Texas State University students are warmly welcomed to join one of Dr. Ellis-Lai’s travel writing programs to London or coastal California! Read on to learn more about how to apply for these two exciting upcoming trips.
LONDON
Summer 2025 Texas State University in London & Cambridge Program
The Texas State in London and Cambridge, England program is designed for first and second year college students who would like to earn 6 unites of credit for 2 Texas State University courses in just 5 weeks. The travel portion of this trip will take place over two weeks in the summer. Apply in the fall to reserve your spot!
Important Note: This program is designed to be taken in the summer after your freshman year. So, instead of signing up for English 1320 during the fall or spring of your freshman year, remember to WAIT to take English 1320 in London in the summer after your freshman year of college!
By joining us for this program, you’ll finish your English 1320 requirement with a Travel Writing course (ENG 1320) about your experiences in London. You’ll also complete your required sophomore literature course requirement (ENG 2320) with our British Literature class while soaking up the culture and customs in the same London locations where these authors were inspired to write their masterpieces.
If you’re interested in seeing photos and reading descriptions of our housing and some of the excursions we’ll take on our London trip, please visit the program website for this trip.
CALIFORNIA
Summer 2025 Study in America “Travel Writing & Writers of the Monterey Bay” program
Dr. Ellis-Lai is also offering a summer Study in America program designed to take Texas State University students to the Monterey Bay of California in Summer 2025, visiting towns like Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, and Santa Cruz. This program is designed for English majors who would like to earn 6 units of credit for 2 Texas State University courses in just 5 weeks: ENG 3311 (Travel Writing) and ENG 3340 (Literature of the Monterey Bay), although students from all majors are encouraged to apply. The travel portion of this trip will take place over seven days in the summer; you will complete the rest of our coursework asynchronously online.
Students will explore the literature of the Monterey Bay in California and write travel essays about the literary and cultural histories of the dramatically beautiful places that have inspired writers over more than two centuries. We will hike through a redwood forest, explore the history of indigenous and Spanish colonial cultural history, tour a museum dedicated to the novels of John Steinbeck, learn about local protected sea life at the world-famous Monterey Aquarium, participate in a photo-safari at a historic beach boardwalk amusement park, climb the stone tower at poet Robinson Jeffers’ house in Carmel, appreciate the windy wilderness that attracted Jack Kerouac to Big Sur, learn about the community where poet Adrienne Rich made her home, and meet award-winning living writers who are publishing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction about the natural, political, and cultural life of the communities along the Monterey Bay.
Click here for photos and descriptions of the daily excursions we will take on this action packed week-long trip.
MEXICO
The Texas State in Merida, Mexico Program is designed for undergraduate and graduate English majors who would like to study Mexican literature and travel writing in Merida, Mexico. While the Mexico program will not be offered this year, you’re welcome to read more about this program here.
EXPLORE THE WORLD ONLINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Dr. Ellis-Lai is also helping to coordinate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) virtual exchange programming on the Texas State University campus for those students who don’t have room in their schedules to study abroad just yet.