Beaches, Books & Bands: The Culture of Barbados

Dates: May 14–30, 2026
Course Instructors: Andia Augustin-Billy & Stephanie Skinner
Academic Credit: 4
Enrollment: 5 (minimum) to 10 (maximum)
Total Program Cost: $3,550-$4,200 (This is an all-inclusive price, covering round-trip airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation, and excursions).

 

Why Barbados?

Barbados isn’t just crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches, and spicy food (though you’ll get plenty of that too). It’s a vibrant island where history, music, language, and culture mix to create something unique.

This course uses the island as a living text to explore post-colonial identity and the transition from Britain’s first slave society to the world’s newest republic.

Barbados has stories to tell—and you’ll be right in the middle of them.

Oh, and fun fact: it’s also the birthplace of Rihanna.

 

What You’ll Experience

• Explore historic Bridgetown and UNESCO heritage sites.
• Engage in cultural exchange by visiting local schools and participating in community service.
• Dive into Bajan culture through food, festivals, and music.
• Go snorkeling at shipwreck sites in Carlisle Bay.
• Wander through lush botanical gardens and spot green monkeys.
• Tour historic sites like a 350-year-old plantation house and a local rum distillery to examine the island’s colonial and economic past.
• Take part in community sports and intercultural exchanges.
• Reflect, write, and grow through your own personal project.

This isn’t just a trip—it’s an intercultural adventure that will challenge the way you see the world (and yourself).

 

Your Academic & Personal Payoff

• Fulfills your Intercultural Requirement.
• Earn academic credit while exploring a dynamic global history.
• A unique project tailored to your own interests and major.
• A deeper understanding of post-colonial identity, global issues, and history outside the typical European study abroad model.
• Real connections with people across cultures and stories you’ll never stop telling.

Plus, let’s be real—how many chances do you get to study history, culture, and identity in a place this beautiful?

Ready to experience Barbados? Don’t just read about culture—live it.