students laying in grass together on usf campus

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIES

Beyond Borders

Join a living-learning community where you’ll connect with sophomores and juniors who have a shared interest in global issues. You’ll live together in Lone Mountain East Residence Hall and take courses that count toward your degree. During spring break, you’ll travel internationally to Northern Ireland or Costa Rica.

Turn Classes into Journeys

You'll receive ten units of course credits over the fall and spring semester, including an international immersion during spring break. You need to commit to taking both semesters of the associated courses to be in Beyond Borders.

You'll choose between two tracks:

War and Conflict Transformation: Learn about conflict transformation and reconciliation. You'll take the Social Justice and the Israel/Palestinian Conflict course in the fall, and Troubles and Beyond in Northern Ireland course in the spring. You can receive Politics and Global Studies credits for this class. You'll travel to Northern Ireland for your immersion trip.
Sustainability from Countryside to the City: Learn about climate, sustainability, and community adaptation. You'll take the Rural Futures course in the fall, which will count for Global Studies or Politics credits, and may also count for other departments. In the spring, you will take Resilient Cities which will also count for Global Studies or Politics credits. You'll travel to Costa Rica for your immersion trip.

Take an International Immersion Trip

You'll visit either Northern Ireland or Costa Rica depending on the track you choose. In the trip to Northern Ireland, you'll meet with former combatants and community groups who focus on conflict transformation. You'll learn about their ongoing work to change the dynamics of a decades long conflict in Northern Ireland, referred to as the Troubles. The trip to Costa Rica will consider models of sustainability and resilience in the Global South, investigating both rural and urban locations.

group of usf students posing in front of international landmark

Do You Have To Pay for the Immersion Trip?

Yes, there is a fee for the immersion trips, but we will have financial aid available. We aim to have the trip be accessible to all members of Beyond Borders.

Step Inside Lone Mountain East

You'll live in Lone Mountain East — a residence hall that offers the experience of independent city living alongside the convenience of being on campus.

Explore Lone Mountain East