Short Term Faculty-Led International Courses

Spring and Summer 2026

International educational programs are courses or programs led by College of Agricultural Sciences faculty or staff. Most meet on campus during the semester and have an embedded international travel experience either over fall, winter, or spring break, or in the beginning of the summer, lasting between 1 to 3 weeks. Some are focused on specific major areas or topics, but generally students in any major are welcome to apply. All programs listed below are embedded unless noted otherwise. Please contact the course leader or Ketja Lingenfelter, Assistant Director for Student Global Engagement for details.

Upcoming courses and programs by region

Africa

• Kenya
  • AGECO/CED 499: Issues in Economic, Community and Agricultural Development in Kenya, 3 credits in spring, non-credit internship in summer, occurs annually
  • Travel 2.5 weeks, May 2026
  • Course leaders: Dr. Janelle Larson, jbl6@psu.edu and Dr. Sjoerd Duiker, swd10@psu.edu

Asia

• Taiwan
  
  • INTAG 199N/CHEM 197N: Food Chemistry and Culture in Asia, 3 credits in summer, occurs annually
  • Travel May 14 - June 3, 2026
  • Course leaders: Dr. Linghao Zhong, luz4@psu.edu, Dr. Melanie Miller Foster, mjm727@psu.edu 
  • Application deadline: January 22, 2026

Central America

• Costa Rica
  
  • FOR 499: Food and Agroforestry Systems in Costa Rica
  • Must be enrolled in FOR 418 or INTAF 511
  • Travel during spring break, March 2026
  • Course leaders: Dr. Eric Burkhart, epb6@psu.edu, Dr. Elizabeth Ransom, exr497@psu.edu 

Europe

• Ireland
  • ANSC 499: Ireland’s equine industry; A global perspective into the horse world, 3 credits.
  • Meeting and traveling for 2 weeks, May 2026 plus two mandatory meetings in spring 2026 before travel.
  • Program leaders: Dr. Danielle Smarsh, dxs1172@psu.edu, Ms. Andrea Kocher, alg917@psu.edu
  • Application deadline: January 22, 2026

• Italy
  
  • FDSC/HORT 499: Comparing the science and business of wine in the US and Italy, 2 credits in spring, 0.25 credits in summer
  • Meeting second half of Spring 2026, traveling for 2 weeks during Maymester, 2026
  • FAQs and Application: https://forms.gle/dh89oxkCFnTw2Su46
  • Course leaders: Dr. Ryan Elias, rje12@psu.edu, Dr. Michela Centinari, mzc22@psu.edu, Dr. Kathy Kelley, kmk17@psu.edu

South America

• Brazil
  
  • ANSC 399: Beef Cattle Production in Brazil, 1 credit option added to ANSC 309, 3 credits in spring semester
  • ANSC 309 required as a prerequisite or to be co-enrolled 
  • Meeting on Fridays during spring semester, travel during spring break, March 2026
  • Course leader: Dr. Tara Felix, tfelix@psu.edu

Note: Your Student Conduct record and Academic record will be checked as part of the pre‐departure process for any College of Agricultural Sciences embedded program. If you have a disciplinary Student Conduct record, are currently on disciplinary probation, academic probation, or if your GPA is below 2.5, you may be deemed ineligible for the program.