Salem State University will be closed for both day and evening classes on Monday, February 23. Only designated essential employees must report to work as scheduled.
Experiential Learning: Exploring the World Through Geography.
At Salem State’s Department of Geography & Sustainability, we believe that the best way to understand the complexities of our world is to experience them. Our commitment to experiential learning means students don’t just study maps and models—they engage directly with people, landscapes, cultures, and systems across the globe.
Through faculty-led study tours, immersive field courses, and opportunities for funded travel, our students gain hands-on experience that brings geography and sustainability to life. Whether you're examining urban transportation systems, hiking desert canyons, or analyzing biodiversity in remote ecosystems, you'll be applying classroom knowledge to real-world environments.
Global and Domestic Travel Opportunities.
Each year, the department organizes transformative study-travel courses and trips that span cities, countries, and continents. Some recent highlights include:
- March 2025: Over spring break, students explored the diverse landscapes of Peru, traveling from the Amazon rainforest—one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth—to the arid coastal deserts and Ballestas Islands, home to sea lions and penguins. The journey culminated in a visit to the sacred Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, where students connected environmental geography with Indigenous heritage and spiritual landscapes.
- Spring 2024: Students and faculty traveled across Spain and Morocco, examining the intersection of cultural identity, sustainable tourism, and historic preservation—from the medieval medinas of Fès to the vibrant streets of Madrid.
- Summer 2022: Thirteen students embarked on a two-week, faculty-led expedition through the Southwest United States, studying desert geography, water resource management, and Indigenous land use. The experience included eight nights of camping under the stars in iconic landscapes such as the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.
- Fall 2019: One student was awarded a grant to participate in a fully funded STEM+ Society program, studying sustainable development and community resilience in Costa Rica and Mexico.
- Over the past decade, our department has led trips to dozens of unforgettable destinations. Just some of our past trips include:
Athens, Florence, Munich, London, Moscow, Beijing, Dublin, Belfast, Lisbon, Madrid, Marrakesh, Lima, Monte Carlo, Paris, Montreal, Barbados, Machu Picchu, the Grand Canyon, Disney World, and the Southwest U.S. These journeys blend cultural immersion with geographic inquiry—helping students connect theory with experience. - Transportation Geography Field Day: Students explore the Boston metropolitan area by navigating the MBTA system to study public transit, urban development, and regional planning in a living laboratory.
Past Destinations
A Gateway to Study Abroad
In addition to department-led travel, students are encouraged to take advantage of the broader Salem State study abroad programs, which offer semester-long and short-term opportunities around the world. Many of our students return from these experiences with a broader worldview, stronger language and intercultural skills, and new perspectives on sustainability and global systems.
Whether you're standing on ancient ruins, paddling through tropical wetlands, or mapping urban change, you'll gain the knowledge, confidence, and global perspective that defines a Geography & Sustainability education at Salem State.