January Term off-campus courses are planned in conjunction with the International Programs Office (IPO) and led by Linfield faculty. They are usually limited to 10-12 students for each course chosen through a competitive interview selection process. Students cannot participate in both a Semester Abroad and January Term off-campus international program in the same academic year without special permission from the IPO.

Students participating in an off-campus January Term course pay a program fee to cover the cost of the program and their living expenses such as accommodations, land transportation and other on-site costs.

• The program fee varies according to location and format.
• Course costs and estimates are subject to change.
• $345 per credit is charged for all January Term courses, both abroad and domestic All Jan Term 2027 off-campus courses are 4-credits.
• Passports and visa fees are the responsibility of each student. Linfield will help to facilitate the visa processes and students’ accounts will be charged accordingly.

Students are responsible for any meal costs incurred during course days on campus prior to departure or after return. Meal provisions for the period spent off-campus vary for each course. Depending on location, student should plan on spending approximately $800-1200 for meals and personal expenses.

Jan Term 2027 Courses

Oceania

HHPA 398 Australia: Sports and Exercise in Australian Society

Faculty: Emily Kosderka and Laura Kenow

This study abroad course in Australia immerses students in the cultural, social, and scientific dimensions of sport and exercise within Australian society. Through visits to major sporting institutions, universities, and community organizations, students explore how physical activity shapes national identity, public health, and everyday life. The program blends academic experiences with hands-on experiences—such as observing elite training environments, engaging with local sport programs, and examining outdoor and Indigenous physical activity traditions—to provide a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s unique sport culture and its broader societal impact.  Students can expect to engage with Australian leaders in sport and exercise while also experiencing the wealth of sport & exercise opportunities that Australia has to offer.  Possible activities include kayaking on Sydney harbor, hiking in the Blue Mountains, volleyball on Bondi Beach, and playing a game (or two) of cricket! While the full itinerary is currently in development, this will be a very active and engaging experience!

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’27 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098) (1 credit).

4 credits (GP or IS)

Africa

THTR 398 South Africa: Connecting Story to Land

Faculty: Lindsey Mantoan and Janet Gupton

Exploration of the connections among story, culture, identity (national and personal), and history in the unique ecosystem of post-apartheid South Africa. Study of storytelling practices as shaped by indigenous communities, colonization, globalization, and hybrid cultures. Visits to performance spaces, museums, historic and archeological sites, and monuments; workshops with professional artists; walking tours of built and natural spaces; and exploration of the land to understand its relation to transitional justice, truth and reconciliation practices, and the ongoing efforts to address racial equality.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’27 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098)  (1 credit).

4 credits (CS or GP)

Europe

SOAN 298 United Kingdom: Reimagining Museums as Sites of Cultural Intervention and Decolonization in the United Kingdom

Faculty: Leslie Walker and Hillary Crane

Examination of the colonial origin of museums and emerging efforts to decolonize museums and heritage spaces and practice, as well as the role of museums in cultural production and construction of identity through exhibition and interpretation. Students will visit a variety of museums and heritage sites in the British Isles to observe this process first-hand, gaining the opportunity to hear from professional museum staff whenever possible. They will also analyze the role and effectiveness of museums in both promoting and resisting colonial and imperialistic narratives and constructing ethnic and political identities.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’27 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098) (1 credit).

4 credits (GP or IS)

WINE 498 France: Terroir and Sustainability in the Willamette and Loire Valleys

Faculty: Toni Ketrenos

The concept of terroir originates in Western European nations, asserting that food products from a delimited geographical indication where a human community develops a system of complex interactions between an agri-food production, a biophysical environment, and local traditions creates a product with unique characteristics allowing a local and/or a worldwide recognition of this area as well as economic benefits for the people who live there.

This course seeks to raise awareness about the economic and cultural value created by geographically structured food systems, using Pinot Noir wine grown in the Willamette and Loire Valleys as its subject. Students will investigate the geographical, geological, regulatory, and cultural factors influencing wine production in these two regions through reading, lecture, course work, company visits, guest speakers, and group work in both regions.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’27 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098) (1 credit).

4 credits

Asia

HHPA/JAMS 398 Japan: The Story of Japan’s Health and Food Innovations

Faculty: Sarah Coste & Kevin Curry

This January term course focuses on Japan and its discoveries and innovations related to food palatability, nutritional health and physical activity. Students will explore the wide range of Japanese contributions that are embedded unassumingly in our daily American lives; from the identification of the fifth basic taste ‘umami’ (deliciousness) in neuroscience, to the 10,000 daily step count and the development of the first pedometer. In addition, students will be exposed to Japanese tastes, cuisines and lifestyle habits that have been attributed to longevity, particularly in the Blue Zone of Okinawa. We will explore the ubiquitous ‘konbini’ convenience stores that supply healthy foods and provide community. Discussions will include cultural differences in eating, comparisons to convenience stores of the United States, and food deserts. Students will gain skills in storytelling and multimedia content expression by creating and sharing their experiences, ideas and discussions via written, photo, video and podcasts.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’27 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098)  (1 credit).

4 credits (CS)

NURS 298 Thailand: Traditional and Modern Health Care in Southeast Asia

Faculty: Julie Fitzwater and Mihee Chung

Explore the impacts of modern life and culture on healthcare policy and outcomes. Examination of traditional and modern health care impacted by history, economy, politics, culture and religion. Role of nursing and other health care disciplines in health outcomes in Thailand.

Prerequisite: Fall semester prior to JT ’25 departure, students will be required to enroll and participate in the ORIENTATION TO INTERNATIONAL STUDY (IDST 098) (1 credit).

4 credits (IS or GP)

Airfare

For all tuition-paying undergraduate students, Linfield pays for the round trip airfare of a student's first experience abroad departing and returning to PDX.  Estimated airfares are listed for each course for students who do not qualify for the subsidy provided by the university.

Contact Us

Students interested in any of the above programs should consult with:

International Programs Office
Walker Hall, Suite 120
Linfield University
McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Telephone: (503) 883-2222
Email: ipo@linfield.edu

Linfield reserves the right to cancel or change the provisions of the program at any time.