October 26, 2023
by Jere W. Morehead, President
The University of Georgia is a leader in providing world-class experiential learning opportunities. Among the ever-expanding number of options from which UGA students can choose are domestic field study programs, which bring the same transformative experiences of study abroad to a location closer to home. UGA faculty lead more than 40 domestic field study programs on a wide array of topics — integrating place-based, active learning with site-specific opportunities across the United States.
One of UGA’s first domestic field study programs, the Interdisciplinary Field Program, has been offered to undergraduate students every summer since 1988. During the eight-week course, students from all disciplinary backgrounds visit 21 states and more than 20 national parks, monuments, and other destinations. They learn the fundamental concepts taught in any geology, anthropology, and ecology classroom while camping and exploring unique locations along the way. UGA recently launched the Domestic Field Study Fellows program to help faculty expand this type of learning in the coming years, with several new field study programs to be offered in May 2024.
These incredible opportunities beyond the classroom would not exist without support from UGA alumni and friends. Increasing scholarship support for experiential learning, including domestic field study, is one of UGA’s current fundraising priorities. I look forward to seeing the many ways in which our students will benefit from UGA’s commitment to expanding domestic field study and other experiential learning opportunities.