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Embark on a transformative journey with Aims Community College’s new Study Abroad pilot program, launching in Summer 2026. This immersive experience invites students to earn college credit while they explore the rich culture of Ireland on a short-term trip.
Students will expand their global perspectives, engage with diverse cultures and enhance their academic and personal growth.
This is more than just a trip—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture, make lifelong friends and create memories that will stay with you forever.
The Summer 2026 program will include visits to the following locations:
A charming and vibrant surf town on Ireland’s stunning northwest coast, Bundoran is known for its friendly atmosphere and breathtaking scenery. The town offers plenty of free outdoor activities, from strolling along scenic coastal trails to relaxing on the beach. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try surfing some of Europe’s best waves, go bowling or check out the local water and amusement parks.
Located on the banks of the River Foyle, this historic Northern Ireland city is famous for its well-preserved 17th-century city walls, which encircle the old town and offer stunning views. Derry played a key role in Irish and British history, particularly during the Troubles. Today, it is a vibrant cultural hub with a rich heritage, a thriving arts scene and landmarks like the Guildhall and the Peace Bridge.
A city where rich history meets a lively, modern culture, Dublin is home to world-renowned universities and iconic literary landmarks. Offering an unforgettable learning experience in the heart of Europe, Dublin's friendly locals and easy access to breathtaking landscapes make it the perfect destination to study, explore and grow.
The Institute of Study Abroad Ireland facilitates short faculty-led study abroad programs for colleges from around the world in Donegal, Ireland.
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible to enroll in the study abroad program:
Age: Student must be at least 18 years of age at the time of travel.
Academic Good Standing: A student on academic probation at the time of application is not eligible to participate in international student travel.
Clean disciplinary record: Students who have a conduct history may not be eligible to participate in international travel. The Student Life Office, in consultation with the Dean of Students, will review the student’s conduct history at the time of application and, again, prior to departure. Decisions on eligibility for conduct issues will be made on a case-by-base basis. The decision to not allow a student to participate may not be appealed.
Aims is working to make this program as financially accessible as possible. For that reason, we do not yet have the total cost available. Check back here to stay informed of these developments.
Financial aid may be available to cover some of the cost for this program.
To qualify for financial aid, students must be enrolled in at least six credits during the summer semester and must be enrolled in a course that will count toward their degree or certificate.
Scholarships may be available.
Contact Lorna Finlay, lorna.finlay@aims.edu for more information on financial aid options for this program.
Instructor: Eden Welker
Feel a sense of place and witness deep human history. This course introduces the science of recovering the human past through excavation, analysis and interpretation of material remains.
But there's a twist - you get to travel and experience the magic of archaeological and historical sites for yourself in Ireland!
Archaeology will come to life for students through this course's exploration of human occupation in Ireland, Northern Ireland and North America from Paleolithic to Medieval times. They will compare and contrast social, economic, symbolic and political systems of past indigenous cultures in the host and home nations. Students will sample new cultures, languages and traditions - both ancient and current - in an enriched, supportive learning environment.
Instructor: Francie Rottini
Ireland’s profound cultural connection to death, trauma and collective memory provides a unique backdrop for exploring psychological themes related to loss, grief and the afterlife. Visiting sacred sites like St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery or Arranmore Island, where death is woven into the fabric of the landscape, will allow students to examine how different cultures approach the final stages of life. These sites, among others, offer invaluable opportunities for bearing witness to the hardships and resilience of a people whose history is marked by suffering, whether through the Great Famine, wars for independence or other historical struggles.
This course will emphasize the importance of bearing witness to the lived experiences of those who have faced hardship. By engaging with these powerful sites and the stories they tell, students will gain deeper insight into the human condition and the psychological processes of coping with trauma, loss and the inevitability of death. Rather than simply reading about these themes in textbooks, students will walk the paths of history and reflect on their own emotional responses, offering a level of engagement that transcends traditional classroom boundaries.
In addition, the immersive nature of the program will provide students with the opportunity to integrate the academic study of death with the personal and emotional exploration of their own beliefs and reactions. This holistic approach to learning will allow them to process difficult topics in a supportive and enriching environment, guided by reflection, group discussions and personal journaling. By the end of the course, students will not only have gained valuable academic insights into the psychology of death and dying but will also have developed a deeper, more empathetic understanding of human resilience and the psychological mechanisms that allow individuals and communities to navigate the challenges of loss.
Students will complete the course not only with a greater knowledge of the psychology of death but with a profound sense of connection to the past and to the shared human experience of mortality. The act of bearing witness to Ireland’s rich and often painful history of death, trauma and survival will encourage them to reflect on their own lives and develop a more compassionate and thoughtful perspective on death and dying in the broader global context.
Instructor: Michael Booker
On-site learning to historic sites like Londonderry/Derry, Dublin or Enniskillen allows students to experience history tangibly, deepening their understanding beyond textbooks. Cultural immersion allows students to engage with the local culture and their customs and enriches their understanding of how history and culture shape identity and daily life.
Ireland’s history offers unique case studies in topics such as colonialism, diaspora, conflict and peace studies and cultural preservation.
Ireland’s complex and fascinating history connects with literature, art, political science, anthropology, archaeology and geography allowing for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding Western Civilization.
Studying abroad for any amount of time challenges students to view history and the wider world through a non-U.S.-centric lens, encouraging them to think critically about both history and global interconnections.
Ireland and Northern Ireland offer a vibrant and historically rich environment that brings history to life. The opportunity for Aims students to study abroad will enhance their understanding of a culture that is much different than their own and ultimately provide a transformative experience that they will carry with them for a lifetime.
This course explores trends within events, peoples, groups, ideas and institutions in Western civilization since 1650. This course focuses on developing, practicing and strengthening skills historians use while constructing knowledge and studying a diverse set of narratives through perspectives such as gender, class, religion and ethnicity. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-HI1 category.
Instructor: Laura Brashear
World Mythology introduces an interdisciplinary approach to world mythology. The course illustrates and connects common themes in mythology to world religion, philosophy, art, literature, music and contemporary culture using various interpretive methods. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-AH2 category.
While in Ireland, the classroom time will be dedicated to mythology related to the excursions and areas planned. For example: To partner with the excursion to the Fairy Bridges, students will learn about how nature and natural wonders have inspired sacred story development.
We will also utilize the knowledge gained about Irish mythology to discuss how one culture can influence ideas worldwide.
The trip to Ireland will include visits to Bundoran, Derry and Dublin.
Courses will begin May 26, 2026.
Travel dates are June 2-14, 2026. Students must be able to travel for all of these dates. Students will not be able to arrive or depart earlier or later than these dates.
Yes!
If you do not have a passport, it is important that you apply for a passport as soon as possible. It can take up to 8 weeks to receive a passport. Click here to begin your passport application.
If you have a United States passport, check the expiration date. Be sure your passport is valid through December 2026.
If you have a passport from a country other than the United States, contact Jennifer Markiewicz immediately (jennifer.markiewicz@aims.edu). You will need additional documentation in order to travel to Ireland.
Deposit: Students must submit a $100 nonrefundable deposit by February 1, 2026 to reserve their seat in the program.
Passport: $130 for new and renewing applications. Additional fees apply if expedited service is requested.
Lunches/Snacks/Miscellaneous: Two meals per day are provided while in Ireland. Students will be responsible for their own lunches on most days and during our travel days (e.g., at the airport). Students will have access to a kitchen to prepare or pack lunches on most days. Students may want to budget for miscellaneous items such as over-the-counter medications or toiletries.
Recreation (Optional): We will be staying near a bowling alley, arcade and other attractions. Students may wish to bring money for entrance to those attractions. Entrance fees to all planned excursions required for your course are included in your tuition and fees.
Souvenirs (Optional): Students may wish to bring money for souvenirs to bring home.
Yes.
Most of the travel dates will include lodging in an apartment facility where students will share a room within an apartment. Each apartment will house 3-4 students. Some overnights will be in shared hotel rooms.
You will have an opportunity to request to share rooms with specific students and/or may request special considerations when assigning roommates.
Courses are capped at 10 students.
Each course will have between 8-10 students. We expect 30-40 students from Aims will travel together for this program.
We will also meet and travel with students from around the world once we arrive in Ireland.
Not at this time. The long-term vision for study abroad programming includes opening opportunities for new programs in different countries. If all goes well with this pilot program to Ireland, we may be able to offer different destinations in the future.
Help us make this a success!
Ready to apply? Review the application requirements and apply here.
