Study Abroad

Learning should be life changing. That’s why Friends University offers study abroad and travel courses as well as excellent travel abroad opportunities. Friends University currently offers two degree programs that have service/study/travel abroad options as requirements. In the graduate school, students in the Global MBA program will be travelling to Canada during the summer of 2018 and in the traditional undergraduate college, students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish will study in Varadero, Cuba and will participate in various service projects in the area. Undergraduate credit may be awarded for Intermediate Spanish Conversation II, for a Cuba culture and World Culture courses. In the summer of 2018, Friends University full-time faculty will lead World Culture trips to Scotland, London and Germany.

Our Fine Arts students also perform all around the world. The Jazz Ensemble has performed at the International Jazz Festival in Havana, Cuba; the Singing Quakers in Europe and Costa Rica; and our opera students in Germany.

With our affiliate membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), Friends students can study both internationally and domestically with the BestSemester program. Interested in studying in Ecuador? In Costa Rica? Explore your study abroad options at www.bestsemester.com.

Through CISabroad, you can study abroad over a semester, intern abroad, volunteer abroad, participate in faculty-led programs, and/or participate in a non-credit-bearing international trip. You can learn more by visiting the CISabroad.com.

You can also read about some of our student trips on the Friends University blogs.

In addition, feel free to browse the study abroad FAQs.

Upcoming & Recent Trips

Study Abroad: Great Britian

Our undergraduate students have the opportunity to gain international travel experience and fulfill General Education Goal 5 Culture and Diversity through enrollment in GNST498 Studies Abroad Workshop. Our time in class on campus prepares the student to better understand the history, religious background, economic, and cultural distinctives of the United Kingdom. The travel experience is for 12 days on the ground and visits major sites in London and Windsor. Students also plan four days of their individual itinerary to experience aspects of London that are unique to their course of study or career field choice.

Dates: May 17-30, 2023
Course: GNST 498 Studies Abroad Workshop
Program Directors: Dr. Stan Harstine and Dr. Kassia Krone

In addition to undergraduate students, alumni and family members are invited to join in the experience and gain experience traveling abroad.

Mexico City International Cultural & Business Experience

The Division of Business & Spanish Department are traveling to Mexico City this summer! Experience the history, art, food, and culture of Mexico City. Visit and learn about global businesses. Resume building through research and planning for economic opportunities for business partnerships between Wichita, KS and Tlalnepantla, Mexico.

Dates: Mexico City 2023 | July 12 – July 20, 2023

For more information email Dr. Kneeland Brown.

Previous Trips

Opera Seme

A collaboration between Friends University (KS), Chapman University (CA) and Spazio Seme, an International Artistic Center located in Arezzo, Tuscany, Opera Seme’s mission is to give singers and pianists an immersive Italian experience through language study, cultural exploration, lessons, coachings, masterclasses, special topics workshops, and performances. All singers accepted into the program are guaranteed to perform an entire role.

Dates: Opera Seme 2022 | June 26 – July 24

For more information visit friends.edu/operaseme

Global MBA Capstone: Global Business Experience

As part of the Global MBA program, Friends University students are invited to participate in a 10-day business and cultural experience in Dubai UAE. The Global MBA business residency abroad includes meetings with top executives in leading companies in Dubai and meetings with the U.S. companies working in the Emirates. Students will learn about Dubai’s business, economy, architecture and culture.

Dates: Nov. 22 – Dec. 1, 2019
Course: MGMT 691 Global Business Experience (3 credit hours)
Program Director: Dr. Valentina Chappell

Health Science Study Abroad in England

England (Summer 2019)
Students in our Health Science program will travel to England to engage in immersive medical and cultural experiences. Students will spend time in clinical rotations at Royal Stoke University Hospital shadowing doctors and learning about the local healthcare system. They will also spend two days in Iceland, visiting natural landmarks and experiencing the Scandinavian culture.

Tentative Dates: May 24 – June 10, 2019
Course: HLSC425 Health Science Study/Service Abroad
Program Director: Prince Agbedanu

Health Science Study Abroad in Ghana

Tentative Dates: May 24 – June 10, 2020
Course: HLSC425 Health Science Study/Service Abroad
Program Director: Prince Agbedanu

Culture of the UK

Through our graduate workshop program, students have the opportunity to live in London for a week or more, experiencing the cultural and historical wealth of the city. The accommodation in London is in flats in Bloomsbury giving the added benefit of having a home away from home. The goal of the workshop is to experience and interpret ideas from different cultures and different times drawn from art, architecture, literature, philosophy, drama, music and theatre, and ultimately enhance our appreciation of our own and other cultures. In 2018, there is the option to extend the travel to Edinburgh after London.

Dates: London, June 14-24, 2018; Edinburgh, June 24-27 or longer
Course: EDUC 5271 International Perspectives Travel 2018
Program Director: Dr. Dona Gibson

There is a companion course through the Graduate School for MBA and MHCL students to travel at the same time with the group led by Dr. Gibson, stay in the same accommodations but have the additional opportunity to visit British businesses and health care facilities.

Course: BSAD 692 Internship in Business Administration
Program Director: Michelle Case

Health Science Study Abroad in Ghana

This unique curricular experience included two weeks of study at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. It provided exposure to neglected tropical diseases, different health care systems and rural medicine. Aspiring health care practitioners gained field experience valued by medical schools. Mornings were spent in a clinical setting, shadowing doctors. Afternoons were spent in a research center, participating in various research projects. All housing and transportation during the visit were provided by KNUST. In addition, several sites were visited to complete the cultural experience. These sites included: Elmina Castle – a major site in the African slave trade route; Manhyia Palace Museum – built by the British it initially served as the residence of the Ashanti region king; Lake Bosumtwi – considered a sacred lake by the local Ashanti people and located within an ancient impact crater; and a village visit – to see medical needs first-hand.

Dates: May 24 to June 11, 2018
Course: HLSC425 Health Science Study/Service Abroad
Program Director: Prince Agbedanu

10 students in our Health Science program spent two weeks in Ghana in immersive medical and cultural experiences. Students spent their mornings in clinical rotations at Kwame Nkruma University of Science & Technology (KNUST) Hospital shadowing doctors and learning about the local healthcare system. Their afternoons were spent in the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research KCCR) learning various research techniques including the diagnoses of sickle cell, malarial and buruli ulcers.
Students spent a day in Brussels, Belgium, visiting historic landmarks and experiencing the continental European culture.

Global MBA – Completed Business Residencies Abroad

Previous Global MBA business residencies abroad included trips to Chile’s Santiago, China’s Beijing, Canada’s Montreal and the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Conversational Spanish and Spanish-American Literature and Culture in Cancún, México

Students will study the Spanish language, Mexican history and Mayan culture at La Salle University in Cancún while living with a host family. In addition, students will teach English at the Wichita-Cancun Sister Cities Elementary School. Students will visit Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Uxmal, Cenote Ik Kil, Tulum, El Rey, San Miguelito, and El Meco.

Dates: May 8 – June 4, 2016
Course: SPAN 498 Advanced Conversation and Spanish American Literature and Culture (6 credits)
Program Director: Dr. Jerry Smartt

Study Abroad Scotland

The Scotland study abroad class will be three and a half weeks long and will be based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Students will study human service agencies, will volunteer and explore Scotland history and culture. Residency will be at the University of Edinburgh with day trips taken to surrounding areas.

Dates: June 13 – July 7, 2016
Course: SOSC 498 Study Abroad Scotland
Program Director: Bill Allan