Each year, the University of California offers short study abroad stays. This spring they are offering trips to Costa Rica and Eastern Europe.

Anyone can attend these trips, including students, friends and families of students, other faculty and staff on campus, or even friends of adult chaperones, Dr. Ross said.

These trips are offered by Education First, the world leader in international education, according to their website. It is an educational travel company with over 50 years of experience and over 52,000 employees worldwide. Education First offers trips and programs to many different countries and cities, as well as trips based on different specific interests, such as education or STEM. For the two trips Cal offered this year, the Costa Rica trip focuses on biodiversity, and the Eastern Europe trip is called The Treasures of Eastern Europe, and focuses more on the culture of the places that will be visited.

Dr. Beverly Ross, assistant professor at the University of California, Pennsylvania, is the tour leader for Eastern Europe, and other adults will also be traveling with her. This trip costs $ 4,850 and this cost is via Education First, and does not include the cost of tuition.

Students are also required to register for INT 300, and students are required to pay the tuition fee for that class, just like any other college class they would take in Cal, Dr Ross said. This is how they earn credits. If they participate in the trip without paying the tuition, they will not be able to obtain the credits.

To get the credits, all students need to do is attend the trip, and then Dr. Madden typically asks them to submit a reflection paper once they return to the United States, Ross said. These are all the only conditions for earning the credits.

The trip to Eastern Europe lasts 11 days and the students taking part in this trip will visit 3 different countries including Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary, as well as several cities in these countries.

The trip to Costa Rica lasts 9 days, costs $ 3,340, and will take students to San José and Guanacaste, among others. This information and more regarding this specific trip can be found on the Education First website.

“I would definitely be interested in taking one of these trips while I am in Cal,” said Christina Hall, Cal U freshman.

To find more information on travel to Eastern Europe and Costa Rica in particular, students can visit the Education First website. It contains information on routes, costs and trips in general. If students have specific questions about these Cal related trips, such as additional information, or if you have concerns about credits and requirements, they can contact Dr. Beverly Ross and Dr. Sean Madden.

More information on the itinerary of the trip to Eastern Europe can be found on this site: https://www.efcollegestudytours.com/professors-trip/2424807ZR.