Upcoming Programs

Study Abroad Info Sessions

Japan | September 22 | 12:30 p.m. | WAD 257 | Winter Haven Campus & September 23 | 2 p.m. | LLC 2125 Lakeland Campus
Paris & Amsterdam | September 25 | 11 a.m. | LLC 2205-06 | Lakeland Campus
Italy | October 28, 2026 | 6 p.m. | LLC 2228 Lakeland Campus
Cayman Islands | November 3, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Zoom: Email ksimpson@polk.edu for meeting link

Study Away INFO sessions

TBA

Study Away

  1. + NYC – Carnegie Hall Experience

    New York City
    Carnegie Hall Experience

    March 31 – April 4, 2027 | Cost: $3,100

    See the world while taking your MUN1310 music course!

    Perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City! The world’s most iconic performance hall will host a performance of Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna in April 2027. Travel with the Polk State College Choir to New York City to take part in a mass choir and orchestra performance of a lifetime. Experience music, art, and culture by attending a Broadway musical, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the 9/11 Memorial. Sing with others from around the United States. Learn how our rich heritage of the arts in America is still growing through live performances in the epicenter of culture: New York City!

    Spots are limited.  Sign up today!

    Program Leaders: Professors Michelle Manzi and Tom Witek

    Program Registration Deadline: September 14, 2026 | $1,550 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson, ksimpson@polk.edu

     

Study Abroad

  1. + El Salvador | Spanish and Science (March 14-21, 2027)

    Spanish and Science
    With Professors Chicas and Moran

    March 14 -21, 2027 | Estimated Cost: $1,875
    See the world while taking your Spanish or science courses!
    EVR1001C, EVR2930 OR SPN2930

    ¡Explore El Salvador! Experience El Salvador through an immersive journey into its rich culture, history, food, music, language, landscape, science, and community. This faculty-led study trip gives students the opportunity to learn through direct experiences while exploring what makes El Salvador unique. Discover Salvadoran traditions and cuisine, experience the rhythms of local music and dance, explore historic landmarks and vibrant communities, and take in the beauty of volcanic landscapes, mountains, and Pacific beaches.

    Program Registration Deadline – December 1, 2026 | $700 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

  2. + Japan | Business and Global Leadership (May 10-22, 2027)

    Business and Global Leadership
    With Professors Dr. Nawlo and Thompson

    May 10-22, 2027 | Cost: $6,000
    See the world while taking your business or leadership course!
    GEB2930 OR SLS2930

    Experience Japan through the intersection of business, culture, tradition, and innovation on a 13-day study abroad journey through Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Nara. Students will explore one of the world’s most influential economies through hands-on business, academic, and cultural experiences—from exploring innovation and manufacturing at Nissan and the entrepreneurial story behind Japan’s iconic instant ramen industry to discovering centuries-old craftsmanship, contemporary consumer culture, and the relationship between tradition and modern Japanese business. Along the way, students will experience Tokyo’s vibrant commercial districts, travel by Japan’s famous bullet train, participate in a traditional tea ceremony, visit Kyoto University, explore historic temples and shrines, and experience the extraordinary cultural landscapes of Kyoto and Nara. 

    INFO SESSIONS:
    September 22 | 12:30 p.m. | WAD 257 Winter Haven Campus
    September 23 | 2 p.m. | LLC 2125 Lakeland Campus

    Program Registration Deadline – December 1, 2026 | $500 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

  3. + Paris & Amsterdam | Art History and Photography (May 13-26, 2027)

    Art History and Photography
    With Professors Brewington and Coombs

    May 13-26, 2027 | Cost: $4,600
    See the world while taking your art or photography course!
    ART2930 OR ARH2000

    Spend fourteen days walking through the histories of Art and Photography in two of Europe’s most iconic cities: Paris and Amsterdam. In Paris, you will wander the halls of the Louvre, get lost in the art-filled rooms of Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie, and explore the Musée d’Art Moderne, with stops in the artist quarter of Montmartre and a visit to Bry-sur-Marne: the actual birthplace of photography. We’ll take a day trip out to Giverny and walk through Monet’s own flower gardens, the living inspiration behind his famous Water Lilies. In Amsterdam, we’ll explore the Rijksmuseum’s Dutch masterworks, the Van Gogh Museum, and dive into the contemporary art world at the FOAM Photography Museum and MOCO Museum. Together, we will take a day trip to The Hague for the Mauritshuis Museum and Escher in Het Paleis, and cap it off at the Straat Museum, the largest street art museum in the world. From the birthplace of photography to the gardens that inspired Water Lilies, immerse yourself in art history and photography.

    INFO SESSION: September 25 | 11 a.m. | LLC 2205-06 Lakeland Campus

    Program Registration Deadline – December 1, 2026 | $500 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

  4. + Scotland | Humanities (May 23-June 1, 2027)

    Humanities
    With Professor Murdoch and Kim Simpson

    May 23 – June 1, 2027 | Cost: $3,700
    See the world while taking your humanities course!
    HUM2930

    Get ready for an adventure that takes you to Bronze Age settlements, historic battlefields, stunning mountain landscapes, mysterious lakes, and vibrant modern cities. This is Scotland! Around every turn is amazing architecture and art in Edinburgh and Glasgow, rich history in Gothic castles, and experiences to cherish for a lifetime. Visit the Culloden Battlefield in the Highlands, the famous foodie seaports of Oban and Portree, magical Loch Ness and its lore of a giant creature in its depths, 5,000-year-old standing stones and monuments of ancient peoples, and a special trek to the Isle of Skye. See the Harry Potter Bridge, along with medieval fortresses, coastal waterfalls, and palaces of Scotland’s royalty. Fàilte a dh’Alba! That’s Gaelic for “Welcome to Scotland!”

    INFO SESSION: September 16 | 12:30 p.m. | WFA 116 Winter Haven Campus

    Program Registration Deadline – December 1, 2026 | $1,000 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

  5. + Paris Air Show | Paris, France (June 11-19, 2027)

    Paris, France
    Paris Air Show

    June 11 – 19, 2027 | Cost: $4,700

    See the world while taking your Network Systems Technology or Business course!

    Students will attend the Paris Air Show for three trade days to explore global aerospace innovations and international aviation industry trends. At the Paris Air Show, students will visit exhibitions, demonstrations, and industry presentations while networking with international aerospace professionals. Students will also visit a French aerospace business and an aerospace school. This visit to Paris will include a Montmartre walking tour, a Seine River Cruise, and a Louvre Museum tour.

    PROGRAM LEADERS: Professor Jodoin and Dean Rivera-Marchand

    PROGRAM COURSES: AVM1010 and ASC1010

    PROGRAM REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 1, 2026 | $500 deposit due

    TO APPLY, CONTACT KIM AT KSIMPSON@POLK.EDU | 863.669.4917

  6. + Spain | Spanish Language and Culture (July 15-26, 2027)

    Spanish Language and Culture
    With Professor Wilkinson and Kim Simpson

    July 15-26, 2027 | Cost: $3,700
    See the world while taking your Spanish course!
    SPN1130, SPN1131, SPN2230 OR SPN2231

    Ready for a summer full of lifelong memories and developing highly desired life skills? Come to MADRID and BARCELONA, SPAIN with Professor Mateo Wilkinson! This program includes tours of famous historical sites in Madrid, Barcelona, and neighboring cities, where you will enjoy great food and practice Spanish! Get to know the homeland of the Spanish language, as well as the Roman, Jewish, Arabic, and other cultural influences that helped shape the world we know. You don’t need to know Spanish to participate. Whether you are a beginner or fluent in Spanish, you’ll find something to enjoy!

    INFO SESSION: September 14 | 5 p.m. | WFA 116 Winter Haven Campus

    Program Registration Deadline – February 1, 2027 | $500 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

  7. + Cayman Islands | Science (July 23-30, 2027)

    Science
    With Professors Moran and Strengel-Martinez

    July 23 -30, 2027 | Cost: $2,700
    See the world while taking your science course!
    EVR1001C, EVR2930, BSC1311C OR OCE2001C

    The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) on Little Cayman Island maintains the longest-running records of coral reef health in the Caribbean. This intensive eight-day course combines ample in-water training (SNORKELING!), independent research, and hands-on restoration work at CCMI.  Learn monitoring and ecological survey techniques, research design, field skills, and more.  This is a wonderfully fun way to take your learning about the ocean environment to the next level.  Earn your course credits while being a part of the solution for coral reefs and marine diversity!

    INFO SESSION: November 3 | 6 p.m. | Zoom

    Email ksimpson@polk.edu for Zoom meeting link

    Program Registration Deadline – February 1, 2027 | 50% deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu

     

  8. + Italy | Early Childhood Education (Spring Break 2028)

    Early Childhood Education
    With Professors Metcalf-Hazelwood and Tanner

    March 2028 – Spring Break 2028 | Cost: $3,950
    See the world while taking your education course!
    CHD2220 OR CHD1380

    Visiting the origins of prominent curriculum approaches such as Reggio Emilia and Montessori is part of the Early Childhood Education Study Abroad Program. During the Spring 2028 Semester, the program will visit major cities in Italy including Venice, Florence, Rome, and Bologna. A journey in a gondola, gazing on the Statue of David, standing beside the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and climbing the steps inside the Colosseum are just part of the experience. To trace the roots of Maria Montessori’s development of the Montessori method of education, the program will also visit Perugia, which is home to the Montessori Training Center. The visit to Reggio Emilia, a city in central Italy near Bologna, will include the Loris Malaguzzi Center, which is a living manifesto of the Reggio Emilia approach to education and learning.

    INFO SESSION: October 28, 2026 | 6 p.m. | LLC 2228 Lakeland Campus

    Program Registration Deadline – October 1, 2027 | $500 deposit due

    To register, contact Kim Simpson | ksimpson@polk.edu