LOS/SBS 470, 6 credits or LOS 670, 3 credits
SUMMER TRAVEL COURSE
Travel dates: June 22-July 8, 2026
The goal of this interdisciplinary program is to familiarize you with key issues, theories, and practices in intercultural leadership and to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and multicultural experiences necessary to be an effective, globally aware leader. After several months of study examining the socio-cultural, historical, and philosophical aspects of leadership from a global perspective, we will visit South Africa for two weeks in the summer.
Foundational to our African exploration will be service learning with a focus on community leadership. Led by program facilitators from Red Zebra, we will travel to the beautiful Montagu, a two-hour drive from Cape Town, and work with the people in its communities. We will also make plenty of time to see historic sites, engage in cultural experiences, and explore the stunning natural beauty of the region. To learn more review this video on the Montagu Study Abroad Project.
In the end, through program readings, site experiences, and reflection exercises, students will examine a wide range of cultural factors that influence the quality of a leader’s performance in these environments.
Faculty
Dr. Tara Grey Coste teaches Group Dynamics, Research Methods, and Deliberate Creativity & Innovation, as well as other courses in the Leadership and Organizational Studies programs. Since 2001 she has traveled to South Africa regularly to work with the South African Creativity Foundation to help support leadership efforts in this young democracy. She has been taking students to South Africa for over a decade and is the founder of USM’s Montagu Project.
Dr. Dan Jenkins teaches courses such as Foundations of Leadership, Diversity in Organizations, Qualitative Methods for Leadership, and Leadership Theory in USM’s Leadership & Organizational Studies programs. He has worked with students and leadership educators around the world through his scholarship, facilitation, and long-standing involvement with the International Leadership Association, where he has taken students to global conferences for the last ten years. Dr. Jenkins is committed to global education and designs learning experiences that prepare students to lead thoughtfully and responsively across cultural and international contexts.
Tuition and Fees
The program fee has not yet been determined. The program fee does NOT include the cost for tuition. The cost of tuition and fees at the in-state rate are in addition to the program fee. All participants on USM travel programs receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency.
The program fee includes accommodation, airfare, scheduled in-country travel, site visits, three meals a day, field trips, and international insurance coverage.
Not included in the program fee is the cost of tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, or other personal expenses.
Application
The application deadline is February 13, 2026.
A complete application includes all of the following:
- Submit the program application form
- We recommend looking over the application before completing it so you have all parts ready, as unfortunately you cannot save as you go.
- Copy of academic transcript
- Information regarding requesting a transcript can be found here (It’s probably easiest to either follow the steps for “Electronic Delivery” or “Unofficial Transcript via Classic MaineStreet” and either way, send to emily.zider@maine.edu)
Once the application committee has reviewed applications, you will be notified of acceptance via email. At that time, all students will be asked to submit a nonrefundable deposit and will be enrolled in the course in MaineStreet by the Office of International Programs.
Cancellation & Refund Policies
USM reserves the right to cancel travel courses due to low enrollment, changing political or economic factors, unusual circumstances or any other event which would dramatically impact the nature of the course or the ability of the faculty to conduct such a course. If USM cancels the course due to low enrollment, the non-refundable deposit and any payments made toward the program will be refunded to the student. Other costs incurred by the student will not be subject to refunds.
Financial Aid
Federal financial aid and loans are available to matriculated students who participate in travel courses.
- In order to receive the benefit of financial aid for a summer travel course, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits total during the summer.
Please apply for financial aid as early as possible. If you have questions about financial aid, please contact the financial aid office at (207) 780-4166. If you are not a matriculated student at USM, please check with the financial aid office at your institution.
If financial aid does not cover the full cost of the program, students are responsible for paying the remaining balance according to the payment plan schedule.
Scholarships
Students with a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply for the A. Carolla Haglund Scholarship. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 13, 2026.