Pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago
Tentative Summer 2027 Dates: June 15 - August 3, 2027
Program Locations
France and Spain: Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon, Astorga, Ponferrada and Santiago
Program Highlights
- Walk the historic Camino de Santiago — Join a tradition dating back to the 8th century along one of the world’s most iconic pilgrimage routes.
- Follow the full French Way (Camino Francés) — Trek more than 700 kilometers from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port across the Pyrenees and through northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.
- Five to Six Week Immersive Experience — Live, walk, and learn on the trail with daily guided academic reflection and structured contact hours.
- Experiential, Place-Based Learning — Combine physical challenge, cultural study, and spiritual reflection through on-site lectures and discussions.
- Explore Historic Cities & Sacred Sites: Pamplona, Burgos (including its magnificent cathedral), León, Astorga, Lugo (Roman walls and cathedral), Santiago de Compostela (Cathedral and Tomb of Saint James)
- Visit Iconic Religious Landmarks — Including the monastery at Samos Monastery and the shrine at Santuario da Virxe da Barca.
- Extend the Journey to the Atlantic — Walk beyond Santiago to Fisterra and Muxía, the legendary “end of the world.”
- Engage Local Communities — Interact with clergy, religious communities, and fellow international pilgrims.
- Cultural & Architectural Highlights — Discover Romanesque churches, medieval towns, castles, and UNESCO-recognized heritage sites.
- Personal Growth & Reflection — Open to students of all backgrounds and beliefs, fostering spiritual inquiry, resilience, and cross-cultural understanding.
Faculty Leaders
Professor
Dr. Tracey T. Schwarze Professorship in the Humanities
McMurran Hall 261B
Course Information
RSTD 370 (Religious Studies Seminar Abroad)
This course involves significant physical activity and requires the purchase of multiple course materials. Please review the requirements carefully before enrolling.
Required Prerequisites: Permission from instructor.
Course Description
Students explore the connection between spiritual journey and the specific pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. They perform ethnographic research, comparing and contrasting their experience of walking with the readings and interviews of others who have engaged in spiritual journey. Passing through villages, cities and the countryside of Spain, student encounter the culture of Spain as pilgrims have done for a thousand years.
Additional Information
- Ground transportation
- International health insurance
- Group activities
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- Airfare
- Students are responsible for purchasing their international airfare to and from the program destination(s). Students should not purchase their flight until receiving specific instructions from the faculty leaders after December 1.
- Airfare
- Tuition (3 credits)
- In-state: $1,440
- Out-of-State: $3,171
- Travel insurance
- All meals
- Personal expenses
- Accommodations
Deadline: December 1, 2026
Student with a valid passport:
Students who have a current passport will need to upload an image of their passport by December 1, 2026, to their enrollment forms.
Student without a Valid Passport
Apply for or renew your passport immediately. After November 1, students must pay to expedite the application process. Do not delay beginning this process.
Passport Application and Renewal
The routine processing time is currently up to 6 weeks and expedited services is up to 3 weeks. These processing times are subject to change and can lengthen significantly. We highly recommend applying for or renewing your passport as soon as possible. Most countries require at least 6 months remaining time on your passport expiration from your intended date of departure. Example: If your passport expires on December 1, 2027, you would need to renew your passport to travel in the summer of 2027.
Each country has established entry requirements and travel restrictions set for foreign visitors and their citizens. Any country can change their regulations at any time. We encourage all students and their families to review details about the country or countries you plan to travel to and to continue monitoring the information leading up to your departure.
Travel & Entry Requirements from the U.S. State DepartmentApplication & Enrollment Forms Deadline
October 31*
*Program may fill prior to deadline due to a rolling admission process.