Global Travel Program

Mark your calendars! We are excited to offer three amazing global travel programs in the 2026-2027 school year!

Any student interested in participating in a Global Travel Program must complete this application by October 4. Trip leaders and our global travel committee will review applications and select students motivated to engage in place-based learning and ready for the challenges associated with each program. These programs are intentional, experiential, small-group education opportunities. While we’d love all students to participate in our Global Travel Programs during their time at BUA, students are not guaranteed admittance to a Global Travel Program in a particular year.

Please note that the stated trip costs per participant below are approximate and may vary slightly depending on final enrollment numbers.

Limited financial aid is available for families who qualify, and priority is given to upperclassmen and those who have not previously received financial assistance for global travel. Students should apply to any and all programs that interest them. If your family qualifies for financial aid, Nastaran Hakimi will reach out to discuss details, or you can feel free to contact her directly with questions at nrhakimi@bu.edu.

Applications are now open, with a deadline of October 4, 2026. Email Elisha Meyer, Director of Global Programs, with any questions at emmeyer@bu.edu.

Apply for 2026-2027 Global Travel Programs

The Power of Architecture and the Architecture of Power

Rome, Italy | March 6-14, 2027 | Cost: $5,200

How do power and architecture shape one another? How do people use art, architecture, and memory to express, and shape, identity? In this travel seminar, we’ll explore the city of Rome through the centuries to see how people use buildings — from the Colosseum to St. Peter’s Basilica — to negotiate social and political relationships and tell stories about themselves. We’ll look at literal layers of history — how does a building program use, transform, or conceal the past? We’ll look at ancient sites and inscriptions — including Ostia, the port city of Rome, and the Domus Aurea, Nero’s “Golden House.” We’ll also look at the ways that medieval and renaissance Romans transformed the city (with visits to museums housed in lavish villas, as well as the Vatican). We’ll investigate more modern interventions in Rome’s urban fabric (such as the hidden gem power plant museum and a tour of contemporary Roman street art). Along the way, we’ll enjoy classic and innovative Italian cuisine.

This program is open to students in all grades. The trip itinerary entails moderate walking in mainly urban environments.

Trip Leader: Dr. Pat Larash

Ocean Explorers: Dive into Marine Science & Conservation

Roatán, Honduras | March 6-13, 2027 | Cost: $4,815

Get ready to dive – literally – into adventure as we journey to the island of Roatán, Honduras, for an unforgettable marine biology program. Our home base for the week-long program will be The Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS), adjacent to Anthony’s Key Dive Resort. We will be surrounded by the beauty of over 30 miles of fringing and barrier reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and pristine shoreline. This is no ordinary classroom – this is a living laboratory teeming with life as part of the second largest barrier reef system in the world. We will use the resources of RIMS for hands-on scientific research and conservation efforts. Throughout the week, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside marine biologists, participating in cutting-edge research projects and conservation programs aimed at protecting the fragile marine ecosystems of Roatán. From studying coral reef ecology to swimming with bottlenose dolphins, this program is your chance to explore the world of marine biology and make a real difference in ocean conservation. Get ready to be inspired, educated, and empowered as you embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey to the heart of marine science in the Caribbean.

This program is open to students in all grades. The trip itinerary entails daily swimming/snorkeling. A swim test will be administered to all participants in advance of travel.

Trip Leader: Dr. Colleen Krivacek

Women Driving Change: The Making of the Civil Rights Movement

Alabama, USA | March 6-11, 2027 | Cost: $3,850

This trip will explore the people and places that shaped the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, with particular attention to the women and young people whose leadership, courage, and organizing helped transform the nation. Traveling through Montgomery, Selma, and Birmingham, students will trace the movement from the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Freedom Rides to the Selma voting rights campaign and Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Visits to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum, National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park will also invite students to consider how the history of slavery and racial terror connects to segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and ongoing questions of justice and equality.

Students will explore Alabama State University’s civil rights history, walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with a veteran of the Selma marches, and hear firsthand about youth activism in Birmingham. Throughout the trip, structured reflection and conversations with historians and community members will challenge students to consider how societies confront difficult histories, whose stories are remembered, and what responsibilities we have when we encounter injustice. Local food, music, and dance will provide additional opportunities to experience the culture, resilience, and community traditions of Alabama.

This program is open to students in all grades. The trip itinerary entails moderate walking in urban environments.

Trip Leader: Mr. Zane Ranney