UMW Digital Storytelling Abroad

in Iceland

Spend your spring break exploring the deep riches of Iceland with Dr. Jennifer Polack, Computer Science, and Dr. Lance Gentry, College of Business. Step out of the airport in Reykjavik, Iceland and you will be whisked away to nearby Grindavik. There you will plunge straight into Icelandic culture with a visit to the Blue Lagoon, the famous mountain geothermal spa. You may find yourself running around in a large, open field near the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, jumping in a circle, playing games to keep warm, and staying awake to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.  That is only the beginning.

Trip highlights:

• Snæfellsnes peninsula: Eldborg’s volcanic crater, Gerðuberg cliffs, Hamlet of Búðir.
• Fjord of Borgarfjörður: sweeping views of the Langjökull glacier and magnificent waterfalls.
• Skagafjörður region: known for Icelandic horse breeding.
• Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn area: mesmerizing lava field labyrinth and the ancient pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir.
• Egilsstaðir area: if lucky, you might see some local wildlife, including reindeer.
• East Fjords starting with Reyðarfjörður: French Heritage and WWII museum.
• Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: oasis, surrounded by glaciers and black sand plains, offers a broad range of options for impressive hikes.
• Gullfoss Waterfalls and the Golden Circle: witness the Strokkur geyser propel warm water in the air every 5-10 minutes.
• Þingvellir National Park: where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, creating this impressive landscape.

Accommodations

On the program students will stay in local hotels in double or triple-occupancy rooms.

Coursework

In addition to the program travel during Spring Break, students will enroll in the Spring 2024 course CPSC 106: Digital Storytelling for 3 credits. The course automatically counts as Digital Intensive.

This course satisfies the Beyond the Classroom OR Diverse and Global Perspectives general education requirement by contract with the Faculty Director only.

Requirements & Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to participate. This program is open to all UMW students regardless of major or year of study.

Scholarships

Faculty-Led Program Scholarships are available to UMW students (deadlines apply).

Payment

See the program fees and payment due dates in the right column. Use the Make a Payment button below to pay your deposit and regular program payment. Use the Special Payment option to pay a special amount (such as additional insurance or payment in a different amount as a result of a scholarship award).

Online payees have the choice of either credit card or eCheck (ACH) payment. ACH transactions will be charged a flat fee of $0.50 per transaction. All credit card payments will incur a 2.85% service fee. For credit card payments, a minimum convenience fee of $3.00 will be applied to transactions over $20.00 and under $106.00.

Payments can also be made in-person via cash or check (made out to “UMW”) at the UMW Cashiers Office located on the second floor of Lee Hall. No fees apply with this payment method.