Study Abroad

This three-week study abroad program, beginning in late June, offers students an immersive academic and cultural experience in Taiwan while earning Rio Hondo College credit. Participants will live in university dormitories at Chihlee University in New Taipei City and receive daily Mandarin language instruction from Chihlee faculty, allowing them to build language skills in an authentic setting. The program includes two meals per day and features multiple cultural excursions in New Taipei City and surrounding areas, giving students the opportunity to explore Taiwan’s history, culture, and everyday life beyond the classroom. The total program cost is approximately $2,000, making it an affordable and enriching international experience for students seeking global engagement and academic growth.

This summer study abroad opportunity in Costa Rica is built around GIS 130: Field Data Collection Methods and includes an intensive field module at the Firestone Field Station on Costa Rica’s southwest coast near Dominical. Running as a late-start course in Summer 2026, students will travel for approximately 10 days in mid-July and gain hands-on experience with drone mapping, field surveying, LiDAR, and environmental data analysis in a real-world research setting. The program is designed to expand equitable access to international, field-based STEM education for community college students while providing skills directly aligned with workforce needs in GIS and environmental technology. Students will stay at the Firestone Field Station, which features modern dormitories, meals, classrooms, and field infrastructure within a biological reserve. Participants will earn Rio Hondo College credit, and the estimated program cost is approximately $1,500 plus airfare, making this an affordable and immersive international field experience.