The Great Books Honors Program at Faulkner University took its first step into international education in 2024, launching a study abroad trip to the United Kingdom. Open to alumni, students, staff and friends, the program offers shorter trips that allow participants to explore other parts of the world without the three-month commitment of Faulkner’s traditional study abroad program.
Great Books partners with Explorica, an organization that handles all trip logistics, allowing travelers to fully immerse themselves in the cultural experience.
For Cherith Petit, a student in the program, the experience was transformative.
“Getting to spend time in conversation with the professors outside of the classroom helped show me that the GB program isn’t just about class, but more about learning how to form your own educated beliefs and opinions on all different aspects of life,” she said.
Dr. Andrew Jacobs, director of the Great Books program, emphasized the value of encountering new ideas and experiences.
“Life is spent attempting to figure things out as we experience them, especially things that are different and that we don’t understand,” he said. “You need a certain amount of courage to enter a new book, to enter a new country or to enter into a new relationship with God.”
The program aims to teach students not only how to engage deeply with literature but also how to interact meaningfully with others and live well as human beings. During the study abroad trips, participants benefit from the expertise of local guides, gaining insights into the culture that might be missed on a solo journey.
These international trips offer students and faculty a chance to break free from the classroom, expand their cultural understanding and strengthen their relationships with peers and professors alike.
“This trip helped me branch out and do things that made me nervous and uncomfortable — like kissing the Blarney Stone — and see how much fun it was,” Petit said. “I am so grateful for all the fun memories I made with my friends and professors, and it will always be a part of who I am.”
The study abroad experiences also serve to bring the curriculum to life. Dr. Taten Shirley, a professor in the program, recalled how visiting Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, brought their studies into sharp focus.
“There were continuous mentions of GB authors, but I think the one that stands out the most was getting to visit Stratford-upon-Avon,” Shirley said. “It was incredible to see the house where he was raised and to see the church where he is buried.”
The Great Books Study Abroad program visited South Korea and Japan in summer 2025 with plans to visit France, Austria, Germany and Switzerland from May 27- June 4, 2026. The next trip is scheduled for summer of 2027 when they will head to Greece. The deadline to register is January 2027. For more information, visit this link or email Jacobs at ajacobs@faulkner.edu.
