Past Blocks Away

WHY LOOK AT PAST PROGRAMS?

While many Academic Year (AY) Block Away courses do not repeat every year, there is often a rotation within departments or fields of study.  We hope this look at the programs offered in recent years helps you to understand the scope and diversity of offerings typically provided by Colorado College.  Using this information, you can get a sense of the variety of programs offered as well as the price range for the various program fees.  As inflation has been a factor in travel and lodging costs, we would typically recommend expecting a 3%-5% cost increase per year for any repeated programs.  

 When will the 2024-2025 Block Away Options Be Announced?

Off-Campus Blocks for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will be announced in mid-December.  At that time a new webpage will be added with information on each program.  The Semester & Block Study Away Fair is scheduled for Thursday, February 1 and we would recommend that all students interested in study away attend the fair.  February 1 will also be the first day when online applications will be open. They will remain open through the end of Block 6 on Wednesday, March 13.  Students are encouraged to apply on Summit during this period to maximize their potential to earn a Block Away financial aid award.  Late applicants are far less likely to obtain an aid award due to demand for the limited pool of block away aid. 

2022-2023 BLOCK AWAY COURSES

Explore politics, cultural, and social history in Paris from 1900-1940.  The radical years prior to the First World War, the apocalyptic war itself, the anxieties of the interval years, and the impacts of ongoing industrialization, colonialism, and ideological positioning serve as the backdrop for the most shocking artistic and literary movements of the era.  Using the city of Paris as our laboratory, we will study artistic movements such as Fauvism, Cubism, and Surrealism, novels by French and expatriate American writers, avant-garde music and film.  Visits to major museums, including the Orsay, Centre Pompidou, the Musée Picasso, and Le Corbusier's Villa Savoy will prove central to this exciting intellectual odyssey. 

COURSE NAME: Paris on a Precipice
COURSE NUMBER:AH275/HY200
COURSE LOCATION: Paris, France
FACULTY: Prof. Gale Murray (AH) and Prof. Tip Ragan (HY)

PROGRAM FEE: $3,350 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: April 15, 2022

An exploration of the development of French philosophy from the interwar period to the present.  Using the city of Paris as its context, the course examines how dramatic social and political challenges influenced the paths of French philosophical reflection, moving thinkers to question the foundations of knowledge, morals, and politics, leading ultimately to what might be called a "decentered" cosmopolitanism.  This course meets the Critical Learning AIM requirement. 


COURSE NAME: French Philosophy in Context: 1900 to the Present
COURSE NUMBER: PH205
COURSE LOCATION: Paris, France

PROGRAM FEE: $4,000 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: May 1, 2022
Colorado College will send a small delegation to the annual United Nations global climate conference COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.  Qualified students may submit applications to join the team of CC_COP ethnographers, chronicling both progress and protest, working through the broader Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education, and grounded in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Prerequisite: AN270/EV206 Anthropocene, or COI. 

COURSE NAME: Community-Based Field Course: Engaging COP27 in Egypt as Ethnographers
COURSE NUMBER: AN380
COURSE LOCATION: Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt
FACULTY: Prof. Sarah Hautzinger (AN) and Prof. Myra Jackson (Creativity & Innovation)

PROGRAM FEE: This program is grant funded and will have no program fee. The program includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and limited meals.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: July 1, 2022
This course explores questions around performance, place, and politics of contemporeity/future.  IT takes place in three cities and introduces students to three dynamic art scenes: Chennai during the heart of classical and folk performance festivals; the port city of Kochi for its Biennale, one of Asia's biggest interdisciplinary contemporary arts festivals; and seaside Pondicherry for a unique 5-day workshop with a contemporary theater company.  We will see performances, talk with artists, have critical readings and discussions, and do embodied work. 

COURSE NAME: Performance Away - India
COURSE NUMBER: DA230
COURSE LOCATION: Chennai, Kochi, and Pondicherry, India
FACULTY: Prof. Pallavi Sriram (DA)

PROGRAM FEE: $3,850 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: August 1, 2022
This course is an introduction to comprehensive literacy instruction and the relation between literacy, language, and linguistics.  Topics covered include oral language, phonology, systemic phonics, the history of both Spanish and English, dyslexia, assessment, and the political impact of language. 

COURSE NAME: Linking Literacy, Language, and Linguistics
COURSE NUMBER: ED110
COURSE LOCATION: Barcelona and Sevilla, Spain
FACULTY: Prof. Lynne Fitzhugh (ED)

PROGRAM FEE: $4,350 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: August 1, 2022
HY410 is an advanced senior seminar on selected topics and themes in historical study.  ONce section of HY410 will take place in Chicago, at the Newberry Library, where students will conduct research and begin writing their capstone projects.  HY420, the following block, is focused on independent research and writing.  Students pursuing hyphenated majors that include History are welcome to participate in these courses as well. 

COURSE NAME: Senior Seminar in History
COURSE NUMBER: HY410
COURSE LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
FACULTY: Prof. Amy Kohout (HY)

PROGRAM FEE: $1,200 includes lodging and full access to the Newberry Library resources.  
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: October 1, 2022
Examine the vital role of recent Latin American collective struggles from the late 20th century to the present day.  What alternative visions have grassroots movements in Latin America articulated in the context of government neoliberal policies and resulting socio-economic inequality?  We will engage in conversations with grassroots movements, government officials, and academics, to assess the possibilities for transformative social change in the context of the recent election of a left of center president and the writing of a new constitution.  Spanish language is not required. Any 100-level Sociology or social sciences course equivalent required. 

COURSE NAME: Development & Grassroots Resistance in Latin America

COURSE NUMBER: SO267

COURSE LOCATION: Santiago, Chile

FACULTY: Prof. Eric Popkin (SO)


PROGRAM FEE: $3,800 includes lodging, ground transport, most meals, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and limited meals.   
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: November 1, 2022
Encounter the history of Christian martyrdom and sainthood in Rome.  Explore Roman imperial spaces, ancient catacombs, and the Vatican, with excursion to Assisi and Florence.  Discover the legacies of the apostles Peter and Paul as well as the making of historical saints.  The course will meet for the initial week on campus and travel to Rome, Italy for the remaining 2 weeks.  This course provides a Historical Perspective credit towards graduation requirements. 

COURSE NAME: Martyrs & Saints
COURSE NUMBER: RE200/HY200
COURSE LOCATION: Rome, Italy

PROGRAM FEE: $3,250 includes lodging, ground transport, group meals, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and some meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2022
A field-based course exploring ecology, evolution, and conservation of island systems. Specifically, students will apply ecological and evolutionary theories to understand the natural, geologic, and cultural history of the California Channel Islands.  Students will discuss primary literature relating to island systems, develop and execute independent field research projects across islands, and practice effective scientific writing and communication.

COURSE NAME: Island Ecology
COURSE NUMBER: BE440
COURSE LOCATION: Channel Islands, California

PROGRAM FEE: This program is department-funded and has no program fee.  Program includes lodging, ground transport, and excursions.
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2022
Meet and study with important psychoanalysts who share their work and talk about case studies.  We also explore the art, architecture and city life of Chicago.

COURSE NAME: Contemporary Psychoanalysis
COURSE NUMBER: CO200/PH263
COURSE LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois
FACULTY: Prof. Marcia Dobson (CL) and Prof. John Riker (PH)

PROGRAM FEE: $1,700 includes lodging, ground transport, group meals and excursions. Students who do not require lodging can pay a greatly reduced fee. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals.
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2022
Spend Block 7 exploring the artistic legacy of the city of Florence and Italy as a whole.  The relationship between artistic production and its connection to various forms of power tied to commerce, faith, and political power will be explored. 
This course can be taken as a stand-alone block or can be paired with Block 8 in Italy, IT320:Gusto, to create a half-semester program. 

COURSE NAME: Art & Power in Italy
COURSE NUMBER: HY200/IT320
COURSE LOCATION: Florence, Italy
FACULTY: Prof. Susan Ashley (HY)

PROGRAM FEE: $3,700 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions, most breakfasts and dinners, and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and some meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2022
An interdisciplinary and immersive study of New York City from 1969 to the present, examining the urban setting as a dynamic landscape where different peoples, interest groups, political movements, and other forces vie for power, wealth, recognition, and representation.  Topics include race, class, gender, immigration, gentrification, infrastructure, counter-publics, underground art, comedy, and more. Regular excursions to prominent neighborhoods/boroughs, museums, live theater, and other cultural events. 

COURSE NAME: Politics, Film, and Culture
COURSE NUMBER: FM200/PS203
COURSE LOCATION: New York City, New York
FACULTY: Prof. Scott Krzych (FM)

PROGRAM FEE: $3,200 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and group meals.
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 1, 2022
What was the Holocaust, who were its victims, how have survivors described their experiences, and how has the history and meaning of this event been understood?  What limits do art, language, and history confront when remembering and representing genocide?  What can studying the Holocaust teach us about strategies, theories, and practices that challenge systems of oppression?  Our class will address these questions and more by engaging deeply with texts and other cultural materials in and out of the classroom as we travel to museums, public memorials, and other public sites in Germany and Austria.

COURSE NAME: Understanding & Representing the Holocaust
COURSE NUMBER: GR220/GR320/CO200/FG206/RM200/HY200
COURSE LOCATION: Berlin and multiple cities in Germany & Austria
FACULTY: Prof. Chet Lisiecki (GR)

PROGRAM FEE: $4,000 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions, group meals and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 15, 2022
Experience Italian regional cuisines while learning the history of some Italian recipes and traditions related to food.  Cook traditional dishes of the Abruzzo region with the help of local chefs.  Learn how taste is related to local traditions and cultural histories while visiting some of the most beautiful regions in Central and Southern Italy.   This course may be taken independently as a block away or paired with Block 7 in Florence (HY200/IT320) to form a half-semester program. 

COURSE NAME: Gusto: Italian Food as Art, Culture & Tradition
COURSE NUMBER: IT320
COURSE LOCATION: Rome, Sorrento, and Abruzzo, Italy

PROGRAM FEE: $3,350 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and international health & travel insurance. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 15, 2022
This course allows aspiring filmmakers to leave campus and explore narratives in a new, and possibly foreign environment.  During the first few days of the course, we will study films that take direct inspiration from specific locations.  Then we will travel to a location, study our surroundings, write scripts inspired by the environment, and shoot films over a 2-week period.  THis course will conclude with a film screening of final projects at CC.  Prerequisite: FM102 or Consent of Instructor. 

COURSE NAME: Destination Filmmaking
COURSE NUMBER: FM310
COURSE LOCATION: Los Angeles, California
FACULTY: Prof. Arom Choi (FM)

PROGRAM FEE: $3,000 includes lodging, ground transport, excursions and group meals. 
ADDITIONAL COSTS: Airfare and individual meals.  Students on the CC standard mealplan receive a refund for 1 block, providing funding for on-site meals. 
WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE: December 15, 2022

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2021-2022 BLOCK AWAY COURSES

Psychology 130 or Italian 320
Prof. T. Roberts
Program Fee: $3,325

 

Psychology 263
Prof. J. Riker & Prof. M. Dobson
Program Fee: $1,700
Music 397
Prof. O. Ben-Amots & Prof. M. Grace
Program Fee: $3,600
Film & Media Studies 200
Prof. S. Krzych
PRogram Fee: $2,900
Environmental Studies 209
Prof. M. Kummel
Program Fee: $3,500
Psychology 178 or Asian Studies 250
Prof. J. Weaver
Program Fee: $1,850
Sociology 270
Prof. G. Murphy-Geiss
Program Fee: $3,500
Comparative Literature 300 or English 380
Prof. L. Hughes & Prof. B. Sarchett
Program Fee: $3,200
History 200 or Italian 320
Prof. S. Ashley
Program Fee: $3,700
Portuguese 316
Prof. N. Wood
Program Fee: $3,200
Italian 320
Prof. A. Minervini
Program Fee: $3,300
Italian 204
Prof. C. Cornette
Program Fee: $3,300
Human Biology & Kinesiology 260
Prof. A. Bull
Program Fee: $2,600

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Block Away Basics

APPLICATION: The primary application window for all 2022-2023 Academic Year Blocks Away was between February 3 and March 31, 2022, following our official launch event at the Blocks Away Fair on February 3 (12pm to 2pm in the Worner Campus Center).  All students who apply during this window will be considered for an aid award (See Billing & Finances page for details).  All applications during the application window will be reviewed for aid eligibility. Students will be notified of their aid award by April 20, 2022. 

A second application window for Block 7 and Block 8 programs closes September 21, 2022.   All students who apply after March 31 and before the September 21 deadlines will be included in a financial aid review.  Students in this application window will be notified if they are eligible for an aid award by October 10. 

Students who wish to apply for a block away after the application window has closed should consult with the program's faculty leader to determine if there remain available spaces in the program for a late application.  Late applicants can be placed on an aid waitlist, but if a student is in need of financial aid it is highly recommended that applications be completed by the deadline.

It is an option to apply to multiple programs.  Students who do this should notify Global Education of their final decision to accept admission into their preferred program no later than the earliest Withdrawal deadline of the programs they have selected.  Failure to notify Global Education of your desire to decline acceptance into a program by the program's deadline can lead to program fees being billed to the student. 

All Applications must be completed on Summit.  Once accepted into the program, students will receive an email with instructions for forms and waivers to complete. Upon submission of these forms to Summit the Consent of Instructor (COI) Code needed to register for the course on Banner will be provided.  

Colorado College Block Away & Abroad programs are funded through a program fee.  This fee typically covers on-site expenses for the students and faculty such as lodging, group meals, transportation, program excursions, guest speakers, group activities, and international health and travel insurance. The program fee may also include additional funds for student meals, however, most meals are funded through a refund of one block of the campus meal plan, provided to students in the weeks before departure.

Program fees do not typically cover airfare to/from the program location. 

To assist with the costs of a block away/abroad, Colorado College has a pool of aid specifically designed to cover up to 90% of the expense of a block away, including airfare, for students who qualify for need-based aid.  All students who apply to, and are accepted in, a Block Away will automatically be reviewed for aid eligibility.  If eligible, a student can earn an aid award between 20%-90% of the estimated total cost for participation in the program.  The aid pool is limited, so not all students who might qualify are guaranteed aid for any particular program.  It is very important to apply during the primary Application Window for each given program to maximize the potential to obtain an aid award as late applicants are often unable to obtain an award. 

For detailed information about Block Away Program Fees and Aid Awards, please visit our Billing & Finances for AY Blocks Away Page.  

PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL: Each Academic Year Off-Campus Block has a set Student Withdrawal Deadline (below).  Withdrawal charges for Academic Year Blocks are defined by the withdrawal date as it relates to this deadline as well as the program departure date. 

1. Withdrawal prior to the published deadline for the program will incur no charges.
2. Post-deadline withdrawal will incur charges ranging from a minimum of $100 to a maximum of 100% of the program fee.  
3. The withdrawal charge increases to a minimum of 25% of the program fee for any withdrawal occurring within the block prior to departure.

The total amount of the program charge to be billed will be determined by the course faculty and Global Education and will consider both nonrefundable expenses paid by the college on your behalf and costs shared by all participating students to support the structural expenses of the program. 

Financial aid awards cannot be used to cover withdrawal charges.  Students may have a portion of these charges waived with appropriate documentation that the withdrawal was attributable to medical necessity. 

While it is quite common for Colorado College students to participate in semester-length study abroad either through a CC partnered program or by petitioning for a non-CC semester, the same is not true for individual block programs.  There are some schools which offer January or May block programs outside of their normal semester or quarter system, however, these often clash with the schedule of CC blocks and cannot be used to replace a block at Colorado College.  For this reason, while CC allows students to travel on non-CC semester programs and have CC financial aid available for these programs, the same is not true for individual "January Term", "Maymester" or other individual block programs offered by other schools.  If you have a unique program which you believe deserves review and an exception to this policy, please contact Heather Powell Browne in the Global Education Office to begin an appeal process.  

For information about petitioning for a non-CC study abroad program, please see this page

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ADDITIONAL BLOCK AWAY INFORMATION

If you have never obtained a passport and are need of financial support in applying for a passport to participate in a CC off-campus program, you may apply for an Academic Opportunities Grant to help cover some of those expenses.   

It is highly recommended that as you apply for any Block Away you ensure that your passport is valid no less than 6 months beyond the end date of your program.  Many countries do not allow access if a passport is within its final 6 months of validity, so a renewal may be needed if your passport will expire within 6 months of the program's closure.  If your passport is due for renewal during this time frame, we recommend seeking the renewal immediately as passport processing times have been increasing over the past few years. 

Please note you may have additional costs and requirements not common for U.S. citizens.  These include:

  • You may be required to obtain a visa for entry to the program’s host country when U.S. citizens do not. Visas commonly require paying a fee.
  • You may need to schedule visa appointments through consular offices outside of Colorado and travel independently to these appointments.
  • You may need to apply well in advance to obtain a visa appointment.  Please do not wait until the final weeks before departure to begin this process.
  • Financial aid does not cover any of these costs connected to applying for these visas for any block off-campus programs.

If you believe you will need financial support in order to obtain the necessary visa for a program to which you have been accepted, please contact Global Education.  Funds are available (on a limited basis) from Global Education. 

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Report an issue - Last updated: 02/26/2024