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UCA in Montreal: Stepping Stones Abroad

Important Dates

Tentative Travel Dates:  May 11-18, 2027

Interest Meetings: View on Office of Education Abroad event calendar here.

Scholarship Application Deadline: November 2, 2026

Application and Deposit Deadline: January 15, 2027

Program Description

UCA in Montreal, supported by an IDEAS grant, is an interdisciplinary, one week program exploring arts-based approaches to mental health and wellbeing. Students will complete readings on mental health, participate in community-building arts workshops, collaborate with arts-based nonprofits, visit cultural sites, and develop personal wellness action plans. These activities aim to improve mental health outcomes and reduce youth unemployment by integrating arts-based approaches into health and community development initiatives.

Faculty Leaders and Course Offerings

Dr. Leah Horton is a longtime faculty member of UCA and has been leading study abroad trips since 2012. She has taken five groups of students to Rwanda for service-learning study abroad experiences. An avid fiber artist, she values the benefit of creative pursuits on mental health.

Course credit offered on this program:

  • HLTH 2320 Mental Health
  • HBST 1377 Study Abroad Seminar
  • HONC 3310 Honors Seminar

 

 

 

 

Dr. Crystal Harris

As a Graduate student, I participated in an extended study abroad program (Paris, France) where I both took and taught classes in diverse literature. I learned basic French via Rosetta Stone before participating in the study abroad experience and was able to expand my ability to understand and speak the language while immersed in the culture. I recommend study abroad programs to students because while classwork is incredibly significant, they, like me, are likely to learn much more about themselves, intercultural care and communication, and culture.

Courses offered by Dr. Harris :

  • WLAN 2315 Cultural Studies

 

 

 

 

 

Health and Safety

Students registering for programs should carefully read through all health and safety information provided during the application process. In addition, students should honestly complete the ‘Health and Safety Form’ so that any health related concerns may be adequately accommodated on study abroad programs.

Participants will be enrolled in comprehensive international insurance for the duration of programming. It is the student’s responsibility to extend insurance cover if they stay abroad beyond UCA’s planned program dates. For information about international insurance coverage: https://uca.edu/globalstudy/health-and-safety/

Students must attend one health and safety meeting during the spring semester. Meeting dates will be announced after the application deadlines.