Ireland

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 the Paleolithic to the Medieval period. 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: Amanda Dunn

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 to bear 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.

Instructor: Amy McFarland

World Interdependence/Population/Food (or World Food for short!) covers the study of world population and food production and distribution. Problems and opportunities concerning population and food are discussed in a global context. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-SS3 category.

During the Study Abroad Program in Ireland, we will compare and contrast food production and population trends in Ireland with those of other developed and developing nations. We’ll use information gained through our immersive tours to help understand both the economic development and population momentum throughout Ireland’s history, as well as identify prevalent social institutions relative to the country and its economic and agricultural development.

The benefit of this course in a Study Abroad Program is not only the immersive experience for all students but also the real-time ability to connect course content to the world in a context outside the United States and/or students’ native cultures. We know that agricultural production and population momentum are inherently tied together, and what better way to experience it all than in the country where the Irish Potato Famine happened?