Faculty-Led & Custom Programs

Arcos Learning Abroad Custom Programs are led by Brent Hunter. Brent has over 15 years of custom program planning experience and has overseen the creation and application of hundreds of programs. He will be your main point of contact when planning your Custom Program and taking you from dream to reality. We are the "arco" (arch) that connects and supports you and your students on their custom program experience. We are the connection point between your students’ curiosity to seek new experiences and the in-country learning that gets them there.

WHEN: Custom Programming can occur any time of the year. Length of time can vary from as short as a week to as long as a full semester.   The most popular time periods that we work with are:

• Winter Break

• Spring Break

• Summer

WHERE: We base our Custom Programs out of the following locations:

• Argentina (Buenos Aires)

• Costa Rica (Heredia, Atenas)

• Mexico (Oaxaca, Mexico City, Merida/Yucatan, Bajio region)

• Peru (Lima, Cusco)

• Spain (Granada, Santiago de Compostela)

Typically, Custom Programs occur in our program locations. However, we are not limited to only programming in these places and are able to plan programs that travel to different regions of the countries in which we are based. We can even plan programming to include bordering countries (examples of that are Argentina-Uruguay, Costa Rica-Panama, Spain-Portugal-Morocco, etc.). We are always happy to explore options to let you know what is possible within our network and resources, and what might not be possible.

We plan Custom Programs for a broad range of topics. Through our deep relationships in each of our program locations we are able to plan for most any type of program request. We are constantly planning new programs and building from our existing knowledge base. Examples include:

• Anthropology

• Archaeology

• Bilingual Education

• Biomedical Sciences

• Child & Adolescent Studies

• Choir Trips

• Communications

• Field Biology

• Geography (Physical & Cultural)

• Global Studies & Human Geography

• International Business

• Latin American History

• Nursing & Health Sciences

• Nutrition & Food History

• Physical Therapy

• Political Science

• Service Learning

• Social Work

• Spanish Programs

• Sustainable Development

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language

We are collaborators. We are here to make this process as smooth and as supportive as possible. We are your team and support system from start to finish! 

1) Start a Conversation

• Discuss your goals and ideas

• Determine your program destination

• Determine your preferred program dates

2) Create a Proposal

• We use our experience and industry knowledge to build your proposal

• Have you already run a program abroad before? No problem! We can easily adapt what you have done previously to our infrastructure. We are happy to work with individuals or vendors you have worked with in the past. 

3) Planning & Recruiting

• We can create a website for you or provide copy and photos for one that your university may create

• We can assist with recruiting efforts through flyers, info sessions, and presentations

• Students apply through our application or through your school's

4) The Program Experience

• An Arcos Learning Abroad director (or directors) is assigned to you and your group and will oversee your program

5) Post-Program

• After your study abroad program finishes the Arcos team will: 

  • Handle and process transcripts if your program included classes at one of our partner institutions

  • Send program evaluations to the students and faculty

  • Debrief to recap on the program and discuss possible future programming

Faculty-led: You lead your group abroad and teach a specific course (or courses). We plan everything to be completely customized for your group and to meet learning objectives. 

Group Program: Base your program around one of our existing program terms and sessions. Students will be enrolled in classes at our partner institution and in class with other Arcos students. You will accompany your group to oversee all aspects of the program and will be your students' main point of contact. Faculty has the option to join just for the first week or stay the entire program duration. 

Combo Program: A combination of the above models. For example, students may take one course with one of our regular programs while you or your faculty teach the other course.

Each Custom Program is just that - custom - but below is a general list of what we include for most programs. We will work with you to determine exactly what will be included for your specific program.

• Promotional Support

• Pre-departure Advising

• Onsite Directors & Staff (with 24/7 support)

• Airport Transfers

• Program Orientation

• Reception & Farewell Activity

• Ground Transportation

• Accommodation: Homestay and/or Hotel Stays

• Laundry Service

• Meals

• Excursions

• Cultural Activities

• Academic Visits

• Volunteer & Community Service

• Classroom Space & Tuition

• International Medical Insurance

• Gratuities

• Faculty Expenses (Ex. round-trip airfare, apartment or homestay, meals stipend, excursions, hotel stays, transportation, and cultural activities)

Brent Hunter, Custom Program Manager and Founder of Arcos Learning Abroad, and the team of expert program directors have planned custom programs for the following schools. References can be provided upon request. 

UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES:
Angelo State University
Arizona State University
Austin Community College
Blinn College
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
California Polytechnic State University
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, San Bernardino
Cedar Crest College
Community College of Rhode Island
Concord University
Curry College
Eastern Kentucky University
Guilford College
Hofstra University
Jefferson Community & Technical College
Lees-McRae College
Lincoln University
Methodist University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Miami University
Middle Tennessee State University
Millersville University
Missouri State University
Morgan State University
Mount Mary University
Mount Mercy University
Oakland University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma State University
Owensboro Community & Tech. College
North Carolina Central University
Penn State Greater Allegheny
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Salem State University
San Diego State University
Snow College
Tarrant County College
Texas A&M University
Texas State University
Texas Wesleyan University
The New School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of California Riverside
University of Colorado Denver
University of Delaware
University of Houston
University of Houston, Downtown
University of Lynchburg
University of New Orleans
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of North Texas
University of Texas at San Antonio
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
University of the Cumberlands
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Wyoming
Wesley College
West Texas A&M University
Western Carolina University
Western Kentucky University
Western Michigan University
Wingate University
Winston-Salem State University

HIGH SCHOOLS:
Alamo Heights High School
All Saints' Episcopal School
Austin Montessori School
Brentwood School
Brownell Talbot School
Colorado Springs District 11
Crystal Springs Uplands School
Deerfield Academy
Francis Scott Key High School
Gonzaga College High School
Headwaters School
Hyla School
Lick-Wilmerding High School
Mastery High School of Camden
Oakwood Friends School
Paideia School
Phillips Academy Andover
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
St. George's School
St. Mary's Hall
Sterne School
The Webb School