Ireland-Connecting with Culture

June 08, 2024 —June 24, 2024

Journey across Ireland from coast to coast, and through historic cities. Explore Irish cities and their surroundings as you meet people who value their heritage as they shape their modern world. From the capital city to Galway, then to Limerick and Waterford, the beauty and depth of Ireland will open before you.

Included are day trips to locations such as Glendalough, Cliffs of Moher, and the Aran Islands.


Program Package

  • Accommodations
  • Course-related activities and entrances fees
  • Additional cultural program excursions
  • Health and emergency evacuation insurance (International Programs Only)
  • On-Site Director's and staff on-site 24/7

The group will be housed in a mix of university housing and hotels. Accommodations are based primarily on double occupancy with occasional use of triple rooms. Singles may be available at an additional cost.

Breakfast is provided daily. Participants will be responsible for lunch and dinner each day.

Ground transportation is provided for all program activities. Additionally, all participants will be provided a Leap Card for use on public transportation in all cities.

CCSA Central Office

Contact Information

Kara Arvin - Applications

Nate Addington - Payments

Denise Knisely - Travel

Kimberly Nessler

On-Site Director

Kimberly Nessler Kimberly is an experienced CCSA administrator and Office Coordinator for the Modern Languages program at Western Kentucky University.

Jo Sandburg

Assistant On-Site Director

Jo Sandburg Jo Sandburg co-taught Theatre on Location-Classics to Contemporary in Winter 22-23, and teaches theater at Northern Kentucky University.

Group or Individual Travel Allowed

Option One - Group Travel

Travel together with faculty, staff and other participants from your CCSA program with our group travel. CCSA will purchase a airline ticket from select U.S. cities on your behalf. The airline cost will be included in your final bill from CCSA. In addition to the flight, you will also receive transport to/from the accommodation in the destination city and the airport.

You can check our currently available departure cities on our departures page CCSA highly recommends this option for those new to international travel.

Includes:
  • roundtrip air transportation from one of CCSA's designated U.S. departure cities.
  • roundtrip ground transportation between airport and the accommodation site.
  • CCSA faculty and staff to guide you through the immigration and customs process.

Option Two - Individual Travel

If you wish to make independent travel arrangements and depart from a city not listed or travel outside the program dates please choose INDEPENDENT TRAVEL from the selection below. You will book your own flights and arrange your own transportation to/from the airport and the accommodation site of the program. This is a great option for going early, staying late, or using airline miles to purchase tickets. We highly recommend participants not fly standby for these programs as a late arrival may negatively impact your grade.

Important Note for Independent Travelers: Please be aware that your check-in date may be up to 24 hours AFTER the program start date (program dates include travel time).

Check the CCSA website at https://ccsa.cc/departures for your scheduled date/time check-in.

* All prices are estimates based on prior programs. Final pricing will be published on the CCSA website by the first payment deadline.

Visas

Not required for U.S. citizens for less than a 3-month stay. Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for obtaining a visa as needed.

Program Dates
June 08, 2024 —June 24, 2024

Base Price
$3,469

Estimated Airfare
$1,525 - $1,725
(estimated additional cost based on recent airline prices)


Payment Process
See our payments page
Enrollment Status: OPEN

$150 Early Application Fee Deadline
February 09, 2024
(Early App Fee of $150 includes a $100 discount)
(App Fee increases to $250 after Early Application Deadline)
Scholarships:
See our scholarships page

Courses Offered

Art & Design

Castles, Cathedrals and Cliffs, Drawing Dublin, Galway and More
Course Description: Ireland has been calling travelers for centuries -- for its long, rich history, folklore, incredible ancient ruins, and emerald landscape. In this course we will explore, observe, and document life in Ireland, sketching onsite using a compact travel watercolor kit as we discover some of Ireland's oldest castles, cliffs and cathedrals. This course provides you with practical instruction in watercolor and drawing techniques while stimulating your creativity with visits to urban sites such as Dublin’s National Gallery of Art, St Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College (the Book of Kells) and to rural sites, such as the Cliffs of Moher, and the Aran Islands.
Prerequisite: Drawing 1 or Fundamental Drawing course equivalent.
WKU Course: ART 496
Ms. Elizabeth A. Neal | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U

Chemistry

The Chemistry Behind Irish Beers and Spirits
Course Description: Explore the chemistry behind Ireland's most iconic beverages and spirits – beer, whisky, and gin. Discover the chemical principles and reactions that power the billion-dollar Irish liquor industry on field trips to historic production sites such as Dublin’s Guinness Brewery and Jameson Distillery. Analyze the chemical profiles of water sources in the Irish countryside, and attend a gin school to learn about plant flavonoid biochemistry. Engage all your senses with the chemistry behind unique colors, flavors, and production of Ireland’s famed beverages, all while experiencing the stunningly beautiful landscape that provides the raw materials necessary for it all.
Prerequisite: 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry (required), and 1 semester of biology (recommended)
WKU Course: CHEM 475
Dr. Amanda Jane Hughes | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U

Communication / Broadcasting & Media Studies / Pop Culture / Photography

Digital Storytelling in Ireland
Course Description:

Everyone has a story to tell, and in this class students will develop their own stories as they relate to the culture of Ireland by creating audio and video projects on location. We will examine digital media as a tool for seeing, exploring, and expressing cultural identity. While visiting ancient sites, cathedrals, and museums and attending concerts, students will document their experience as a participant observer during this important moment in their lives. You’re invited to take advantage of this opportunity to develop your cultural competency and sensitivity in the process of documenting intercultural stories in Ireland.

This course has broad appeal for students in all majors because their individual projects can be focused on a topic related to their major.

Prerequisite: None
WKU Course: COMM 415
Prof. Ann Andaloro | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U/H

Creative Writing / Literature

Creative Writing in Ireland
Course Description: In this intensive, multi-genre, creative writing workshop, you will be challenged to consider the ways in which poetry and fiction can be used to experience "place" and discover ways in which the writers' imagination is broadened through travel. Students will explore all that the great city of Dublin offers in the way of historically and culturally rich sites, such as St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College, and then experience the inspirational beauty of the Irish landscape, from the Cliffs of Moher to countryside associated with Ireland’s writers. Readings will be drawn from a range of Irish texts, offering springboards for our own writing.
Prerequisite: None
WKU Course: ENG203 / ENG510
Prof. Julia Johnson | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U/H

Literature / Sociology / History

Saints, Sinners, & Shamrocks: Exploring the Literature and Landscapes of the Emerald Isle
Course Description: Gain an understanding of the historical and cultural background of Irish literature by experiencing the locales that have inspired Irish authors over the centuries, including ancient churches and castles, Ireland's beautiful and mystic landscape, and the historic pubs where iconic music still flourishes. From the Aran Islands to the Wicklow Mountains and from seaside villages to Dublin's vibrant urban culture, this class will focus on the sources of Irish literature and the magnificent range of ways that Irish authors have depicted the human condition in such literary genres as romanticism, mysticism, satire, Gothic and realism.
Prerequisite: None
WKU Course: ENG 290
Prof. Bill Mullen | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U

Nonprofit Administration / Public Affairs Policy and Admin / Leadership Studies

Arts Administration From an International Perspective: Comparing Irish and American Practices
Course Description:

Explore theories and practical skills needed to manage arts and cultural organizations in the United States and Ireland, including art museums, galleries, theaters, symphonies, dance companies, and music festivals. We’ll visit various types of arts and cultural organizations, ranging from larger, well-established, national entities such as the National Irish Museum and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in Dublin to smaller, newer, community-based organizations such as the Limerick Arts Office, Galway Dance Project, and Blue Teapot Theater Company. Along the way, we’ll compare Irish and American practices in such areas as governance systems and structures, program development and management, fund raising, volunteer and community engagement, and marketing and communications.

This course can be taken for upper-division undergraduate credit or for graduate credit.

Prerequisite: None
WKU Course: PS 480 / PS 549
Dr. Julie Olberding | 3 Cr. Hrs. | U / G