Spanish with Dr. Abraham Prades (Summer 2026)
The KIIS Spain I program offers students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the Spanish language, culture, and history while studying advanced Spanish courses in one of the country’s most charming and historic cities: Segovia. To enhance the cultural experience, students will live with local host families, which provides them with an environment that will improve their language skills, immersing themselves in daily Spanish life and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture.
Segovia offers a weekly open-air market, picturesque plazas, cafes, and frequent musical and artistic events that serve as an ideal backdrop for cultural immersion. In Segovia, students can explore stunning landmarks, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar, and the Gothic Cathedral. The program includes excursions and field trips to important historical and cultural sites in and around Segovia. The city’s proximity to Madrid, with its vast cultural offerings, makes this location ideal for experiencing multiple dimensions of Spanish life.
- SPAN 345 - Business Spanish: This course is designed to enhance students’ communicative competence in professional contexts within the Hispanic business world. Building upon prior linguistic knowledge, it emphasizes the practical application of both oral and written Spanish through engagement with authentic, real-world scenarios. Students will be introduced to essential business terminology and linguistic conventions commonly encountered in commercial settings, while developing strategies for effectively comprehending, analyzing, and responding to new information. Furthermore, the course will explore the critical role of cultural competence in conducting business with Spanish-speaking communities, both in Latin America and Spain, as well as with Hispanic populations in the United States.
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Communication with Dr. Susan Dummer (Summer 2026)
Austria has been a favorite destination for KIIS students since 1975. Located on Lake Constance and at the foot of the Alps, this summer program provides an ideal setting to experience European life. Students live with Austrian families in the picturesque town of Bregenz, offering students a “home in Europe.” Using the youth Eurail Globalpass (included in the program fee) and the extensive European train system, students are only a few hours away from many great European cultural centers such as Zurich, Munich, and Salzburg. From Bregenz students can ride trains to Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Venice, Florence, Prague, and many other cities.
- COMM 348 Interpersonal Communication: This course explores the social, phychological, and physiological bases of communication in the contexts of dyads and small groups. Specific focus will be given to the influence of culture on developing relationships, as well as theories that help to explain developing relationships.
- COMM 415: TOPICS: Nonverbal Communication and Cultural Influence: Examines nonverbal communication codes, including their structures, usages, and interrelationships. Stresses student understanding, analysis, and application of nonverbal communication and culture through lecture, discussion, and experiential activities.
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Biology with Dr. Meredith Eckstein (Summer 2026)
Explore the unique ecosystems of Belize, where tropical rainforests and coral reefs lie just miles apart. This program introduces students to the rich biodiversity of both land and sea environments, offering firsthand experiences with wildlife, plant life, and marine organisms. From observing howler monkeys and leaf-cutter ants in the forest to snorkeling among colorful reef fish and corals, students explore the connections between ecological systems and human communities. Along the way, they’ll also learn about traditional Mayan knowledge and the ongoing relationship between culture and the natural world.
- Tropical Biology: Experience the biological richness of Belize from the tropical rainforest at Blue Creek to the coral reefs of South Water Caye. This course combines hands-on fieldwork with guided exploration of two distinct ecosystems, giving students the chance to study species interactions, ecological relationships, and conservation issues in context. While based at a remote jungle field station, students will observe wildlife, explore forest trails, and learn how local communities use and manage natural resources. The program then moves to a marine field station, where daily snorkeling excursions reveal the diversity of reef fish, corals, and other invertebrates. With a focus on field observation, species identification, and ecological analysis, the course offers a deeper understanding of how rainforest and reef systems function, and how they are connected.
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Art with Professor Aaron Reynolds (Winter 2027)
The KIIS winter program in Italy begins in the beautiful Tuscan city of Florence and ends in the country’s magnificent capital, Rome. Students spend the first five days in Florence where they are living within walking distance of the most famous museums and sites in Italy’s Renaissance capital. The program will then move to Rome where students visit and explore the Vatican, Colosseum, famous churches, and other memorable monuments.
- Art of the Italian Renaissance: This course examines the development of the Italian Renaissance. In Florence—the heart of Humanist thought and artistic innovation—students will explore how artists such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, and Michelangelo redefined visual culture. In Rome, we will examine the city’s ancient monuments alongside the masterpieces of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Through on-site discussions, sketchbook reflections, and museum visits, students will experience art history firsthand.
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