Study in the States
A unique program in the Lee Honors College
Study in the States offers experience driven learning opportunities that take place outside the classroom. Except for the cost of tuition, expenses will be paid by the honors college. All trip descriptions, including dates, are included below. Follow us online using #LHCSIS!
The Spring and Summer II 2027 application deadline is Oct. 15, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
Selected students will be notified by Dec. 5, 2025. All courses will have an in-person meeting component in addition to the travel dates.
2026 Study in the States course offerings:
Spring:
HNRS 4301: Exploring Health Inequities in Chicago: Food Access & Community Wellness
Dates: TBD
*This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 3: Connections - Local and National Perspectives Category.
**This course also meets the Diversity and Inclusion student learning outcome.
This 3-credit course examines health disparities in urban environments, with a focus on Chicago’s historically marginalized communities. Students will explore how structural inequalities, social determinants of health, and community-based interventions impact public health outcomes. The course will provide an immersive experience, engaging with healthcare organizations, advocacy groups, and policymakers working to address racial and socioeconomic health inequities. Through site visits, guest lectures, and hands-on learning activities, students will analyze disparities in healthcare access, food insecurity, and broader social determinants of health. They will also explore the role of culturally tailored nutrition initiatives, urban farming, and community engagement strategies in improving health outcomes in under-served populations.
By the end of the course, students will develop a critical understanding of systemic health challenges and potential solutions through public health policies and grassroots efforts. Contact Dr. Angela Groves, Bronson School of Nursing, with questions.
HNRS 4301: Idlewild: A Jim Crow-era Resort Community and Its Revitalization
Dates: TBD
*This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 3: Connections - Local and National Perspectives Category.
*This course also meets the Diversity and Inclusion student learning outcome.
This course discusses and explores the Jim Crow-era resort community, Idlewild, Michigan, located 1.5 hours north of Kalamazoo. From the 1920s to the1960s, the resort was pivotal to the African American cultural and leisure experience. This experiential learning course will examine the effects of capitalism, segregation, desegregation, community abandonment, and revitalization. With the guidance and supervision of Dr. Luchara Wallace, students will have the opportunity to create and design projects that will enhance the livelihood and well-being of a community that is looking for ways to attract visitors to their town, while at the same time improving basic services for their residents. Contact Dr. Wallace, Merze Tate College Dean, with questions.
HNRS 4302: Desert Southwest
Dates: TBD
*This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 3: Connections - Local and National Perspectives Category.
*This course also meets the Planetary Sustainability student learning outcome.
This course is an investigation of the desert southwest and an exploration of culture, archaeology, and ecology. Punctuated by therapeutic soaks in hot springs, we visit the major sites of the Ancestral Pueblo (Anasazi), including Chaco Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, and Mesa Verde. We will study petroglyphs and pictographs, ride horses and hike to remote sites, and frequent remarkable desert mesas and vistas. We will learn through active engagement in an experiential, open-road, instructional pedagogy. Contact Dr. Jeffrey Jones, Teaching, Learning and Educational Studies, with questions.
HNRS 4302: Contemporary and Digital Art Experiences in NYC
Dates: TBD
*This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 3: Connections - Local and National Perspectives Category.
*This course also meets the Planetary Sustainability student learning outcome.
This immersive 3 credit course explores the evolving landscape of contemporary and digital
art in New York City, one of the world's most dynamic art capitals. Students will engage with
cutting-edge artistic expressions across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens through guided
visits to established museums and emerging galleries specializing in digital, NFT, and new
media art. The week balances traditional art institutions (MoMA, Whitney, Guggenheim) with
experimental spaces (Superchief Gallery, ARTECHOUSE, 0x.17 Gallery) to examine how
digital technologies are transforming artistic production, curation, and consumption. This
juxtaposition allows students to critically analyze the dialogue between conventional and
digital art forms while contextualizing them within broader cultural, economic, and
technological frameworks. Contact Jacklyn Brickman, Gwen Frostic School of Art, with any questions.
Summer II:
HNRS 4303: Walt’s Pilgrimage: A Journey in the Life of Walt Disney
Dates: TBD
*This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 3: Connections - Local and National Perspectives Category.
Travel with honors college and WMU alumnus Dr. Christopher Tremblay to explore the legacy of Walt Disney, beginning in Chicago at Disney’s birthplace and ending in California at his gravesite, taking us cross-country to all of the significant places in Walt’s life. This unique, biographical course will take you from the birth to the death of the famous Walt Disney. This experience is a historical journey about the 60-year life of an individual who left his mark on America in so many ways. Existing museums and buildings bearing Walt’s name will be a part of this one-of-a-kind, nationwide tour. Over the course of our travel, nearly 40 destinations with a connection to Walt will be visited, in chronological order. We will interact with many Disney historians along the way. This course offers an exclusive perspective on Disney, beyond what probably most of us know from our own personal, prior experiences related to him and his Kingdom. Get ready to step inside the wonderful world of Disney! 3 credit hours. Contact Dr. Tremblay, honors college alumnus, with any questions.