May Term travel courses at Bridgewater College offer a study abroad experience in a few short weeks during which students gain first-hand knowledge of another culture while traveling with a BC professor and fellow students. The intensive three-week classes held after the spring semester concludes focus on experiential learning courses.
This year, more than 60 students and faculty were provided with the opportunities to visit different countries, with classes traveling to Ecuador to study marine ecology; Spain to study visual art; England and Ireland to study travel writing; and Oxford, England, to study modern British history.
First-year biology major Rachael Meyers, who studied marine ecology in Ecuador with Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Kim Bolyard, enjoyed the opportunity to immerse herself in the coursework and the culture around her.
“Going to Quito and the Galápagos Islands with Bridgewater was the trip of a lifetime. Being abroad, I learned so much about myself and the world we live in. I had the opportunity to explore incredible landscapes, observe beautiful animals and indulge in surrounding cultures. I’m so thankful I was given the opportunity to go, as I now have memories that will forever,” Meyers said.
Study abroad programs including May Term had been on pause since 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making the return of travel courses even more impactful for the BC community.
“We are thrilled to see May Term travel return after a two-year hiatus,” said Anne Marsh, Director of Study Abroad at Bridgewater College. “Studying abroad offers a type of immersive learning that can be hard to duplicate without travel, so we’re excited to offer these high-impact opportunities to our students once again.”
In May 2023, BC students will have the opportunity to travel to Belgium and the United Kingdom to study cross-cultural issues in business; Belgium, the U.K. and France to study cultural memory of the Second World War; and Spain to study Spanish life and culture. For students ready to study abroad for a semester or longer, a world of options awaits. Learn more about Bridgewater College’s study abroad offerings by visiting bridgewater.edu/academics/study-abroad.
— by Logan Bogert
