Past Trips
Domestic studies, Alabama: Civil Rights and Black Power Movements
May 15 to June 29, 2023
Alabama is the cradle of the confederacy, but it is also one of the birthplaces of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. This immersive program explored historical events, sites and communities of Alabama that reflect the breadth of these movements, and their legacies. Students were introduced to the historical narratives of resistance movements and their connections to the cultural and political ideologies in Alabama’s Black community today. Students were also introduced to the vibrant art and culinary world throughout Alabama.
Domestic studies, New Mexico: Criminal Justice System and Trauma-informed Practice
May 15 to June 29, 2023
Professors Ilze Nix and Judy Cruz-Ransom visited the cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe in New Mexico. This trip allowed students to time traveling through thousands of years and exploring the stories and native roots of the Indigenous peoples; the traditions and influence of the Spanish arrivals; and the modern-day streets, scenery, art and food. While taking Justice 191, Victimology and Trauma, the program focused on historical and current victimization, the criminal justice system from the victim's perspective, and trauma-informed practices surrounding these. Reflecting on the intersectionality of race and gender, this program aimed towards action-oriented social justice.
Domestic studies, South Carolina: Gullah Geechee Communities and Cultural Preservation
May 15 to June 29, 2023
Traveling to Charleston, South Carolina and surrounding areas, this program explored the rich legacy of African cultures and influence in the low-country region. The Gullah Geechee people have retained and embraced their African roots and customs and even their own language. Students engaged in a transformative experience learning about the Gullah Geechee culture through food, arts, crafts and music. This program bridged the past with the present and covered important moments in the Civil Rights Movement while also providing a broader narrative of the American Black experience, sights, and stories that are not commonly told or seen.
Domestic Studies, Wyoming: Deconstructing the Myth of Manifest Destiny
Restorative Justice for Indigenous Peoples
June 2023
Exploring history of America, indigenous culture, and restorative justice practices that help local native peoples regain recognition, students joined Dr. Faye Allard and Dr. Sarah Iepson for a domestic study program that will engaged with native peoples in Philadelphia and the American West. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students learned about the histories, cultures, and art of native groups in Philadelphia and the Wyoming area, learned of various restorative practices that have been implemented in the west, and had a chance to advocate for local tribes as they fight for recognition and cultural restoration. Students traveled to Sheridan, Wyoming staying in dorms at Sheridan College and exploring various museums, historical sites, and meet with contemporary indigenous and ally social justice fighters.
Global Studies Summit: Social Justice
May 31 to June 30, 2022
Community College of Philadelphia hosted our second virtual and in-person monthlong Global Studies Summit in the Summer of 2022. Due to travel restrictions, we brought global topics home to our campus and invited the entire community to partake. Visit our Global Studies Summit Past Events page for more details on our programming
Global Studies Summit
June 7 to June 30, 2021
Community College of Philadelphia hosted our first virtual monthlong Global Studies Summit due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions. All events were student-centered and open to the College community as well as the greater public. We had an amazing lineup of speakers who explored the theme of global social justice in relation to previously planned trips to Cambodia and South Africa. Events also highlighted opportunities provided through the College’s study abroad program.
*Costa Rica—2020
Join professor Nancy Carr and professor J. Barry Johnson for eight exciting days in San Jose, Costa Rica. The words “Costa Rica” translate to mean “Rich Coast” which is an apt description of a country that is home to vibrant rainforest, active volcanoes, and more than 500,000 species, making it one of the most biodiverse country’s in the world. The required summer course is BUSL 195: Experiential Learning in Business or Technology. Outside the academic coursework, students will visit National Technical University (UTN), CoopeVictoria, the largest and oldest cooperative in Central America, talk with the local mayor, visit the Central Market, have a beach trip and much more.
*This trip was canceled due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions
*South Africa—2020
Why not visit South Africa next summer with Dr. Anyabwile Love & Prof. Ilze Nix on the streets of Johannesburg & Soweto, the beaches of Cape Town & surrounding False Bay, & the bushveld of Pilansberg. The required Intro to African Culture & Civilization course (Hum 180) will focus on South Africa’s vibrant culture, history and people. We will consider the origins of their civilization. The history of their literature and the narratives of its indigenous people will be connected to the contemporary events. The remnants of slavery and apartheid will be wed to present social and political movements... all to prepare us for our trip where we will explore the footprints of one of the earliest civilizations in world history; legendary South Africans like Nelson & Winnie Mandela; the students of the Soweto Uprising; and the day-to-day lives of people still living in the ‘Rainbow Nation’.
*This trip was canceled due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions
*Cambodia—2020
An exciting study-abroad experience will be available to Community College of Philadelphia students this summer – a study tour of Cambodia, in Southeast Asia. The “Cambodia and the Human Condition” study abroad program will introduce students to the rich history and magnificent architecture of Cambodia. Participants will explore the capital of Phnom Penh, including the magnificent Royal Palace, National Museum of Cambodia, Tuol Sleng genocide museum and Killing Fields, and the Mekong River. Students will also travel to the famed temples of Angkor Wat and Battambang to gain first-hand knowledge of day-to-day life at a rural factory-farm, silk factory, floating village, and orphanage. Professors Daravann Yi, Counseling, and Linda Fellag, English, will lead the trip, tentatively scheduled for June 7-18, 2019. Exact travel dates are tentative until flights are booked.
*This trip was canceled due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions
Japan—2018
David Prejsnar, professor of History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, and Akiko Mori, professor of Foreign Languages, lead students through the ancient Japanese capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and the modern cities of Osaka and Hiroshima, site of the first use of the atomic bomb. Concentrating on the theme, "Memories and Traditions in Ancient & Modern Japan," they visited beautiful historical and cultural sites in Kyoto such as the Nijō Castle, and the temples and gardens of Ryōanji. They also experienced how other cultures have influenced Japan through food, art, theatre and music performances, and will visit a Japanese comic book (manga.) museum. The group travelled to the breath-taking Buddhist holy mountain of Mt. Koya, stayed in a Buddhist temple-inn, and joined in meditation practice. In Hiroshima, they explored Japan’s situation in the modern world and Japanese pop culture, visited the Hiroshima Peace Museum and Park, and met survivors of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.
Merida—2018
Community College's first 2018 trip abroad was to Merida, Mexico, over Spring Break. Stanley Walling, associate professor of Social Science (Anthropology/Archeology); Mildred Savard, adjunct instructor for Academic Advising (History and Latin American Studies); and Sandra Gonzalez-Torres, director of Academic Success Initiative, lead students through rural Mexico, visited the fabulous Maya ruins, interacted with today's Maya in urban and rural Mexico, experienced the art and music of Merida, and about the Spanish-American heritage and current society.
Cuba—2017
Students explored Cuba and interacted with community leaders who shared their day-to-day lives, culture, work and family traditions. Participants were immersed on a vivid and mesmerizing landscape, which has lodged itself into the imagination of artists, dancers and writers. Students felt the rhythms of Havana while learning about Cuban history, culture and contemporary issues as Cuba welcomes Americans after President Obama renewed diplomatic relationships. Travelers experienced Old Havana and the city of Trinidad (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), engaged in service-learning activities, and practiced some conversational Spanish.
Tanzania—2017
By exploring the Serengeti to the streets of Stonetown, on the island of Zanzibar, students traveled to Tanzania and experienced the interplay of cultures within this East African nation, and the challenges to development and sustainability. The trip included a brief safari and site visits to see a wide range of wildlife and to understand environmental issues. Through various lectures, tours, service learning and various exciting cultural activities, we also investigated historical as well as contemporary challenges in today's Tanzania.
Belize—Archeology Option 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015
Students learned the essentials of field archaeology in a tropical forest setting filled with previously uninvestigated buildings and artifacts left by the ancient Maya civilization. Additionally, students learned excavation techniques and the use of hi-tech approaches to archaeological mapping.
Belize—Tropical Ecology Option 2011, 2013, 2015
Students explored the natural wonders of the tropics while staying at a wildlife sanctuary. Participants learned about landforms, geology and the rich cultural history of the area including the Creole, Maya, Mestizo and Garifuna peoples. The challenges of sustainable development, globalization, trade, and how fisheries and forest management are being addressed were also discussed.
South Africa—2014
Students spent eleven days in Capetown, South Africa. They enjoyed breathtaking sights of Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope's nature reserves, safaris and Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Additionally, the group participated in sobering visits to many cultural and historical landmarks such as the District 6 and Slave Lodge museums, the Drakenstein Correctional Centre where Nelson Mandela was transferred to after Robben Island, the Crypt Memory and Witness Center, and local empowerment centers associated with the Capetown's formal and informal settlements in Langa and Khayelitsha townships. The group also attended two lectures at the University of Capetown and spent very touching moments at St. Joseph's Home for ill children, as well as experiencing the live performances, diverse and rich cuisine, craft markets, malls and so much more!
Merida, Mexico—2011, 2012, 2014
The Merida, Mexico “Cross-Cultural Workshop” explored different aspects of the Yucatan Peninsula and its peoples, including the past and contemporary Maya. Students learned about the economy, history, art and architecture with visits to the most iconic Maya sites: Chichen-Itza, Uxmal and Dzibilchaltun.
Istanbul, Turkey—2011, 2012, 2014
Traveling to Istanbul dispels many myths about what is called the Middle East. Students who participated in the Turkey program stayed in a family-run, small hotel while exploring the magnificent architecture and diverse neighborhoods. The historic sites of Istanbul lead to an understanding of the Christian history of the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Muslim period and the modern secular Turkish state.
Cambodia—2012, 2013
Since one of the trip leaders is from Cambodia, this group experienced culturally distinctive urban and rural lifestyles. On this trip, students explored ancient and historical sites, the contemporary capital of Phnom Penh, and varied geographical features of the country. In addition to other sites, students visited the famed temple of Angkor Wat.
Peru—2011, 2013
The Peru trip offered students the opportunity to earn three college credits in Spanish. Students taking part on this trip lived with Peruvian host families for 2 weeks and were immersed in the fascinating culture of the city of Cusco. Additionally, the group visited breath-taking Inca archeological sites, including Machu Pichu and the Sacred Inca Valley.
Israel—2012
The group who traveled to Israel visited Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as well as the countryside to explore the country’s extraordinary history and contemporary concerns. The professors leading this study-tour provided a focus on renewable energy issues and sustainable architectural designs.