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By: Amy Charles | June 17, 2025
Continuing a tradition of global learning, 13 undergraduate students from the University of Pikeville (UPIKE) recently returned from a two-week academic and cultural immersion experience in Ireland.
The trip was the centerpiece of Destination Studies, a spring 2025 course offered by UPIKE’s Humanities Division. Designed to help students engage with life beyond the United States, the course combined classroom learning with international travel, encouraging a deeper understanding of foreign cultures through firsthand experience.
During the semester, students explored Irish literature and politics, delving into the works of renowned authors such as James Joyce and W.B. Yeats. They also studied pivotal events in Irish history, including the Irish Potato Famine and the War of Independence.
To bring their studies to life, students visited iconic sites across Ireland, including the Aran Islands and the Giant’s Causeway. In Northern Ireland, they toured communities affected by the decades-long conflict known as “the Troubles.” One cultural highlight was attending the world premiere of Scorched Earth, a dance-drama performed at the historic Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
The course was co-taught by Assistant Professor of English Cody D. Jarman, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Social Science Jeffery Tyler Syck, Ph.D.
“To experience Irish culture firsthand provided an unparalleled opportunity for students to learn about other cultures and to bring that knowledge back to their own,” said Syck.
Jarman shared his appreciation for witnessing students grow through the experience.
“There is nothing like watching a student not just learn content but learn about themselves as they explore new places,” said Jarman.
Senior history major Amelia Cure reflected on how the trip impacted her personally and academically.
“As someone from Eastern Kentucky who had never been away from home for more than a week, this trip was the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Cure. “Spending two weeks immersed in the beautiful culture and landscapes of Ireland is an experience I will carry for the rest of my life. If anyone is on the fence about doing a travel study, they should sign up, because you never know what adventure awaits you.”
The Ireland trip was made possible in part by support from UPIKE’s Office of Experiential Learning and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students interested in learning more about travel-study and study abroad opportunities at UPIKE are encouraged to contact Study Abroad Coordinators Brigitte Anderson, Ph.D., at brigitteanderson@upike.edu, and Brittany Goetting, Ph.D., at brittanygoetting@upike.edu.