Saddleback College offers a variety of study abroad programs that integrate academic learning in classroom and/or field settings with exposure to different cultures and environments, as students explore the beauty and ecology of a foreign country.
Information Sessions
- September Session
- Monday, September 15, 2025, 5 - 6 p.m.
- Location: BGS 132 and Zoom (link provided after registration)
- October Session
- Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 2 - 3 p.m.
- Location: BGS 132 and Zoom (link provided after registration)
- January Session
- Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 2 - 3 p.m.
- Location: BGS 132 and Zoom (link provided after registration)
- February Session
- Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 5 - 6 p.m.
- Location: BGS 132 and Zoom (link provided after registration)
The Oxford program is currently full. If you have questions about the program or future dates, please contact the Oxford program instructor (below).
Check back soon for Information Sessions coming in the fall!
Paris: Summer 2026
Program Dates: Classes begin on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Students will have two weeks of asynchronous instruction prior to departing for Paris.
Paris dates: June 8 - July 5, 2026
Required Courses:
- French 21: Introduction to French Culture (No French Language Required)
and ONE of the following:Interior Design 22: History of Interior Architecture and Furnishings I (Antiquity -18th Century)
OR
- Interior Design 25: History of Interior Architecture and Furnishings II (19th and 20th Century Europe; 17th - 20th Century United States)
Deadline to Apply: Approved application and $450 deposit payment due by Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Secure your spot now!
For more information, contact: Bouchra Nadeau bnadeau@saddleback.edu and Amy Heneghan aheneghan@saddleback.edu
Program Highlights
- Spend 4 weeks in Paris learn about French history and culture.
- Visit influential architectural sites such as the Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Mont Saint-Michel.
- Study Paris' rich artistic heritage with visits to museums including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay as well as a day trip to Money's house in Giverny.
When visiting Paris, I was struck by the sheer volume of beautiful design. It's incredibly special to have a small pedestrian walkway terminate in the ruins of a 16th century church. You walk in the footsteps of pilgrims and understand how our current time came to be.
Costa Rica: Summer 2026
Program Dates: July 20 - August 2, 2026
Required Courses: BIO 230 & BIO 235
Deadline to Apply: The deadline to apply and pay the $450 deposit is Friday, April 24, 2026. Secure your spot now!
For more information, contact: Dr. Marcelo Pires mpires@saddleback.edu and Dr. Bruno Passarelli bpassarelli@saddleback.edu.
Program Highlights
- Explore Costa Rica’s ecosystems: Pacific and Caribbean coastal regions; seasonal, moist, dry, and cloud forests
- Visit seven national parks and other exquisite locations
- Interact with the wilderness through hikes, whitewater rafting, suspended bridges, and ziplining!
To students considering the Costa Rica program, I would highly recommend it. It was well balanced between activity and education. Going abroad really does open a person’s perspective about the world around them. There were a lot of firsts for me on the trip, like ziplining and visiting a volcano. Overall, my experience on the field studies trip was excellent.
Funding Your Study Abroad Program
Learn how to fund your Study Abroad Program – see the video below.
For questions about how to use financial aid for study abroad, contact the Saddleback College Financial Aid Specialist, Violeta Zahrae at (949) 582-4864 or vzahrae@saddleback.edu.
Contact
For general questions regarding the Study Abroad Program, and for emergencies while abroad, please contact The Division of Instructional Support and Teaching Innovations.