School of Art and Design – Study Abroad Opportunities
Semester Long Opportunities
Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising majors can partner with Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM) in Florence during the spring semester of the junior year. Coursework is also available in Art History, Studio Arts, and Graphic Design.
Plan a meeting with your advisor to discuss your study abroad options and how it fits into your curriculum.
More information and application forms are available through HPU’s Office of Global Education.
Participants remain enrolled at HPU and pay HPU tuition and academic fees at standard on-campus rates. Participants are responsible for all additional expenses, including housing expenses which are paid directly to the host institution and food expenses which are self-catered. Please note that students studying at an affiliated partner will forfeit institutional aid and scholarships for the term abroad.
Short-term, Faculty-led Programs
Grand Tour of Italy
Follow in the footsteps of young artists who have historically honed their craft by visiting relevant sites in Italy and the rest of Europe. Work on-site on a series of studio projects in Florence, Siena, and Rome. Research specific works of art and architecture, then confront them face-to-face on this highly experiential and hands-on tour of Italy.
Course: ART 2988: The Grand Tour: Drawing and Art, Learning from the Masters; fulfills the Experiential Learning (EXPLN) requirement and/or the Arts (ARTS) requirement in the HPU Lead General Education Curriculum.
Term: May
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite: None
Faculty Leaders: Mark Brown and Janis Dougherty
Auspicious Environments Far and Near: Osaka
Journey to vibrant Osaka, Japan on this Maymester program offered by the HPU Department of Interior Design, Furniture, & Fashion Merchandising. The course itself is an exploration of the real and virtual worlds of Japanese fashion and design, investigating Japanese influences in apparel, architecture, interiors, and products. From fashion houses to tea houses, from streetwear to skyscrapers, let Japan become your classroom! Students return home with a glimpse into the local perspective of Japanese fashion and design and a better understanding of its global fame.
Course: VMD 3000: Auspicious Environments: Far & Near; fulfills the Experiential Learning (EXPLN) requirement in the HPU Lead General Education Curriculum.
Term: May
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite: None
Faculty Leaders: Dr. Victoria Brown, Kathryn Brandt, and Brandon Jones
Biophilic Design in Barcelona
This interdisciplinary course immerses students in the principles and applications of biophilic design within the dynamic cultural and artistic landscape of Barcelona, Spain. Through a combination of lectures, site visits, workshops, studio work, and collaborative projects, students will explore how nature-inspired design influences art, architecture, interior environments, fashion, and visual merchandising. The course emphasizes sustainability, cultural heritage, and innovation, encouraging students to integrate biomorphic forms, organic materials, and ecological thinking into creative design practices.
Course: ITG 3000: Biophilic Design in Barcelona; fulfills the Experiential Learning (EXPLN) requirement and/or the Integrative (INT) requirement in the HPU Lead General Education Curriculum.
Term: May
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite: None
Faculty Leaders: Dr. Jane Nichols and Lisa Williams
Shakespeare in Word and Action
This course offers students an immersive experience in the dramatic works of William Shakespeare from the dual perspectives of English literary studies and Theatrical Performance. Upon arriving in England students will travel to his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon and see for themselves what inspired Shakespeare’s earliest literary works. Students will attend numerous theatrical performances and theatre workshops in some of the most famous theaters in the world, including the Royal Shakespeare Company Theater. Students will also tour London extensively, walking the same streets where Shakespeare created his masterpieces. Shakespeare is widely considered the greatest dramatist of all time, and this trip allows you the opportunity to see just why!
Course: ITG 4500: Shakespeare in Word and Action; fulfills the Experiential Learning (EXPLN) requirement and/or the Integrative (INT) requirement in the HPU Lead General Education Curriculum.
Term: Spring Semester, with travel in May [Global Experience]
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisite: None
Faculty Leaders: Jesse Galas and Dr. James Cotton