Imagine getting course credit for exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, studying literature in Ireland, or examining the government in Washington D.C.! The Honors Program offers many exciting opportunities to take learning to other parts of the country, the continent, and the world.

The Honors Program offers several opportunities for its students to study abroad each year as well as within the United States. However, travel with UNF Honors is not like traveling as a tourist. Each international/domestic trip is tied to an Honors class, which focuses on a specific aspect of the country or area being visited. The class prepares the students for what will be expected of them on their journey. It also helps them attain a working knowledge of the culture and the people of the place they will be visiting. These international/domestic travel experiences allow students to explore various aspects of the country and the cultures existing within it that are not typically available to most visitors.

These journeys give students the opportunity to go outside the classroom and experience different cultures first hand. Past trips include, Washington D.C., Paris, Prague, Italy, Southeast Asia, Costa Rica, Peru, Navajo Nation in Arizona, Ghana, China, Brazil, Argentina, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Japan. The international and domestic study experiences scheduled for 2010 include:  Egypt, Ecuador, Washington D.C. and London.

Each year, the Honors Program sends students to the National Collegiate Honors Conference (NCHC). At the conference, students are given the opportunity to present their research to other Honors students and faculty members from all over the nation. Students have presented research on experiential learning in Honors seminars, undergraduate research, and student facilitation of Honors classes. In the past, students have traveled to Orlando, San Francisco, Chicago, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, and Salt Lake City for NCHC.

The Honors Program also offers students the opportunity to travel to other academic conferences within their discipline. Students have participated in conferences in subjects such as Biology, Psychology, Computer Science, Anthropology and Business.

The Washington Center offers internships for students in all majors in Washington, D.C. The internships are individualized to provide the best possible academic experience for the student. Past internships have included placements with the National Institute of Health, the National Organization of Women, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and several Senate and House offices.

Students receive academic credit from UNF for this internship. The best part is UNF and the state of Florida offer scholarship support for this program each semester. Students who participated in this program highly recommend it to anyone interested in expanding their education beyond the classroom and exploring an exciting city!

For more information about the Washington Center please visit www.twc.edu.