Finding an internship - Where do I start?
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION & THEATRE ARTS
Study Abroad/Study Away
Learn while you explore
Where do we go?
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The Department of Communication & Theatre Arts is on the move. Our Study Abroad courses have taken us to London, Scotland, Cuba, and Costa Rica. Study Away options in the continental United States include Seattle, WA.
Questions?
For any questions about these opportunities or for inquiries about funding, please see Study Abroad or email: studyabroad@odu.edu
Where are we going next?
Spring 2026 offers TWO opportunities for Study Abroad and Study Away in Communication! Mark your calendars for the spring semester and traveling during Spring Break 2026 from March 15- March 22.
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For students ready to go abroad, Dr. Steffon Campbell will lead a group to Kingston, Jamaica with his course: COMM 495/595: Communication, Culture, and Identity.
For those wanting to explore the Pacific Northwest, Prof. Lietzenmayer welcomes students back to Seattle, WA with her course, COMM/QUST 495: LGBTQ+ Org Culture in the PNW.
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Stay tuned for updates! Questions regarding joining one of these programs & course can be sent to Nate Owens (nowens@odu.edu)in the Office of Study Abroad/Study Away and yes, scholarships ARE available!
KIngston, Jamaica
Dr. Campbell can be reached at scampbel@odu.edu
Seattle,
washington
Prof. Lietzenmayer can be reached at alietzen@odu.edu
Where have we been recently?
Spring 2025: Documentary Filmmaking in Italy
In COMM 440: Documentary Filmmaking Study Abroad, Prof. David Mallin led students to Italy to create original short films that spotlight local NGOs making a difference in their communities. Working in small crews, they immerse themselves in Italian culture while navigating the real-world challenges of documentary storytelling, from ethical questions to technical production logistics. Along the way, students reflect on their growth as filmmakers and global citizens, developing skills in collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and narrative craft.
The program offers something unforgettable: shared meals, historic streets, unexpected moments of insight, and a chance to learn in a truly embodied way. As one student put it, “I had a lot of new experiences, learned about a different culture… and the activities we did were very enriching and unique.” With a supportive faculty lead and a hands-on project that blends creativity with social impact, this course offers a rare opportunity to explore the world while telling stories that matter.
Summer 2024: Documentary Filmmaking in Costa Rica
Students spend three weeks on location in Santa Elena, at the base of the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Students will be immersing in local culture while learning nonfiction storytelling and documentary production. Daily activities include educational briefings, practical workshops, and real world experience. Working together, students will produce original short documentary videos that feature organizations or issues that are prominent in the Santa Elena community. They will be mentored through each stage of the production process - from research to filming - by school faculty assisted by an Actuality Abroad producer on location with the student group. Editing will begin in Costa Rica and will be finished in the United States.
Spring 2024: Spring Break in Seattle
This course took a critical cultural studies approach to exploring the organizational policies and gendered communication in organizations. Our program in Seattle, WA included tours and interviews with organizational & cultural leaders, visits to LGBTQIA+ historical sites, and all the classic highlights of the Emerald City! If you missed the trip in 2024, mark your calendars for our return to Seattle in Spring 2026!
COMM/QUST 495: Spring 2024 class visit to KING 5 News, Seattle, WA
COMM/QUST 495: Spring 2024 class visit to Microsoft campus, Redmond, WA.
COMM/QUST 495: Spring 2024 class visit to Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
What We've Learned from Study Abroad & Study Away
Hear from fellow Monarchs why a Study Away in Seattle course was beneficial-whether you are a Communication major or not!
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Aaron Wells, Sociology Major and Junior in Spring 2022 shares, "I feel I have a more nuanced understanding of the way our culture relegates people in marginalized groups to the background. In general, the needs of people who are differently abled, LGBTQIA+, racial minorities, and gender minorities are not focused on and we often have to advocate for ourselves for the most trivial things, such as safe accommodations or haircare while traveling". Read more here!
Spring 2022 COMM 495 Study Away in Seattle students look down with glass artwork in ceiling at the Chihuly Museum, March 2022.
As the class explored social identity and organizational communication culture, trip roommates Helen Pfalzer and Chloe Jaeger reflected on these intersections. Helen noted, "businesses that push for diversity and inclusion but lack diverse representation in leadership positions, are perfect examples of performative action. Representation plays an important role in individuals feeling comfortable within a space, from music played to products offered. When an individual experiences something that shows appreciation for, or represents their identity, it makes them feel respected and valued. Diversity in positions of power gives marginalized groups a voice by bringing awareness to unheard perspectives which leads to positive change within the organization."
Sunset at Sculpture Park in Seattle, WA March 2022
Chloe expands with, "change and action are best accomplished when those with the power of influence and gatekeeping reflect the diversity of their employees, customers, and society as a whole." Read more by Chloe here.
What is Experience Guaranteed at ODU?
Enhance your college career by participating in any of our exceptional experiential learning opportunities available below. ODU promises to provide all Monarchs with relevant experience throughout their college years and to provide them with skills and knowledge needed for their future careers and global citizenship. Thanks to members of the Spring Seattle Study Away co-hort for supporting the Spring 2022 Experience Guaranteed Snack & Chat.
Photo of Experience Guaranteed program support and
Seattle Study Away Students: Aaron Wells, Jonovan Savage, and Leya Eley