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Empires and Identities: Gender and Multiculturalism in Ancient and Modern Worlds

Dates: 11 May–18 June 2026 (approx.)
Priority Deadline: 1 November 2025

Application Deadline: 30 November 2025

Empires and Identities: Gender and Multiculturalism in Ancient and Modern Worlds is a six-week study abroad program that immerses students in the cultures of Greece, Italy, and England to explore the intersections of gender studies, multicultural psychology, and faith. Students will begin in Athens, visiting the Acropolis, Parthenon, and Ancient Agora, while learning how ancient Greek society shaped enduring gender norms. Excursions to Delphi, Corinth, and Meteora will deepen understanding of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of cultural identity and religious tradition. From there, students will travel to Rome, exploring the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and Pompeii. These experiences will highlight how religion, politics, and social structures influence gender roles and cultural values across centuries. The program concludes in London, where students will visit Parliament, the British Museum, and community sites, such as a Sikh gurdwara and the London Central Mosque, to examine modern intersections of gender, religion, and multicultural identity. In addition to completing two psychology courses for academic credit (required), students will also experience local neighborhoods, faith communities, and cultural centers that bring history to life. Coursework involves site visits, journaling, and faculty-guided discussions instead of long classroom lectures. Together, we’ll examine how gender and multiculturalism shape identity across ancient and modern societies, while reflecting on these valuable lessons through a gospel lens.

Click here to apply today!

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Contact Us

Melissa Jones
272 TLRB
(801) 422-6480
melissa_jones@byu.edu

Dawn-Marie Wood
1072 KMBL
(801) 422-0374
dawn-marie.wood@byu.edu

PDF

Program Flyer

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
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More Information

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Courses

Students will enroll in 6 credit hours from the following courses while on this program:

PSYC 305—Multicultural Psychology (3 credit hours)
PSYC 306—Psychology of Gender (3 credit hours)
PSYC 430R—Capstone (3 credit hours)
PSYC 492R—Research (3 credit hours)

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
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Cost

$8,000–8,500

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), housing, group transportation on field trips, some meals, and international health insurance.

Does not include airfare, some meals, or personal expenses.
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Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs.

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
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Preparation

Accepted students are required to participate in an international cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201R, 1 credit hour). This class will be held during the second block of the winter 2026 semester. Part-time BYU students and non-BYU students will need to pay an additional tuition fee. Accompanying spouses need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.


Students must meet all country- and program-specific COVID and health requirements for travel.


International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.
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Housing

Students stay in apartments, hotels, or hostels. All housing and travel will be arranged by the program.
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Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu
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Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

Complete the online application here. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Priority Deadline: 1 November 2025
Application Deadline: 30 November 2025
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Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
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Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
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ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.
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Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.