Where You’ll Find Marist Students This Spring

Attachment Programs are Taking Students Around the World

For students who can’t spend an entire semester abroad, whether it’s because of course load, financials, or any other reason, short-term Spring Attachments and Spring Break programs are a great alternative. 

Each year, professors at Marist propose short-term study abroad programs based on their areas of expertise, their special interests and their connections within their field of study. This year, Marist is offering 13 short-term attachment programs, many of which are new takes on past programs. 

“Faculty come back time after time and revamp aspects of the course, the location, the destinations during the trip and things like that. They get a lot out of the experience as well,” said Caitlin Paul, Marist Abroad Coordinator. 

However, the majority of this Spring’s programs have never been offered before. From Cuba to Alaska and Ghana to Norway, there’s no shortage of interesting places for students to go. 

“For a lot of students, Europe is obviously a popular destination. But it’s nice to have some diversity in the programs that we offer,” Paul said. 

Below is just a snapshot of the exciting places where Marist students will be studying this Spring.

Havana, Cuba

In conjunction with the course “Cuba: Past, Present and Future,” taught by Professor Joanna Huyck, students will spend their Spring Break in Havana. The program focuses on Cuba’s rich culture, it’s history as a Spansih colony and its changing relationships with the United States. 

“This year is the first time that Marist is offering this program,” Paul said. “It’s a unique destination that not everyone will ever get to travel to, so we’re very excited to be offering it during the break.” 

Alaska, USA

“Environmental Issues: Social-Ecological Systems in Alaska” is the second short-term program taught by Dr. Zion Klos. Students will spend more than a week camping in Alaska, getting an immerse natural science experience that isn’t available inside the classroom. 

Dublin, Ireland 

Dr. Daria Hanssen and Dr. Katherine Dill are taking students to Ireland for their “Social Inequality” course. In partnership with study abroad company CEA, which offers a semester-long social work program, Marist Social Work students will learn about the practices in Ireland, and will visit cultural and tourist sites throughout the country. 

Accra and Kumasi, Ghana

Led by Dr. Gavin Webb, students taking courses about the music and culture of Western Africa have the opportunity to immerse themselves in different regions of Ghana while studying “ethnomusicology,” or music in social and cultural contexts.

“Historically, Marist actually had many short-term programs go to Ghana in the early 2010s. They were all across the board in different subject areas, and now we’re hoping to pick it back up again,” Paul said. And there’s no music or dance experience required. 

Norway

Students studying music in Professor Sarah Williams’ “Northern Lights (Music in Norway)” course take a concert tour of Norway, and will have the opportunity to perform in historical cathedrals and at the World Choral Festival in Trondheim, Norway. They will be accompanied by Professor Jeff Bass’s Documentary Production students, who will be creating a documentary about the experience.

Find a complete list of Marist’s Spring short-term programs at www.marist.edu/study-abroad/programs/faculty-led-semester-attachments. Applications for the programs are now closed, but contact Caitlin Paul at caitlin.paul@marist.edu if you’re still interested.