The KIIS Netherlands Summer 2026 program offers Ball State and consortium students a rigorous, interdisciplinary study abroad experience grounded in education, democratic citizenship, art, design, and fashion.
This four-week, faculty-led program (May 20–June 17, 2026) is part of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)—a nationally respected consortium of 27 colleges and universities with more than 50 years of experience delivering high-impact, academically serious study abroad.
Faculty Leadership
The program is taught by a three-instructor, cross-disciplinary faculty team:
- Dr. David J. Roof (Ball State University) Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Director of the Center for Economic and Civic Learning. Dr. Roof leads the Honors and Education curriculum, drawing on extensive research and international work in civic education, comparative education policy, and democratic development across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and South Asia.
- Rachel Moser (Eastern Kentucky University) Digital media and graphic design faculty, leading coursework in visual culture, typography, street scenes, and zine-making through place-based artistic inquiry.
- Dr. RayeCarol Cavender (University of Kentucky) Associate Professor of Retailing and Tourism Management and KIIS Netherlands Program Director, leading coursework in fashion design market trends and global merchandising.
Academic Credit & Course Options (3–6 Credits)
Students select two courses and earn 3–6 academic credits. Options include:
Honors & Education
- EDU 400 / HON 300: Comparative Foundations of Education: U.S. and the Netherlands]
- EDU 400 / HON 300: Education and Democratic Citizenship in a Global Context
Art & Graphic Design
- ART 496: Street Scenes / Zines
- ART 430: Graphic Design – Typography & Posters
Fashion
- IDFM 426: Fashion Design Market Trends
Courses are open to students across majors and are especially well suited for Honors, Education, Art, Graphic Design, Fashion, Digital Media, and related fields.
Learning on Location - Students live and study across three Dutch cities:
- Rotterdam – innovation, urban citizenship, and multicultural education
- The Hague – democracy, law, and civic institutions
- Amsterdam – history, memory, identity, and global citizenship
Learning is anchored in site-based, experiential instruction, including visits to schools, universities, civic organizations, museums, and cultural institutions—connecting academic theory directly to lived democratic and cultural practice.
Why This Program
This program is intentionally designed for students who want academic substance, interdisciplinary learning, and global perspective. Research shows that immersive, faculty-led study abroad strengthens critical thinking, intercultural competence, adaptability, and long-term civic and professional outcomes.
Scholarships and financial aid are available. Early application provides a tuition discount.
For more information, contact:
Dr. David J. Roof
Associate Professor of Educational Studies
Director, Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL)
djroof@bsu.edu