Study Abroad Courses for Summer 2026!
UCF Abroad is very excited to partner with colleges and departments across campus to offer this unique, center-based study abroad program. This opportunity is designed to offer students balanced exposure to both living and studying abroad.
This is a 4-week summer program in Italy, Costa Rica or Spain. Students attend classes Monday through Thursday, from 10:00-12:30. The afternoons and weekends (Friday-Sunday) are reserved for student free time, although cultural events and academic activities may be scheduled during the afternoons (Monday-Thursday).
In collaboration with UCF Global, the Nicholson School of Communication and Media hosted virtual info sessions to help educate students about the UCF International Centers. To watch the presentation from these sessions, follow the link using the button below!
Virtual Info Session
San José, Costa Rica
Classes offered include:
Cinema Survey (FIL 1000)(GEP)
Instructor: Elizabeth Kritzer
This course is an opportunity to dive into the meanings and magic of cinema through a Costa Rican and Central American
lens. You will view significant and creatively innovative films from Costa Rica and around the world, including at local cinemas. You will analyze and discuss their themes and cinematic style, learn about technical, commercial, and artistic aspects of film production, and the historical and cultural impact of cinema in Central and South America, the U.S., and around the world.
This class welcomes students from all majors, aiming to provoke insightful discussions at the intersections of a wide range of expertise, interests, and backgrounds. After all, the potential subjects and ideas for films are as wide as the world itself, and the most rewarding classes are ones in which you feel engaged and inspired to share your unique views while learning from others through discussion. This class will also provide you with the opportunity to practice and hone your writing and speaking skills through a focus on film production, theory, and history.
Barcelona, Spain
Classes offered include:
Business and Professional Communication (COM 4110)
Instructor: Dr. Nan Yu
This is a great class for you if you are interested in learning how to communicate effectively in today’s professional world. You will build confidence in interviews, public speaking, and team leadership while practicing strategies for managing workplace diversity and conflict. The course emphasizes clear, audience-centered writing and presentation skills that connect with both internal and external stakeholders. By the end, you’ll be well-prepared for job seeking, career advancement, and success in any professional setting.
Fundamentals of Interactive Design (DIG 2500)
Instructor: Dan Novatnak
DIG2500’s immersive study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, equips students with the skills to create cutting-edge interactive media projects using industry-standard methods and software while being inspired by Barcelona’s vibrant design scene. Students will develop a strong foundation in interaction design history and theory, user interface design, and core creative principles. Through a hands-on approach, they will combine audio, video, animation, and imagery progressively, scaffolding with each milestone into a distributable final product. Students will benefit from Barcelona’s rich cultural tapestry, fostering a global perspective on interactive media design.
History of Motion Picture (FIL 2030)
Instructor: Heerak Shah
This class traces the history of visual entertainment, beginning with the first motion photographs in the late nineteenth century and moving into the digital frontier, where we’ll explore how social media and streaming platforms have reshaped the industry in the 21st century. The goal is to give students an understanding of the artistic and technological developments that have defined cinema and media over the past 150 years. Assignments will encourage students to situate film within a global context, examining how the motion picture industry has evolved across cultures and eras.
Rome, Italy
Classes offered include:
Introduction to Film Production (FIL 2424)
Instructor: Katherine Shults
Study the filmmaking process from start to finish in a major capital of European cinema, Rome! This course offers a unique opportunity to explore the process of writing, shooting, and finishing a short video project, against the backdrop of cinema’s most iconic landmarks. Students who begin the course as novice film enthusiasts, will end it with a rich appreciation for the collaborative work needed to make movie magic!
Intercultural Communication (COM 4461)
Instructor: Dr. Renata Kolodziej-Smith
This class will help you to have a better understanding of the relationship between communication and intercultural interactions. You will develop communication skills that improve your intercultural competence in interpersonal and professional relationships. Field trips to fresh food market in Trastevere, Sapienza University of Rome, Campo Verano Cemetery as well as Vatican, Colloseum, and cooking workshop. For more information contact Dr. Renata Kolodziej-Smith at Renata.Kolodziej-Smith@ucf.edu.