5 Spring Break Abroad Programs Students Are Enjoying Right Now - The College Today

^{Above: Students in the Sustainability Education spring break program in Belize.}

With Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms so close to campus, College of Charleston students are spoiled when it comes to the beach life – which is why the typical “spring break at the beach” just doesn’t have the same appeal as it might to landlocked students.

Regardless, the College offers students plenty of exciting and transformational ways to spend their spring breaks – and gain credits for their spring semester course loads at the same time! With options for both upperclassmen and first-year students, these spring break abroad programs challenge students to explore topics through cultural immersion and experiential learning.

Below are five ways students are spending their spring break abroad (a full list of spring break 2025 programs is available here).

Canada

Hospitality and Tourism Management: Managing Global Tourism

The students in the CofC in Canada program are spending their spring break skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, dogsledding, snowmobiling, snowshoe hikes, ice climbing and caving in Banff National Park, located along borders of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Focusing adventure tourism and destination management and marketing, the course examines leisure activities that take place in an unusual, exotic, remote or wilderness destination associated with high levels of involvement and activity by the participants in an outdoor setting.

Belize

Education: Sustainability Education

Students in the CofC in Belize program are spending their spring break in a country bursting with cultural and biological diversity. From hiking Mayan ruins in mountain jungles to snorkeling the coral reefs, the students are learning about efforts to support ecological niches and their inhabitants. They are collaborating with a local primary school in Hopkins Village and a nonprofit environmental organization to create and deliver STEAM activities that celebrate local Garifuna communities.

Belgium

International Studies: European Union Studies

The students on the CofC in Beligium program are developing a deep understanding of the European Union, one of the largest trading partners of the United States and South Carolina. In Brussels, Belgium, they are visiting the headquarters of its executive and legislative institutions and meeting with their staff members and high-level EU officials. In addition, they’re taking a day trip to the magical medieval city of Bruges, home of the College of Europe, and another day trip to The Hague (Netherlands), home of the Peace Palace and the European Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Students on this program will have priority for participation in the Model European Union.

Costa Rica

Communication, Public Health and Honors: Addressing Problems in Context

Students in the CofC in Costa Rica program are spending their spring break exploring the intricate dynamics of relationships across cultures, examining how differing perspectives and values shape interactions and societal structures. Designed to offer a unique blend of cross-cultural exploration and hands-on learning experiences, this immersive experience provides students with the opportunity to delve into the heart of Costa Rican culture. They will visit a small, sustainable chocolate farm; walk in the rainforest; hike to waterfalls; raft down rivers; snorkel and zip line.

United Kingdom

First Year Experience: The History and Sociology of English Football

The students in this First Year Experience spring break abroad will experience English football in person, interact with officials from various clubs, tour iconic stadiums, and enjoy the cultural aspects of England itself. With London as their home base, students will visit historic sites there and in Newcastle and Nottingham, traveling by train throughout England and its beautiful countryside. Designed around four main tenets – league structure and divisions, history and culture, geography, and stadiums and grounds – the course is an examination of the role of football in English society and provides unique opportunities to investigate the complexities of contemporary England. It will examine historical and philosophical meanings associated with the sport of football as well as the role of football within English culture, politics, social conflict and social change.