abroad program.

    For more information and details visit:

    Summer In Paris June 29 to July 31, 2023

    Program details, dates, and application materials

  • May 18- June 22, 2023 or June 29- Aug 3, 2023 Montepulciano, Italy

    Study geography and anthropology abroad in Montepulciano, Italy, a beautiful, historic Tuscan hill town, in Summer 2023 through the KSU in Tuscany program! From May 18 to June 22, 2023, Dr. Paul McDaniel will be teaching two geography courses (GEOG 1101 Introduction to Human Geography and GEOG 3300 Urban Geography) at KSU's facility, a refurbished fortezza, in Montepulciano during Session I of the KSU in Italy Summer 2023 education abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy. 

    From June 29 to August 3, 2023, Dr. Susan Smith will be teaching two anthropology courses (ANTH 1102 Introduction to Anthropology and ANTH 4490 Death in the Mediterranean) at KSU's facility, in Montepulciano during Session II of the KSU in Italy Summer 2023 education abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy. 

    For more information and details visit:

    KSU in Tuscany Summer 2023 

    Geography and Anthropology Study Abroad Information

2021 Study Abroad Opportunities

The following geography and anthropology study abroad opportunities are available and planned with our faculty in 2021, but they are contingent on the circumstances related to the ongoing pandemic. Please note the following from the KSU Education Abroad Office: "PLEASE BE ADVISED: Although we are accepting applications for this program, a decision on whether or not it will operate has not yet been made. Kennesaw State University continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic closely and is following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of State (DoS), the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), and the University System of Georgia (USG). Updates regarding program changes, cancellations, or transitions to alternative program models (virtual, hybrid, etc.) resulting from this guidance will be communicated as they occur. We recommend making a back-up plan that takes into consideration the following factors: Academic: Being able to get the course credits you need to continue to make progress toward your degree (contact your Academic Advisor for assistance); Financial: Don’t make any purchases that are non-refundable and consider purchasing cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance; Housing: Know your options (where are you going to stay/live) if your program does not run as planned. If you have questions, please contact an Education Abroad Program Coordinator."

  • May/June 2021: Osteology Field School on the Island of Crete, in Greece

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be leading students in an Osteology Field School experience on the island of Crete in Greece. Dr. Smith has over 12 years of experience in Greece. She worked for the Institute for the Study of Aegean Prehistory in Pacheia Ammos, Crete since 2007. She has supervised field schools or study abroad programs in Greece since 2006 and has participating in study abroads in other countries like France, Ireland, and Italy. Note: Participation in this program is by invitation only. Program Description: Students work with Dr. Smith on the analysis of human skeletal remains from archaeological sites in Crete. They will also visit several archaeological sites on the island.

    ANTH 4100: Directed Applied Research. This course will be an intensive introduction to osteological field work. The students will work directly with the professor in learning how to clean, conserve, and inventory human skeletal remains from archaeological sites. The work will be hands-on with substantial reading required in order to complete the analyses in the field.

  • August-October 2021: Online in Tuscany General Education

    The Online in Tuscany program at KSU's facility in Montepulciano, Italy, is an exciting option for fully online students enrolled in our online courses and online degree programs, such as the fully online option of our BA in Geography degree program. Set in the beautiful region of Tuscany Italy, KSU's Montepulciano Educational Site offers students a unique opportunity for academic study within this medieval city while immersing themselves in the wonderful and authentic Italian culture. This program is designed for the more independent, primarily online student with prior international travel experience preferred. The six-week program will be anchored by an ART 1107 - Arts in Society course taught by Dr. Dan Sachs. Beyond ART 1107 students will be required to take a "full load" or 12 hours (so at least three additional courses as defined by each undergraduate program); more than 12 hours is also acceptable. Importantly, the cultural/experiential aspect of the program offers students the opportunity to participate in field trips to Rome, Florence, Orvieto (all three required) plus optional trips to Salerno, the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompei (packaged) as well as Siena and Pienza. In addition, two free-travel weekends and local activities in and around Montepulciano are included. Finally, the ability to extend your stay beyond the program MAY BE possible. Contact KSU in Tuscany Site Director Ken Hill for more information, or you may also contact Dr. Paul McDaniel (Associate Professor of Geography who has previously taught in the KSU in Tuscany program in Montepulciano) for more general information about the study location.

  • July 2021: Hanyang International Summer School in Seoul, South Korea

    Dr. Jason Rhodes will be teaching two geography courses (GEOG 4490: Exploring Seoul-Geography of the City, and GEOG 4490: Geographies of Sustainable Agriculture) in the Hanyang University International Summer School program in Seoul, South Korea in Summer 2021. Come study in downtown Seoul, the city that never sleeps! Experience genuinely multicultural education through Hanyang University's International Summer School, a program that offers over 130 classes in 12 fields of study. Study alongside students from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia while exploring the rich culture of South Korea and the ultra-modern city of Seoul. Program includes a variety of local tours/activities that allow you to experience Korean culture - whether Korean cooking or Korean hip hop - entirely free of charge. The program runs from July 2 - August 1. Join us as we enjoy a truly global learning experience in the heart of Seoul!

    GEOG 4490: Exploring Seoul, Geography of the City. This course will get us out of the classroom and into the city as we explore the sights and sounds, and nooks and crannies, of one of the most fascinating cities on earth. For geographers, what does it mean to “read the cultural landscape” of a place? What stories can the buildings and design of a city tell us about the culture, past and present of the people who live there? With these questions in mind, we will set out on a series of tours of the city, organized by theme, that will teach us not just about the past and present of our incredible host city, but about new ways of seeing, and understanding, the urban world in which we live. At the end of the class, students will present their own themed photo essay of some aspect of the cultural landscape of Seoul. 

    GEOG 4490: Geographies of Sustainable Agriculture. This course will provide students with an introduction to the workings of the global food system, with particular emphasis on issues of food security and environmental sustainability. The course will connect the food on our plates to the urgent global issues of climate change, hunger, and water scarcity, and place today’s global food system in the historical context of the colonial systems from which it emerged. It will then examine the potential of new approaches to soil-building agriculture to promote food security and resilience in a changing climate, and examine visions for an equitable, sustainable agriculture for the twenty-first century.

  • The KSU Education Abroad Office also provides information about Virtual Education Abroad experiences for a variety of subjects. 

2020 Study Abroad Opportunities

The following geography and anthropology study abroad opportunities were available with our faculty in 2020, but they were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, we include the listing here as examples of geography and anthropology education abroad programs led by our faculty.

  • Spring Break 2020: Interdisciplinary Seminar to Cuba

    Dr. Ken Williamson, along with several other faculty from different departments, is a faculty member on the Year of Cuba seminar abroad during Spring Break in 2020. The Year of Cuba seminar abroad program will provide an immersive, global learning experience that will help broaden the worldview and increase the intercultural competence of students. This seminar will introduce students to the vibrant diversity of peoples, cultures, traditions and modern complexities of Cuba by visiting a variety of community organizations, businesses, museums, and cultural sites. Students will develop a holistic understanding of Cuba and gain a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and global interdependence through reflection and analysis of local and global issues. Co-taught by an interdisciplinary team of faculty, the spring semester Year of Cuba course will travel to Cuba during spring break. This course is an interdisciplinary exploration of the sociological, cultural, economic, political, historical, and modern-day dimensions of Cuba with a special emphasis on processes of change and continuity. Based in Havana, study abroad participants will visit numerous important cultural and historic sites such as Revolution Square, the Malecon, Hemingway House, Our Lady of Regla church, and selected UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

  • May/June 2020: Osteology Field School in Greece

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be leading students in an Osteology Field School experience on the island of Crete in Greece. Dr. Smith has over 12 years of experience in Greece. She worked for the Institute for the Study of Aegean Prehistory in Pacheia Ammos, Crete since 2007. She has supervised field schools or study abroad programs in Greece since 2006 and has participating in study abroads in other countries like France, Ireland, and Italy. Note: Participation in this program is by invitation only.

  • June/July 2020: KSU in Italy Program in Montepulciano, Italy

    Prof. Erinn Bariteau will be teaching two geography courses (GEOG 1112: Weather and Climate, and GEOG 4490: Natural Hazards and Disasters) in Montepulciano, Italy, in Session II of the KSU in Italy Summer 2020 study abroad program. The Montepulciano, Italy Summer Study abroad program allows students an opportunity to take lower and upper division course work in historic Tuscany. Montepulciano is centrally located between Rome and Florence with accessible bus and rail transportation to the rest of Italy. Kennesaw State University has overseen this study abroad program, a consortium among Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Highlands College, Valdosta State University, and Kennesaw State University since 2000. More general information about the KSU in Tuscany program and site location in Montepulicano is found here

    GEOG 1112: Weather and Climate. This course examines aspects of physical geography inCentral Italy, specifically earth-sun relationships, atmospheric processes, climate and weather patterns, vegetation patterns and principles on amicro to synoptic scale.Students willcompare and contrast geographic influences of weather and climate, such as terrain, altitude, latitude, proximity to water, on the Italian landscape by exploring physical features ofthe region. Research on climate change and implications for the region will be discussed and students will have the opportunity to investigate andevaluate long termimpact(s).The lab component focuses on practical and applied aspects of environmental systems. Lab work entails map reading, data collection, data analysis and application.

    GEOG 4490: Natural Hazards and Disasters. Volcanoes, eruptions, floods, oh my! This course will explore natural hazards and disasters which have shaped landscape features of Central Italy.Concepts in vulnerability, risk and perception of risk will be discussed in both historic and contemporary context where site visits and observation will provide first hand evidence of change.Further we will explore essential aspects of emergency management and communication.

    Various Dates and Opportunities: Online in Tuscany

    The Online in Tuscany program at KSU's facility in Montepulciano, Italy, is an exciting option for fully online students enrolled in our online courses and online degree programs. Set in the beautiful region of Tuscany Italy, KSU's Montepulciano Educational Site offers students a unique opportunity for academic study within this medieval city while immersing themselves in the wonderful and authentic Italian culture. This program is designed for the more independent, fully online student with prior international travel experience. Students will be required to take a "full load online" (as defined by each undergraduate or graduate program) for example with either four, three hour, semester-long courses (12 hours) or two, seven-week courses (6 hours). Importantly, beyond the academic component (depending upon the option selected), students will also be able to participate in weekly field trips to Rome, Naples/Pompei/Amalfi Coast and several locations closer to home. One free-travel weekend is also included in addition to a number of possible local activities in and around Montepulciano. The ability to extend your stay beyond the program is also possible. Contact KSU in Tuscany Site Director Ken Hill for more information, or you may also contact Dr. Paul McDaniel (Assistant Professor of Geography who has previously taught in the KSU in Tuscany program in Montepulciano). 

  • July 2020: Hanyang International Summer School in Seoul, South Korea

    Dr. Jason Rhodes will be teaching two geography courses (GEOG 4490: Geography of Clothing, and GEOG 4490: Geographies of Sustainable Agriculture) in the Hanyang University International Summer School program in Seoul, South Korea in Summer 2020. Come study in downtown Seoul, the city that never sleeps! Experience genuinely multicultural education through Hanyang University's International Summer School, a program that offers over 130 classes in 12 fields of study. Study alongside students from Europe, Asia, North America and Australia while exploring the rich culture of South Korea and the ultra-modern city of Seoul. Earn up to 9 credits over four weeks for a program price (price includes tuition, and 3 cultural activities - flight, meals, housing, & spending money not included) of just $1,492! Program includes a variety of local tours/activities that allow you to experience Korean culture - whether Korean cooking or Korean hip hop - entirely free of charge. The program runs from July 6- July 31. Join us as we enjoy a truly global learning experience in the heart of Seoul!

    GEOG 4490: Geography of Clothing. This course will examine the human and environmental impact of the clothing industry, using an examination of the global clothing commodity chain to frame questions about globalization and explore competing visions for sustainable economic development. We will learn about the “fast fashion” revolution that has transformed the global clothing industry in recent decades, and trace the linkages that exist between advertising and consumer behavior, networks of “flexible” production and distribution, and trends of urbanization in developing countries that result in the ongoing supply of the young, typically female labor on which the entire global industry depends. 

    GEOG 4490: Geographies of Sustainable Agriculture. This course will provide students with an introduction to the workings of the global food system, with particular emphasis on issues of food security and environmental sustainability. The course will connect the food on our plates to the urgent global issues of climate change, hunger, and water scarcity, and place today’s global food system in the historical context of the colonial systems from which it emerged. It will then examine the potential of new approaches to soil-building agriculture to promote food security and resilience in a changing climate, and examine visions for an equitable, sustainable agriculture for the twenty-first century.

    Tuition and Fees Cost of Attendance
  • Summer 2020: USG European Council Program in Madrid, Spain

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be teaching two anthropology courses (ANTH 1101: Introduction to Anthropology, and ANTH 4490: Death on the Iberian Peninsula) in Madrid, Spain, in Summer 2020. These courses are part of the University System of Georgia’s USG Goes Global European Council Madrid summer study abroad program. Consider studying during the summer in Madrid, the geographic center of Spain and the historic center of the entire Hispanic world. The city of four million is a modern European hub with state-of-the-art transportation and cafes, but its Old World charm shines through in its long afternoon siestas, its warm and friendly people, and its majestic monuments of Spain’s glorious past. Students will have the opportunity to live in a typical Madrid neighborhood popular for students, eat at tapas bars, visit world-class museums, and enjoy life in this vibrant city. From practicing Spanish language skills to learning about ancient world history, Madrid is an ideal location for any student hoping to gain an exciting, informative, and productive intercultural experience.

    More info about this program and the instructions to apply are available here from the KSU Education Abroad Office

    ANTH 1102: Introduction to Anthropology. Introduction to Anthropology is a survey of all 4 major subfields of Anthropology: cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological. We will approach each of these subfields using Spain and Portugal as our primary examples. You will be able to experience all of these four subfields of anthropology yourself through field trips, museum visits, and most importantly by living in Madrid for 5 weeks. Anthropology is unique in that it attempts to study biological and cultural aspects of humans from all over the world and from all time periods, both historic and prehistoric. This is the holistic approach that defines anthropology and sets it apart from other disciplines. We will be discussing the four major subfields individually and collectively, stressing a biocultural approach to anthropology. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the anthropology of Spain and Portugal from all subfields of the discipline.

    ANTH 4490: Death on the Iberian Peninsula. This course exposes students to death in Spain, with a specific focus on Madrid. We will use class discussions, projects, and field-trips to learn how death has been dealt with in the past and how it is incorporated into modern Spanish life. This class will take an anthropological approach to this broad topic of death and readings will include academic and popular articles.

  • May 2020: USG Goes Global Program in Vietnam

    USG Goes Global is excited to introduce a brand new 2-week study abroad program to Vietnam for Summer 2020! This two-week long program in May 2020 will travel to multiple locations in Vietnam. The excursions will introduce students to a wide variety of Vietnamese culture, lifestyle, and history in the context of a World Regional Geography course. 

    GEOG 1130: World Regional Geography. This course provides a framework for recognizing and analyzing the major distinctive regions of the world in comparative context emphasizing various inter-relations among environment, culture, economy, politics, and history. This study abroad course places world regional geography in a Southeast Asian context with a particular focus on Vietnam. The course will explore the country and region's geographic relationships with other major world regions, including East and South Asia, North America, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. The context of the course also places Vietnam within the theme of contemporary globalization.  

Geography and Anthropology Study Abroad

2019 Study Abroad Opportunities

The following geography and anthropology study abroad opportunities were available with our faculty in 2019 in Greece, Ireland, and Spain. Below this listing, please find examples of additional past geography and anthropology education abroad programs led by our faculty.

  • May/June 2019: Osteology Field School in Greece

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be leading students in an Osteology Field School experience on the island of Crete in Greece. Note: Participation in this program is by invitation only. 
  • Summer 2019: USG European Council Program in Waterford, Ireland

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be teaching anthropology in Waterford, Ireland, in Summer 2019. These courses are part of the University System of Georgia’s European Council Waterford program. Apply to the program here

  • Summer 2019: USG European Council Program in Madrid, Spain

    Dr. Paul McDaniel will be teaching geography in Madrid, Spain, in Summer 2019. These courses are part of the University System of Georgia’s European Council Madrid program. Apply to the program here

    Check out this summary of the Summer 2019 Madrid study abroad program!

Geography Study Abroad Anthropology Study Aboad

2018 Study Abroad Opportunities

The following geography and anthropology study abroad opportunities were available with our faculty in 2018 in India, Greece, China, Italy, France, and Guinea-Bissau. Below this listing, please find examples of additional past geography and anthropology education abroad programs led by our faculty.  

  • May/June 2018: USG Asia Council Program in Zhengzhou, China

    Dr. Jun Tu will be teaching geography in China as part of the University System of Georgia’s Asia Council China Summer program, May 8 to June 5, 2018. Specifically, he will be teaching GEOG 1101: Introduction to Human Geography and GEOG 3360: Geography of Asia. The program's main host institution is Zhengzhou University in Henan province of the People's Republic of China. The group will also travel to other places in China, including Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai.

  • June/July 2018: USG European Council Program in Paris, France

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be teaching two anthropology courses in Paris in Summer 2018. These courses are part of the University System of Georgia’s European Council Paris program, which runs June 30 to August 5, 2018. Specifically, she will be teaching ANTH 1102: Introduction to Anthropology and an upper division course about Death in Paris. The USG European Council offers opportunities for students to participate in study abroad programs in Europe every summer. In summer 2018, there are six countries (seven locations) to choose from: UK (London and Edinburgh), France (Paris), Spain (Madrid), Germany (Berlin), Ireland (Waterford), and Russia (St. Petersburg). A variety of courses are offered in each location. 

  • May/June 2018: Osteology Field School in Greece

    Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith will be leading students in an Osteology Field School experience on the island of Crete in Greece. Note: Participation in this program is by invitation only. 

  • July 2018: Human Ecology in Guinea-Bissau

    Dr. Brandon Lundy will be leading several students on a study abroad to Guinea-Bissau in summer 2018 to work on an Environmental Studies project. During the month of July, their team will travel to Guinea-Bissau to help build and create a human ecology/environmental studies program with students and faculty from local universities. In preparation for their study abroad trip, the team at KSU has worked on curriculum projects focused on energy and agriculture. More information about this study abroad experience is available here.

  • Spring Break 2018: KSU Year of India Seminar Abroad

    Dr. Debarati Sen is teaching in the Spring 2018 Year of India course, which meets during the spring semester at KSU and will travel to India during Spring Break, March 28 to April 8. While in India, the group will visit a variety of community organizations, academic institutions, businesses, museums, and sacred places, in both rural and urban settings. Students will develop a holistic understanding of India and gain a greater appreciation for cultural diversity and global interdependence through reflection and analysis of issues of local and global importance. Students will interact with faculty, staff and students from both Tata Institute of Social Sciences and HR College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. They will also meet with United Nations CIFAL Bangalore officials as well as visit numerous important cultural and historic sites including the Golden Temple of Amritsar, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • May/June 2018: KSU in Italy Program in Montepulciano, Italy

    Dr. Paul McDaniel will be teaching two geography courses in Montepulciano, Italy, in Session 1 of the KSU in Italy program, May 17 to June 21, 2018. Specifically, he will be teaching GEOG 1101: Introduction to Human Geography and GEOG 3312: Geography of Europe. The program takes place at KSU’s refurbished fortezza facility in Montepulciano, a historic hill town in the province of Siena, in the southern part of Italy’s Tuscany region, between Rome and Florence. While there, the group will visit Rome, Florence, Pisa, Sienna, Lucca, Orvieto, Lake Trasimeno, and other locations. The Montepulciano, Italy Summer Study abroad program allows students an opportunity to take lower and upper division course work in historic Tuscany. Montepulciano is centrally located with accessible bus and rail transportation to the rest of Italy. Kennesaw State University has overseen this study abroad program since 2000.

Past Education Abroad Experiences

Examples of previous geography and anthropology study abroad programs led by faculty in our department:

  • Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands: Geography of Beer with Dr. Nancy Hoalst-Pullen and Dr. Mark Patterson
  • Belize: Archaeology with Dr. Terry Powis
  • China: Geography with Dr. Jun Tu
  • Greece (Crete): Physical Anthropology with Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith
  • Guinea-Bissau: Anthropology and Conflict Management with Dr. Brandon Lundy
  • Madrid, Spain: Geography with Dr. Paul McDaniel
  • Montepulciano, Italy: Anthropology with Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith; Geography with Dr. Paul McDaniel
  • Paris, France: Anthropology with Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith
  • Rajasthan, India: Archaeology with Dr. Teresa Raczek
  • Waterford, Ireland: Anthropology with Dr. Susan Kirkpatrick Smith
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