Welcome to Your Study Abroad Adventure!
College is about more than academics. It’s about finding yourself and creating lasting connections. At Millsaps, you find a vibrant, tight-knit community. Whether it’s meeting friends for lunch between classes, celebrating Holi alongside our South Asian students or participating in a game of kickball, Millsaps students play as hard as they study.
Millsaps College is ranked as one of the best study abroad programs in the country!
We know that Millsaps students are passionate about making an impact and being truly global citizens. The Office of International Education is here to help you explore the opportunities you have to make the world your classroom. Whether you choose to participate in one of our nationally award-winning faculty-led programs or a semester abroad with one of our direct exchange or study abroad partners, we are sure that you will find your international experience to be a powerful tool for understanding and appreciating today’s world. Once you return, we can also support you as you learn to use your international experiences to set you apart in job searches and graduate school applications.
Contact Us
Office of International Education (OIE)
601.974.1052 | Campbell College Center Office 318 | Email
Apply for a Millsaps Faculty-Led Program
Apply for a Scholarship
Student Support
Student Information and Resources
What types of study abroad programs does Millsaps offer?
Millsaps study abroad programs are developed and led by Millsaps faculty and staff and are offered in countries around the globe! One or more program leaders travel with a cohort of Millsaps students to learn and explore abroad during the winter or summer terms. The courses are open to any Millsaps student and are not specific to a particular major; the classes are tailor-made to fit into the Millsaps curriculum so that you will be able to apply 4-8 credits to your major, minor and/or Compass Curriculum requirements including the Major Experience. There are several Millsaps scholarships available to support students in gaining experience around the globe.
ISEP Exchange & Millsaps Direct Exchange
Millsaps is part of the ISEP Exchange network which provides Millsaps students access to over 50 universities around the world. Millsaps also has direct exchange opportunities with Akita International University (Akita City, Japan) and Liechtenstein University (Vaduz, Liechtenstein) These opportunities are preferred Millsaps partner program partners and offer comprehensive advising, support, as well as tuition benefits. Placements for ISEP and direct exchange programs are competitive and based on strict deadlines, so early planning is advised. Set up an advising appointment.
Affiliate study abroad program providers can be utilized if you have already taken part in a faculty-led program, or if you do not qualify for an ISEP/Exchange program. There are a number of high-quality programs arranged through these affiliate program providers. These programs are vetted to meet the standards for study abroad, and you can meet major and minor requirements, continuing progress towards your Millsaps degree. Approval for participation is required. You can explore opportunities available through the affiliate program providers by visiting the individual webpages. Application deadlines vary, so early planning is advised. Set up an advising appointment.
Explore Faculty-Led Study Abroad Opportunities
See a course you are interested in? Be sure to drop the professor an email for more details.
Winter 2022-2023 Faculty-Led Programs
Writing (in) Place
Yucatán, Mexico
CRWT 3750 (4 credits)
December 29, 2022 – January 9, 2023
Professor Liz Egan | eganee@millsaps.edu
Maya Gods, the History of Chocolate, and You
Yucatán, Mexico
RLST, HIST, or SOAN 3750 (4 credits)
December 29, 2022 – January 9, 2023
Dr. James Bowley | bowleje@millsaps.edu
Everyone in the world seems to know and love chocolate, but how did that happen? In this course we will explore the history of chocolate in the land of its beginnings. Moving from Yucatecan Maya temples to the history of Europeans in the land until today, this course will deal with chocolate, of course, and history, religion and anthropology (and can be credit for all three!). We’ll see beautiful vistas, swim in the ocean, cenotes and pools, and enjoy every minute of learning and exploring! It’s a fascinating story of nature, religion, conquest, technology, trade and exploitation, and we’ll see it all in the fascinating and beautiful land and culture of Yucatan. We’ll spend 11 days in the Yucatan visiting temples, museums, beaches, and the Millsaps Biocultural Reserve, and we’ll eat plenty of chocolate. And of course, you will experience New Year’s in Mexico!
International Business Latin America
Yucatán, Mexico
EMGT 600 (3 credits) or MGMT 2020 (4 credits)
December 26, 2022 – January 7, 2023
Dr. Jesse Beeler | beelejd@millsaps.edu
This is an intense course that requires you to travel and live in Latin America for a two-week period. You are required to assess and understand geographic, environmental, economic, socio cultural, political and legal factors that impact the business environment of Latin America. In addition to the classroom instruction, the course provides experiential learning opportunities by participating in field trips that expose you to the history and culture of the region, as well as to various leaders of business, industry and government.
Summer 2023 Faculty-Led Programs
Humans Shaping Nature in Yucatán: Forests, Seas, and Reefs
Yucatán, Mexico
PHIL 2750 or SOAN 2760 (4 credits)
May 15 – May 29, 2022
Dr. Kristen Brown Golden | kristen.golden@millsaps.edu
In this course we travel to some of Yucatán’s most beautiful colonial cities, eat delicious local foods and explore a rarely visited natural habitat. At Kaxil Kiuic located in the PUUC region, students learn about the Kaxil ruins and forest. How did the Maya live here? How is the forest so well? A course about human relationships to ecosystems in Yucatán would not be complete without visits to the second longest barrier reef on Earth and the nearby beaches of Isla Mujeres.
Spanish in Yucatán
Yucatán, Mexico
SPAN 1000-3000 (4 credits)
May 29 – July 3, 2023
Dr. Judith Caballero | cabalj@millsaps.edu
This program immerses students in the language, culture and history of the Yucatán peninsula. In collaboration with Marista University and the Yucatán Institute for Language and Culture, students may enroll in courses ranging from introductory Spanish to advanced literature courses. Students will attend classes at Casa Millsaps and practice their conversation skills with Marista University students. Culture classes and weekend excursions to local archaeological sites, historical places and other sites of cultural and historical interest are also part of the curriculum.
From Minds to Markets
Yucatán, Mexico
ADMIN: 4750 (4 credits)
May 15 – 28, 2023
Professor Harvey Fiser | fiserhl@millsaps.edu
This course is a practical immersion in a newer model of product design and development that harnesses the power of out-of-the-office analytical observation, creative problem-solving psychology, on-the-fly research, group assessment, and the principle of fail-fast-and-small. We can often make more objective observations when living in a different cultural context, i.e. Mexico, where existing practices can be different enough that students will have an easier time stepping outside the familiar background of their own commercial culture to ask “Why do they do it that way?” or “Why don’t we do that?” or “How could that be done better?” or “Why don’t we do that back home?” Students will generate ideas about new products and processes, run those ideas through the “incubator” of the class, research feasibility of the surviving ideas, and collaboratively decide on the most promising ones. By the end of the class, students will produce initial product proposals.
Cultural Politics and Identity in Maya Mexico
Yucatán, Mexico
HIST, ARTH, or GOVT 2750 (4 credits)
May 18 – June 1, 2023
Dr. Amy Forbes | forbeaw@millsaps.edu
This cultural history course introduces students to questions of identity in the Yucatán, a Mexican crossroads of Mayan, European, and Caribbean influences. Based at Casa Millsaps in Mérida, students will explore how history, ethnicity, geology, and geography have shaped the balance of regional and national identity in the Yucatán, an area whose culture is simultaneously Mexican, Caribbean, and unique to itself.
Archaeology in the Land of the Inkas
Cusco, Peru
SOAN 3410 (4 credits)
June 4 – July 10, 2023
Dr. Veronique Belisle | belisv@millsaps.edu
This course is an opportunity for students to (1) gain hands-on experience in archaeological lab work; (2) be exposed to the prehistory and history of the region; and (3) discover contemporary Peruvian culture. The course is designed for students who have never had archaeological lab experience and for those who have already done lab work but would like to gain additional experience. Students will participate in the Kaninkunka Archaeological Project in Cusco and will be involved in all steps of research. By the end of this class, students will be familiar with the methodology of archaeological lab work and will have gained a unique immersive experience living in Peru.
Summer Mini-Semester in Taiwan
Tunghai University, Taiwan
2 Courses (6 credits)
May 15 – June 30, 2023
Dr. Lynn Raley | raleyhl@millsaps.edu
As part of a five-week mini-semester at Tunghai University’s International College, students choose two courses from an array of topics: Mandarin language, art, music, culture, film, food, business, psychology, and more. Courses are taught Monday through Thursday, with weekend field trips, and trips around the island after classes end. Dr. Raley will offer a course on the history of popular music in Taiwan, investigating Mando-Pop, Taiyu, Hakka and aboriginal artists, as well as American-influenced rock and hiphop, placing the music in the island’s cultural and political contexts.
Field Study in International Management
Florence, Italy and Dublin, Ireland
MGMT 4750 or EMGT 600 (4 credits or 3 credits)
July 2 – July 19, 2023
Dr. Jesse Beeler | beelejd@millsaps.edu
In this course, students will travel throughout Europe exploring new cultures and gaining valuable career training. They will experience an in-depth study of International Business through travel, classroom training, and hands-on site visits to businesses. This course includes 6 hours of formal classroom instruction at Millsaps and 38 hours of classroom instruction once in the region. Field trips throughout their time abroad will expose students to the incredible history and culture of Europe.
Civil Wars: How They Start and How They End
Florence, Italy and Dublin, Ireland
HIST 4750 (4 credits)
July 2 – July 19, 2022
Dr. Bill Storey | storewk@millsaps.edu
The United States has become deeply polarized. Some analysts believe that the nation may be on the brink of civil war. What lessons do past civil wars have for us? This course will first consider evidence from the U.S. Civil War (1861-65). In Florence, we will study together about the origins and outcomes of civil wars in European history. In Dublin, we will focus our attention on the Irish War of Independence (1916-21); the Irish Civil War (1922-23); and the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland (1968-98). The course will integrate readings and discussions with visits to museums and historic sites.
Capitalism/Socialism/Communism – Choices
Florence, Italy and Dublin, Ireland
ADMN 4750 or GOVT 4750 (4 credits)
July 19 – August 3, 2023
Professor Harvey Fiser | fiserhl@millsaps.edu
International Lessons in Leadership
London, England
MGMT 4750 or EMGT 600 (4 credits or 3 credits)
July 19 – August 3, 2023
Dr. Jesse Beeler | beelejd@millsaps.edu
In this course, students will be exploring new cultures and gaining valuable career training in London. They will meet and learn from well-respected industry leaders and build valuable cross-cultural skills acquired by living in an international setting. This course includes 6 hours of formal classroom instruction at Millsaps and 38 hours of classroom instruction once in the region. Field trips throughout their time abroad will expose students to the incredible history and culture of London and the surrounding areas.
The Psychology of Fear and Terrorism
London, England
PSYC 4750 (4 credits)
July 19 – August 3, 2023
Dr. Kurt Thaw | thawak@millsaps.edu
The focus of this course is on the psychology of fear and terrorism… not necessarily terrorists, although we will be discussing a number of key players along the way. Drawing from insights and analytical tools offered by psychology, sociology, political science, history, and philosophy, students will explore such topics as Serial Killings, Nazi Germany, Cyber-Terrorism, Radicalization, the neural correlates of Fear, and the causes and consequences of recent terrorist acts (such as the London Bus Bombing, the World Trade Center attacks of 9/11, Vehicle attacks, etc.).
Field Study in International Marketing
London, England
MRKT 4750 (4 credits)
July 19 – August 3, 2023
Dr. Penelope Prenshaw | prenspj@millsaps.edu
Summer 2023 in Taiwan
Students have a unique opportunity to study in Taiwan at Tunghai University’s International College for a five-week mini-semester in May and June. Taught by faculty from universities and colleges in the US and Taiwan, the program offers thirty different course choices, from Mandarin Chinese language to business, STEM courses, arts & culture, psychology, and religious studies. Each student will select either one or two courses (3 credits per course, 3 credits = 54 hours), held Monday to Thursday. Fridays will be devoted to cultural activities and day trips. After successful completion, students will be awarded a Fulbright CSAT (Consortium for Study Abroad in Taiwan) certificate and an official transcript from Tunghai University. Courses taken at Tunghai can earn 3 to 6 credit hours, transferable to Millsaps. For more information, please contact Dr. Lynn Raley.
Dr. Raley will lead Millsaps students in Taiwan and will also teach a course in the Tunghai/CSAT mini-semester entitled “New Music, Old: The Kaleidoscope of Influences on Taiwan’s New Music.” This course will investigate music as a cultural marker, looking at two faces of Taiwanese music—popular (Mando-Pop, Taiyu, Hakka, and aboriginal artists), and modern classical composition—placing the music in both the cultural and political contexts of the island.
Living in Yucatán
Research and Learning at Millsaps Yucatán Reserve
About | Kaxil Kiuic: Education Through Preservation | Our Vision | Links
About

The Reserve consists of an off-the-grid Research and Learning Center, a laboratory and research facility in the nearby Maya town of Oxkutzcab and the new Center for Business and Culture, a dormitory-classroom facility in Merida developed by the Else School of Management. While at Millsaps College take advantage of our Study Abroad opportunities by taking a course in the Living in Yucatán Program and/or doing research or an internship in a wide variety of fields at one of our facilities. Contact George Bey if you have any questions.
Our Vision: A Reserve Without Boundaries

At Millsaps, we believe that in order to cultivate the intellectual and psychological stamina that today’s leadership demands, two conditions must be met: (1) students must become deeply engaged in a particular challenge that is relevant and meaningful to them (2) students must be placed in complex, demanding situations which they have not encountered before. In this environment, students can discover what they are made of, dig deeply into themselves, and reflect on their life experiences and studies in a larger context. Here too, while there is significant consensus that these competencies are needed, there is a remarkable shortage of experiences specifically designed to cultivate these skills in undergraduate students.

The reserve will address the challenge of pursuing archaeological research while protecting current ecosystems and living communities by removing the traditional boundaries of biological, geological, historical archaeological, and social science research and creating innovative community partnerships. While faculty and students will be deeply involved in this initiative, ultimately this program is designed to model a community of learners made up of local civic, cultural, and educational leadership who are committed to addressing complex cultural and ecological issues.
By integrating archaeology, cultural preservation, and ecology, the reserve will create a new concept of conservation, tourism, and economic development from which students, scholars and local communities will benefit.
Study Abroad Scholarships and Financial Aid
Millsaps is pleased to offer scholarships for students applying for Millsaps faculty-led study abroad programs thanks to generous donors.
Robinson Scholarship
The Judy and E. B. Robinson, Jr., International Fellows Program is designed to provide grants to students who wish to participate in a Millsaps faculty-led study abroad program. The program is open to current undergraduate students after completing one full semester of studies. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 and show evidence of financial need (as confirmed by the Office of Financial Aid, using the student’s FAFSA).
Ogden Scholarship
The Julia and Paul Ogden International Fellows Endowment provides funding for travel stipends to enable Millsaps students to pursue educational experiences outside the continental United States. Preference is given to students who have completed their sophomore year of studies. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and show evidence of financial need (as confirmed by the Office of Financial Aid, using the student’s FAFSA).
Application deadline for Summer 2023 is February 15.
Office of International Education Travel Policies
Please visit https://www.eiia.org/programs/student-insurance-programs/ to review information about our international travel insurance.
How do I know what study abroad opportunity is best for me?
Here are a few questions that will help you define your goals and choose which of the programs above might be the best fit.
What are my academic goals and course of study plans?
- Do I want/need to take classes in my major(s)? For my minor(s)? For Compass Curriculum requirements?
- What recommendations do my academic / pre-professional program / student leadership advisors have regarding study abroad (e.g. when is the best time for me to study abroad)?
- Do I want to begin or continue to study a language?
- Do I want to complete an internship while abroad?
What do I need to know about financial planning?
- What types of financial support do the programs offer?
- Do I qualify for scholarships and/or what advanced planning can help me prepare for costs?
Great news, there are a range of opportunities to help finance your investment in studying abroad. See the Scholarship & Financial Aid section for more info.
What are some of my cultural interests?
- Do I want to study in a specific country or region?
- Do I want to study with local students? Millsaps students?
Are there other features I would like on a study abroad program?
- Do I want to have the support of Millsaps faculty mentors while abroad?
- Do I want to participate in service learning or volunteer work while abroad?
- Do I want to be on a program with support services or a more independent program?
Are there any special needs to consider when selecting a program and planning to study abroad?
- Do I have a medical, psychological or medical condition for which I will need treatment or medication while abroad?
- Do I have special dietary needs?
- Will I be able to get adequate accommodations for my disability abroad?
Links

A Mexican conservation organization
The Maya Vase Database
Justin Kerr’s online database features thousands of examples of Maya ceramics as well as provenience and interpretive information.
The MesoAmerican Ballgame
Learn about this sport of life and death
Millsaps College Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Find out about courses, faculty, and current research at Millsaps.
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
A myriad of programs and resources exist at UNAM (Spanish language).
Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc.
FAMSI provides grants, resources, and research forums for studies of Mesoamerican culture.
Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia
Mexico’s federal agency devoted to anthropology and history administers museums and archaeological sites.
Society for American Archaeology
A forum for archaeologists with resources for both students and professionals