Global Pathways programs are short-term, high-impact, faculty-led summer study abroad programs open to all MICA undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one year of college, either at MICA or as an incoming transfer student.

Students travel alongside MICA faculty to places of great aesthetic and historical significance and centers of contemporary art and design to earn college credit for their MICA degree plan. Studying abroad positively impacts the whole person - as an artist, you explore new perspectives to inform your artistic direction; as a person, you gain insight into what it means to be a global citizen through meaningful interaction with other artists, designers, and the local culture. These programs offer unparalleled opportunities for those looking to explore different facets of the art and design world from a unique international perspective.

Take time today to learn more about these exciting opportunities by requesting a program advising meeting. Please refer to the Study Abroad and Exchange homepage regarding dates and times for information sessions and ways to learn more about these unique, short-term experiences.

Mission & Outcomes

MICA undergraduate and graduate students are on a journey to deepen their understanding of the world, embracing our mission to "make the world we imagine." By welcoming students from across the globe to our Baltimore campus and by offering rich study abroad opportunities, we empower our students to learn through immersive cultural experiences.

Our Global Pathways are rigorous, short-term programs that take students and faculty to diverse learning locations, introducing transformative ways of thinking, understanding, and creating that enhance their knowledge and creative practices. Participation in Global Pathways teaches students the intercultural skills necessary to make a meaningful impact on the world.

While the benefits of study abroad may take years to fully manifest – e.g., personal growth and development, a heightened sense of empathy, lifelong friendships, and professional preparation – several tangible outcomes are apparent when students participate in, and return from, study abroad. Specifically, MICA students who participate in Global Pathways will be able to:

• Demonstrate a command of intercultural skills.
• Demonstrate curiosity about and awareness of cultural practices of the destination location(s).
• Integrate cultural insights into art and design practices and/or critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrate skills in self-sufficiency and self-care.
• Become familiar with the realities – affordances and constraints – of global travel.