Discover

On this page, you will learn about…

  • schedule for the trip
    • when do we leave and return?
    • where will we stay?
    • what kinds of things will we do?
  • courses offered
    • what course options will I have?
    • do the courses match my major?
    • what are they like?
  • cost of the trip
    • what is the program fee?
    • what other expenses are there?
    • when are payments due?
    • what’s happening in Queenstown?
    • so, what’s the total cost?
    • where should I look for scholarships?
  • faculty
    • who is the program director?
    • who teaches the classes?
    • how many faculty go on the trip?

Schedule

When do we leave and return?

Everyone will leave the USA on…

  • June 9, 2025

Everyone will be back in the USA on…

  • July 13, 2025

You can find details about the “preferred” international flights on the Prepare page.

Where will we stay?

We will spend the first few days exploring the North Island. Our first night will be in Rotorua (about 2.5 hour drive from Auckland)…

Our first week of class will be held in Wellington, the capitol of New Zealand…

On the trip from Wellington to Christchurch, we’ll stay a night in Kaikoura (whale watching tour!)…

For the next two weeks, we will be in Christchurch, NZ…

Once class is finished, we’ll still have a week of adventure left. We’ll use that time to explore the South Island…

The last few days of the trip will be in Queenstown, NZ…

All accommodations are subject to change.

What kinds of things will we do?

Besides all the fun we’ll have in class, we’ll have some great adventures…

Learn more…

The following brochure and calendar will give you an idea of the activities and schedule. All plans are subject to change.

Courses

What course options will I have?

All students will take two courses: one from the 8:30 set and one from the 10:30 set…

8:30 am (or Set 1) choose one course from…

  • ENG 2306 World Literature (Dr. Butler)
    • focusing on writers of New Zealand
    • taught by Dr Clay Butler
  • FDM 1309 Introduction to Film (Dr. Kendrick)
    • explores representative masterpieces of cinema
    • taught by Dr Jim Kendrick

10:30 am (or Set 2) choose one course from…

  • ENG 3378 Travel Writing (Dr. Butler)
    • focusing on the events and reflections from our trip
    • taught by Dr Clay Butler
  • FDM 4340 Media & Society (Dr. Kendrick)
    • examines impacts of the media upon society, responsibilities of the media, and restraints imposed upon them
    • taught by Dr Jim Kendrick

Do the courses match my major?

These courses work surprisingly well with many different majors. Be sure to check with your advisor to be sure these courses are a good fit for you.

ENG 2306 World Literature…

  • every major in the College of Arts & Sciences, Social Work, and Nursing needs one course from the Literature in Context distribution list
  • every BBA major needs one course from the Literature requirement. For students who have already taken another literature course, such as ENG 2310 American Literary Cultures, then ENG 2306 can count toward one of their Communication Options (section 2b)
  • every Computer Science major needs an ENG Literature course
  • every Engineering major can replace the GTX 2302 with ENG 2306
  • every TED Secondary English and Middle English major needs ENG 2306
  • many BS and BSed majors list ENG 2306 under their Research, Writing, and Literature requirement

FDM 1309 Introduction to Film…

  • every major in the College of Arts & Sciences needs one course from the Fine Arts & Performing Arts distribution list

ENG 3378 Travel Writing…

  • every ENG and PWR major has this course listed on their major
  • every BBA major can take this for one of their Communication Options (section 2a)
  • every TED Secondary English major needs 9 hours of upper-level ENG courses
  • for everyone else, many degrees require more upper-level (3000 or 4000) courses than required to complete a major. This course can satisfy one of your “upper-level electives”

FDM 4340 Media & Society…

  • every major in the College of Arts & Sciences needs one course from the Communication and Media distribution list

What are they like?

  • World Literature
    • we’ll read a variety of novels and short stories from New Zealand and Maori authors
    • you’ll be expected to read some of the pieces before arriving in New Zealand
    • we’ll invite local literature professors to visit class and lead discussions on history and context
  • Travel Writing
    • we will read some good and bad examples of the Travel Writing genre to learn from both
    • you’ll be expected to keep a journal with reflections on your experiences during our time in New Zealand
    • you’ll write 4-5 essays on topics that encourage engagement with the people and culture of New Zealand

Learn more…

  • for syllabi, please contact the professor

Cost

What is the program fee?

  • $3,600  (for 2025)
  • this fee covers…
    • all lodging
    • all transportation for group excursions
    • all tickets, passes, etc. for group excursions
    • some of your meals

What other expenses are there?

  • summer tuition
  • summer school fees
  • international airfare
  • visa & IVL (International Visitor Levy)
  • most meals
  • Queenstown activities
  • souvenirs

When are payments due?

  • a deposit of $1,000 is due when accepted to the program and is the only way to secure a place on the team. The deposit is non-refundable if you later change your mind about the trip. However, the amount will be refunded in full if the whole trip is cancelled by Baylor (as in the case of a worldwide pandemic).
  • the remainder is due in May when summer school tuition is due.
  • all payments are made using the regular “e-bill” system.

What’s happening in Queenstown?

At the end of the trip, we’ll spend 3 days in Queenstown. It’s the winter adventure capitol of New Zealand with lots of fun things to do: snow skiing, ziplining, touring a glacier-fed lake, and much more. The program fee covers our transportation to and from Queenstown, and our lodging while we’re there, but everyone will pick their own adventure and only pay for the ones they want. Relaxing, drinking hot tea, and enjoying the scenery is also a premiere option.

Here are a few of the options and estimated costs:

So, what’s the total cost?

  • Here’s an estimate… (for 2025)
3,600 Program Fee
400 Summer school fees
2,200 Airfare – Houston/NZ (estimated)
1,000 Spending Money (meals & extras)
75 Visa & IVL (International Visitor Levy)
600 Queenstown (optional)
9,300 Summer Tuition (estimated, based on 6 credit hours)
16,575 Total Cost
  • exact amount of summer tuition can only be determined by the Cashier’s office

Where should I look for scholarships?

Summer study abroad is certainly expensive. Fortunately, there are some resources that can help.

  • Check with Baylor’s financial aid office to better understand options with the scholarships you already have. Some scholarships can be applied to summer school (taking classes with Baylor in New Zealand is considered summer school). Also, some scholarships are provided over any 8 semesters. If you are planning on graduating a semester early, that extra regular semester may be transferable to a summer semester. Talking to the financial aid office will help you know what options are available for you
  • Learn all you can about the study abroad process and options, especially meeting one-on-one with a study abroad advisor to talk about your specific situation
  • Baylor has a generous internal scholarship to help students pay for study abroad. While awards are given based on financial need and academic merit, every study abroad student is encouraged to apply. Learn more on the Glennis McCrary Goodrich Scholarship page
  • Are you a First Generation college student? Baylor has special study abroad scholarship just for you. Learn more on the First Abroad Fellows page
  • Are you a member of Sigma Tau Delta (the English honor society)? Members studying abroad can apply for Summer Program Scholarships.
  • Baylor’s study abroad office has a list of “outside” scholarship. Investigate and apply to all that you can
  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students are invited to apply for a free flight to New Zealand to study abroad through Go Overseas
  • Education New Zealand has contributed funds to the Gilman Scholarship (administered by the US State Department) to fund scholarships for students studying in New Zealand
  • Education New Zealand has contributed funds to Fund for Education Abroad to increase scholarships for students studying in New Zealand
  • You can also search the Education New Zealand site for additional scholarship opportunities

Learn more…

Faculty

Who is the program director?

  • Dr Clay Butler is a Senior Lecturer of linguistics and has taught at Baylor University since 2001. He has led study abroad groups to Peru in the past, where students studied Spanish and hiked to Machu Picchu. Dr Butler and his wife currently live in Martin Hall on Baylor campus serving as Faculty in Residence since 2015. He earned a BA from Baylor in 1988, and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. Before becoming a professor, he worked 12 years in computer programming at banks and hospitals. When he and his wife were a young couple, they served in Ulan-Ude, Russia for a year and a half teaching English and helping start a new church. They are the parents of 4 children, three of whom have degrees from Baylor. They also have two grandkids whom they expect to be in Baylor’s class of 2044 and 2046. Dr Butler is the instructor for:
    • ENG 2306 World Literature: New Zealand
    • ENG 3378 Travel Writing

Who are the other faculty?