UMF Travel Courses

Take Your Education on the Road

Why just read about the world when you can experience it firsthand? UMF Travel Courses let you take your learning far beyond the classroom. Led by UMF faculty, these short-term programs combine academics with real-world adventure—offering hands-on experiences in places like Europe, Asia, Central America, and beyond. You’ll earn college credit while exploring new cultures, making unforgettable memories, and connecting what you learn to the world around you.

Travel courses are usually offered during winter or summer breaks, making them a perfect fit for your college schedule. 

Winter 2025: Costa Rica

BIO 130/ENV 130/ENG 130: Tropical Nature – Exploring Costa Rica

Faculty: Andrew Barton (barton@maine.edu); Jeff Thomson (jeffrey.thomson@maine.edu)

Travel Dates: January 2025 (Winter Break)

For nearly two weeks, students will explore the astonishing diversity of many of Costa Rica’s ecosystems, including rainforests, cloud forests, mangrove swamps, and beach ecosystems. The course will emphasize natural history, field studies of ecological patterns, tropical conservation, and reflecting on and writing about your experiences.

Costs (including airfare):

Course Fee: $3,250

Additional Expenses: $100

Total Estimated Costs: $3,350 + Tuition (3-4 credits)

May 2025 Italy

POS 262S Italian Political History, INS280

Faculty: Scott Erb (scotterb@maine.edu)

Travel Dates: May 13-27, 2025

Exploring Italy is like a trip through time, ranging from ancient Rome to the canals of Venice and art of renaissance Florence.  In the present Italy offers superb food, culture and beauty.  The course involves faculty from art history and political science, weaving together the story of Italy in a way that shows how these disciplines connect through time. The faculty have taught this travel course numerous times, and will provide both insight on Italy’s culture and history, and an unforgettable experience of Italy today.

Costs:

Course Fee: $2,800

Additional Expenses: $ 700

Total Costs: $3,500 + Tuition (3 credits)

May 2025 Quebec

POS 277/INS 280: Exploring the Culture, Cuisine & Political History of Quebec

Faculty: Linda Beck (linda.beck@maine.edu); Chelsea Ray (chelsea.d.ray@maine.edu)

Travel Dates: May 24, 2025 – May 30, 2025

The course will begin asynchronously on May 19 when students will be provided with historical, cultural and linguistic background to prepare them for a week in Quebec. Planned activities include: touring Vieux Quebec/Old Quebec, a river cruise along the St. Lawrence, taking a cooking class on Quebec cuisine, a Inuit Night Walk with one of Canada’s First Nations, and a visit to Montmorency Fall as well as Farmington’s sister city, Lac Megantic.

Costs (including airfare):

Course Fee: $1,150

Total Estimated Costs: $1,150 + Tuition (3 credits)

Portugal Global Seminar

EDU 277/EDU 377/INS 280: Learning Across Borders – Exploring Education in Portugal & the USA

Faculty: Shannon Larsen (shannon.larsen@maine.edu)

Travel Dates: May 2025

This course is an examination of schools and schooling in Portugal and the United States. It will include a Virtual Global Exchange with education students in Lisbon who we will meet when we travel in May. The focus of the course will be international and comparative education. Students from all majors are welcome and can take the class as EDU 277 (education elective), EDU 377 (education elective) or INS 280.

Costs:

Course Fee: $2,850*

* Students are eligible for a scholarship of up to $850.

Total Estimated Costs: $2,850 + Tuition (3 credits)

France Global Seminar with Le Mans University

HON175/POS177/IGS277 Global Perspectives on Democracy

Faculty: Linda Beck (linda.beck@maine.edu)

Travel Dates: June 16-July 4, 2025

Each year, UMF students can take part in a conference in Camden, Maine focused on a global issue—this year’s theme is “Democracy under Threat: A Global Perspective.” Students in a Spring Term course will prepare through readings, attend the conference (Feb. 21–23), and then participate in a virtual exchange with students from France, Senegal, and South Africa. They can also apply for a Global Classrooms scholarship to attend a 3-week French Language & Culture program at Le Mans University in France, with tuition, lodging, and program fees covered.

Costs:

Camden Conference Costs covered by UMF’s Research Learning Experiences Grant
Fees for French Language & Culture Program and Lodging at LMU: $1,400*
Estimated additional Student Costs: $2,300 for airfare and food during the program

 

Learn More, Go Further

UMF Travel Courses are your chance to see the world while earning credit and having an unforgettable experience. With expert faculty, exciting destinations, and hands-on learning, these short-term programs make your education an adventure. Ready to go somewhere new? Start your journey with a UMF Travel Course!

We know you have questions, we have the answers!

Contact Us

Office of Experiential & Global Education
University of Maine at Farmington
Rm 207, Mantor Library
116 South Street
Farmington, Maine 04938
Phone: 207-778-7166
jeffrey.willis@maine.edu