The Destination Is Your Textbook: Spotlight on Upcoming Electives
This fall, Elective will offer four distinct courses in locations where the subject matter is woven into the fabric of the place.
Each Elective is structured as a short, intensive exploration of a single topic—grounded in discussion, field seminars, and curated readings—and designed to foster hands-on learning in a setting that becomes a living classroom.
Read on to discover what makes each destination a great place to study abroad. To get more information about any of these courses or to learn more about how Elective works, sign up for our video info session on June 8 at 3pm Eastern / Noon Pacific.
Why go to Istanbul to study World Religions?
• For over 1,500 years, Istanbul has been a religious crossroads—first as Byzantium and Constantinople, then under Ottoman rule, and since 1923 as the capital of the Turkish Republic. Each era has left a spiritual and architectural legacy that still shapes the city’s neighborhoods and communities today.
• The Hagia Sophia—once a church, then a mosque, then a museum, and now again a mosque—is not just a monument, but a mirror of Turkey’s evolving relationship with faith, power, and heritage. Its latest transformation (in 2020) raises vital questions about religious freedom and cultural memory—questions at the heart of this course’s exploration of how sacred spaces shape public life.
• In neighborhoods like Balat and Kuzguncuk, Armenian churches, synagogues, Greek Orthodox parishes, and historic mosques sit within blocks of each other—offering a living, walkable study in religious coexistence. Shared sacred spaces and overlapping traditions continue to reflect Istanbul’s layered cultural and spiritual identity.
🗓️ September 7-14, 2025
🔗 World Religions in Istanbul - Details & enrollment
💬 Sign up for the live info session on June 8
Why go to Montpellier to study Art & Art de Vivre?
• Montpellier is a city in motion—where historic streets meet bold architecture, and the everyday hum of markets, cafés, and galleries reflects a culture that’s constantly reimagining itself. From vibrant food halls to design-forward urban spaces, the city captures the energy of modern France without losing its Mediterranean soul.
• The city is a hub for contemporary French art—soon to be highlighted by the celebrated street artist JR, whose monumental installation will adorn the Carré Sainte-Anne, a deconsecrated neo-Gothic church turned gallery.
• The Musée Fabre, one of France’s leading fine arts museums, anchors the city’s heritage with a collection that spans centuries of French and European painting. Now led by a woman for the first time in its nearly 200-year history—the museum continues to evolve as a cultural cornerstone of Montpellier.
• Elective students stay just outside the city center, in a fully restored 18th-century château with its own private art collection—where the art de vivre is not just studied, but lived.
🗓️ September 28 – October 5, 2025
🔗 Art & Art de Vivre in Montpellier - Details & enrollment
💬 Sign up for the live info session on June 8
Why go to Morocco to study water and civilization?
• In Marrakech, the ancient khettaras—underground networks of hand-dug canals—demonstrate how communities harnessed water to support gardens, neighborhoods, and civic life in an arid landscape.
• In Rabat, the Bou Regreg River and surrounding wetlands reveal how water has influenced urban development and ecological preservation.
• In Tangier, water is both a geopolitical and vital civic resource—the strait linking Africa and Europe has shaped the movement of empires for centuries, and today the city is pioneering innovative infrastructure to secure its future water supply amidst rapid growth.
🗓️ October 5-16, 2025
🔗 Morocco’s Waterways & Civilization - Details & enrollment
💬 Sign up for the live info session on June 8
Why go to Andalusia to study architecture and cuisine?
• Córdoba is a lesser-known gem where Islamic, Christian, and Jewish histories converge in striking architectural and cultural forms. The Mezquita, a former mosque transformed into a cathedral, combines two religious architectures in a single, breathtaking structure. The city’s UNESCO-listed patios—lush, flower-filled interior courtyards—offer a quieter, everyday expression of the region’s distinctive traditions.
• The Alhambra is unlike anything else in Europe—a major example of Islamic architecture. This series of interconnected palaces and gardens is known for its intricate ornamental details, mathematically ordered design, and courtyards organized around water, light, and spatial harmony.
• Andalusian cuisine, from savory tagines to sweet pastries, reflects a fusion of Moorish, Jewish, and Christian influences, telling a story of shared traditions and tastes.
🗓️ October 26 – November 2, 2025
🔗 Moorish Spain: The Architecture & Cuisine of Andalusia - Details & enrollment
💬 Sign up for the live info session on June 8