Study Abroad: Northern Kentucky University, Greater Cincinnati Region

Study Abroad Opportunities

Interested in study abroad or study away programs that connect to your interests in history and geography? We value experiential learning and encourage our students to participate in educational opportunities outside the classroom, whether abroad or here at home.

Two students with Norse banner in front of the Mediterranean Sea

Student in front of Galata Tower, Istanbul

Masked student sitting with public art in Korea

Our departmental faculty have led or participated in study abroad programs to Ecuador, Egypt, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Spain, and Turkey, among others! Several of our faculty have active research programs in places ranging from Europe and the Middle East to Africa and Central and South America.

Closer to home, faculty research focuses on the coal mines of West Virginia, the Underground Railroad in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, and the Shaker communities of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Students have spent summers earning academic credit while excavating at Historic Jamestowne and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

If there is a place you would like to explore, we can help!

Within the department, contact Prof. Quinn for details on various study abroad programs she is currently associated with through the Kentucky Institute for International Studies; contact Dr. Sutherland for details on department-specific funding opportunities like the Steely Travel Fellowship; and contact our chairperson Dr. Miller for assistance on getting your study abroad program credits to work with your major or minor!

For more information about the process or other travel opportunities, visit the Office of Education Abroad.

Catching up with 2021-2022 W. Frank Steely Travel Fellowship Recipient

Victoria Butcher, History

In July of 2022, I was able to study abroad at Maynooth University in Maynooth, Ireland for four weeks. During my time there, I took two history courses relating to Medieval Ireland, in addition to learning traditional Gaelic phrases. I visited major cities in Ireland such as Dublin, Limerick, Belfast, Cork, and Galway. The classes I took were an amazing foundation for me as I traveled to historic sites and visited places that were discussed in my coursework. On top of being able to take classes in a foreign country, I was able to fulfill the rest of my History major requirements by doing so! I was able to truly immerse myself within Irish culture through attending a Herling match, learning traditional Irish dances, participating in Gaelic traditions, and meeting as many Irish people as possible. I enjoyed being able to experience what Irish culture was like and step out of my comfort zone in a way I never had before; however, I will admit that I did not like the tea! I put together a number of amazing funding sources for my month-long program, including the Steely Travel Fellowship (from NKU's Department of History), the International Study Scholarship (from NKU's Office of Education Abroad), and the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship (from the U.S. Department of State). I would recommend taking any history course abroad as it an immersive experience that you cannot have from a textbook, video, or lecture alone.

Why study abroad?

With only 10% of American undergraduates studying abroad, an international experience will certainly add to your resume and show potential employers that you are able to step outside of your comfort zone, navigate new situations, problem-solve solutions, interact with people from other cultures, and bring an awareness of diverse, global communities into the workplace that can help combat cultural stereotypes and foster collaboration and innovation. Our department encourages students to get out and explore the world.

In fact, the Department of History and Geography has had a long association with study abroad programs, a connection made stronger by our own Dr. Francois LeRoy’s assumption of duties in the Office of International Education, first as the Director of International Education (2009) and currently as the Executive Director of the Center for Global Engagement and International Affairs, including the Office of Education Abroad. Here, Dr. LeRoy oversees the Office of International Students and Scholars, the American English Language Program, and the Office of Education Abroad. Under his leadership, faculty from across the campus have been encouraged to develop or participate in study abroad programs of varying lengths to meet the educational needs of NKU’s busy student population.