Study Abroad/Travel Programs
Study abroad/travel programs provide students with unique opportunities to broaden their world-view, immerse themselves in another culture or environment and positively influence their work as designers and artists. MIAD offers short-term, faculty-led travel programs for students during the summer months and over Spring Break. Past programs have included Italy, Ireland, France, Thailand as well as travel exploring the Desert Southwest and digging for dinosaurs in Montana. Programs currently range in length from 9 days to 4 weeks for 3 to 6 credits. Financial Aid is often available as well as a select number of need-based grants. Most programs are open to students at all levels in all majors.

Florence, Italy: Tracing the Contemporary Italian Aesthetic
Botticelli and Brunelleschi to Ferragamo and Cattelan
May/June 2026
4+ weeks on-site in Italy (May 18 – June 20) with pre- and post-trip meetings.
- 6 credits
- FA396: Fine Arts Studio Travel Elective OR DS396: Design Studio Travel Elective PLUS ARTH396 Art History Travel Elective OR HUM396 Humanities Travel Elective
- Credits can count towards minors in Art History or Humanities
- Pre-requisites: Completed WR120, HUMT121, ARTH151 and other FYE Studio courses by time of travel and instructor approval
FLORENCE INFORMATION MEETING: SEPTEMBER 16th, 11:15AM Room 160
Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, Florence embodies a unique historic, cultural, economic political, and artistic environment that few other cities can rival. Home to Etruscan, Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, Modern and Contemporary cultural innovations and monuments, the city of Florence and surrounding environs provide an engaging and stimulating environment for student learning. Students will explore the contemporary Italian aesthetic by tracing its development over history through art and design from a connected studio, art history and humanities perspective in this 4-week course.

Cityscape of Florence, Italy
Through immersion into the Florentine culture, and enriched by exploration, reading, research, writing, dialogues, studio exploration and experiences visiting other select cities in Italy, students will broaden their own contextual understanding to foster a meaningful assessment of contemporary Italian aesthetics. Objects, monuments, spaces and other artistic explorations of Italian cultural life will be examined through multi-disciplinary perspectives that address creative production.
Upon gaining this exposure, students will apply universal cultural elements such as innovation, adaptation, assimilation, modernization, and variation as they seek to develop and define their own interpretation of the Italian aesthetic. Participants will realize that despite geographical distances and cultural differences, all artists and designers share similar aspirations to understand the world around them. As a result of the experience, students will be better able to contextualize and navigate their own studio practice in relation to contemporary currents.
MIAD will be partnering with Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA) in Florence, which will provide use of some of its resources, including classrooms and housing.
Questions?
Jenny Krantz, Director, Director of Academic Administration – jkrantz@miad.edu
Office – 255E




Participating Faculty/Staff
Chris Szczesny-Adams, Ph.D., MIAD Professor of Art History, has taught at MIAD over the past 20 years. Her scholarship includes architecture, design, and art from the 19th to 21st centuries. She has also developed and taught MIAD classes on the History of Video Games. Chris previously led MIAD study abroad programs to Paris as well as Florence.
Jason S. Yi, MIAD Professor, has taught in MIAD’s Fine Arts and First Year programs for 29 years. Jason received an undergraduate degree in Architecture and worked as an architect for 5 years prior to teaching and focusing on fine arts. His studio work crosses multiple disciplines, including drawing, photography, installation and sculpture. Jason has exhibited his work nationally and internationally and has been awarded the prestigious Joan Mitchell Foundation grant. He has led multiple MIAD-led study abroad trips to Florence, China, and Thailand.
Cost
Estimated Travel/Course Fee: $7225
Includes 6 credits MIAD summer tuition, housing, field trips and museum admissions, travel health/safety insurance during program dates, and several group meals. Students’ will stay in a group apartment in the city with WIFI and access to kitchen and washing machine. Airfare is NOT included. Roundtrip airfare to Florence is estimated at $1200 and will need to be purchased by early March. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Students should expect to spend $800 or more on food and other expenses.
Students are responsible for necessary passports or visas. Participants who do not currently possess a valid passport that is good through December 31, 2026, should apply for a new passport or renewal as soon as possible. Students will need to have their passports by the end of February.
Interested students must apply for the program and complete an application packet available outside of office 265B. Completed application forms must include a deposit of $800 payable to MIAD Florence Program, a statement of interest, 2 letters of support from current MIAD faculty/staff and financial aid form (whether requesting aid or not).
Students must be in good academic and financial standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Minimum enrollment must be met for program to run. Students are encouraged to submit their application materials earlier than the regular deadline. Quality of submitted materials may also influence instructor approval. Full-time MIAD students have priority. SPACE IN PROGRAM IS LIMITED.
Minimum enrollment must be met for program to run. Deposits will be returned if program is canceled because of insufficient enrollment or if student is not accepted.
Students accepted into the program will be required to sign a course commitment letter in early December and return it within 5 days of receiving notification of their acceptance. (After that, deposit will be refunded ONLY if MIAD cancels the program.)
Deposit will apply to total cost of the program.
An additional payment will be required at the end of February ($1500) and balance owed will be due April 17th. The payment schedule will be identified in the commitment document. Payments beyond initial deposit may also be non-refundable if expenses have already been paid on participant’s behalf.
Grants and Aid
MIAD NEED-BASED Study Abroad Grants: A small number of need-based grant awards will be available to eligible students. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, no business office holds, be in good academic standing and a current full-time MIAD student to apply and receive the grant. Grant awards for $500 – $750 will be based on a combination of factors including need, quality of written statement of intent, with consideration of student’s cumulative GPA. If a student is awarded a MIAD need-based study abroad grant, this award will be credited to course/travel fee owed AFTER deposit. Awards are contingent upon the program running. Students must return signed acceptance/ commitment letter for the program and grant award. Students interested in being considered for this year’s Study Abroad Need-Based Grant just need to check the appropriate box on the application form.
Financial Aid: Aid may be available to qualified students. Interested students should inquire at the MIAD Financial Aid office ASAP to determine individual eligibility. Students should be aware that financial aid cannot be distributed any earlier than 5-7 days before the start of the official summer term. Students should plan other means to cover deposit and plane tickets. Students confirmed eligible for financial aid will be able to apply that towards the balance owed. (Financial Aid CANNOT be used for deposit.)
Germany: Exploring the Bauhaus Legacy and Evolution
Weimar, Berlin and Dessau
May/June 2026
3+ weeks on-site in Germany (May 18 – June 10) with pre- and post-trip meetings.
- 6 credits
- FA396: Fine Arts Studio Travel Elective OR DS396: Design Studio Travel Elective PLUS HUM396 Humanities Travel Elective
- Pre-requisites: Completed WR120, HUMT121, ARTH151 and other FYE Studio courses by time of travel and instructor approval
GERMANY INFORMATION MEETING: SEPTEMBER 18th, 11:15AM Room 160
Founded by Walter Gropius, the core objective of the Bauhaus School was to reimagine the material world to reflect the unity of all the arts. This radical concept, combining elements of both fine arts and design education, introduced an interdisciplinary education that encouraged collaboration, experimentation, innovation and the exploration of new materials and techniques – a revolutionary design movement that redefined design and artistic production and helped to reshape modern creativity. This course offers an in-depth exploration of the Bauhaus movement and its profound influence across the six major disciplines at MIAD – Communication Design, Illustration, Product Design, Interior Architecture, Fine Arts and Fashion Design.
The program will explore Weimar, Dessau and Berlin, the three German cities where the Bauhaus thrived and established its artistic legacy from 1919-1933. Students will critically engage with the foundational principles of the Bauhaus: clarity, simplicity, and functionality, and uncover how these ideas have shaped modern art and design, establishing a framework for contemporary creative practices. Discussions and readings will also fostering a deeper understanding of the movement along with a greater understanding of how the political, intellectual, and social environment contributed to its success.
Students will participate in a reflective journal and sketchbook to document their thoughts and observations during the program. Collaborative group projects will allow students to explore specific aspects of the Bauhaus movement ensuring that diverse perspectives are represented and emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of the course and the movement itself. Students will also benefit and discover relevancy to their own art/design practice as they engage in writing, research, and studio explorations in this course.
Questions?
Jenny Krantz, Director, Director of Academic Administration – jkrantz@miad.edu
Office – 255E


Participating Faculty/Staff
Nicole Hauch is an Associate Professor and has taught in MIAD’s Communication Design program since 2014. She spent a year studying at the Bauhaus University in Weimer in 2004, an experience which made a lasting impression and inspired her to return Germany multiple times.
Adam Setala, Associate Professor and MIAD’s Chair of Communication Design, has extensive personal travel experience throughout Western Europe and Scandinavia. He has co-led multiple trips to New York City with MIAD students.
Christiane Grauert, Professor of Illustration, has taught at MIAD for over 25 years and will serve as on-site coordinator for the program. A native of Germany, she has traveled extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Christiane was also co-leader for multiple past MIAD student trips to New York City.
Cost
Estimated Travel/Course Fee: $6475
Includes 6 credits MIAD summer tuition, housing, field trips, museum admissions, travel health/safety insurance during program dates, ground transportation between cities, breakfasts and several other group meals. Students will stay in hostels while on-site with WIFI and laundry access and private bathrooms. Airfare is NOT included. Roundtrip airfare to Berlin is estimated at $900 – $1100 and will need to be purchased in early March. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Students should expect to spend $700 or more on food and other expenses.
Students are responsible for necessary passports or visas. Participants who do not currently possess a valid passport that is good through December 31, 2026, should apply for a new passport or renewal NO LATER THAN January 2026.
Interested students must apply for the program and complete an application packet available outside of office 265B. Completed application forms must include a deposit of $800 payable to MIAD Germany Program, a statement of interest, 2 letters of support from current MIAD faculty/staff and financial aid form (whether requesting aid or not).
Students must be in good academic and financial standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Minimum enrollment must be met for program to run. Students are encouraged to submit their application materials earlier than the regular deadline. Quality of submitted materials may also influence instructor approval. Full-time MIAD students have priority. SPACE IN PROGRAM IS LIMITED.
Minimum enrollment must be met for program to run. Deposits will be returned if program is canceled because of insufficient enrollment or if student is not accepted.
Students accepted into the program will be required to sign a course commitment letter in early December and return it within 5 days of receiving notification of their acceptance. (After that, deposit will be refunded ONLY if MIAD cancels the program.) Deposit will apply to total cost of the program.
An additional payment will be required at the end of February ($1500) and balance owed will be due April 17th. The payment schedule will be identified in the commitment document. Payments beyond initial deposit may also be non-refundable if expenses have already been paid on participant’s behalf.
Grants and Aid
MIAD NEED-BASED Study Abroad Grants: A small number of need-based grant awards will be available to eligible students. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, no business office holds, be in good academic standing and a current full-time MIAD student to apply and receive the grant. Grant awards for $500 – $750 will be based on a combination of factors including need, quality of written statement of intent, with consideration of student’s cumulative GPA. If a student is awarded a MIAD need-based study abroad grant, this award will be credited to course/travel fee owed AFTER deposit. Awards are contingent upon the program running. Students must return signed acceptance/ commitment letter for the program and grant award. Students interested in being considered for this year’s Study Abroad Need-Based Grant just need to check the appropriate box on the application form.
Financial Aid: Aid may be available to qualified students. Interested students should inquire at the MIAD Financial Aid office ASAP to determine individual eligibility. Students should be aware that financial aid cannot be distributed any earlier than 5-7 days before the start of the official summer term. Students should plan other means to cover deposit and plane tickets. Students confirmed eligible for financial aid will be able to apply that towards the balance owed. (Financial Aid CANNOT be used for deposit.)
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