In The English Landscape
- May 12-25, 2026
- Credits: HORT 450 or LA 450 or HIST 450 - 3 credits
- Cost: includes housing, some meals, admission fees, medical insurance, 3 credits, transportation in country. Airfare is not included.
- Leaders: Sean Rotar &
- Callout: TBA
Explore England like never before—through its stunning landscapes! From iconic gardens and royal parks to charming countryside and bustling city spaces, you’ll see how the English landscape tells the story of history, culture, and daily life. Walk through spaces that blend beauty and function, discover plants you won’t find back home, and experience a country that treasures its green spaces. This is your chance to live and learn in England while seeing how landscapes shape the way people work, play, and connect.
This intensive, four-week study-abroad course is designed for immersion in all things British, and to familiarize students with the ways that human culture and natural environments intersect to create landscapes.
In the English Landscape is offered in even years.
As far back as the historical record reaches, human beings have tried to alter and control their environments to make them more "beautiful," more "orderly," more impressive of the power of the gardeners, or more reflective of the glory of their creator-gods. Environmental factors, such as climate, topography, and available flora and fauna, have always guided the labors of landscape designers and horticulturists; at the same time human aspirations of power, class, and ambition usually drove their employers. Natural science and human culture came together in history, as people in particular times and places strove to display their prowess, "improve" their surroundings, or express their appreciation for the universe of living things. These are the intersections we explore in this course.
The primary location is in Devizes, Wiltshire (about two hours west of London). Several days will be spent in London as well as a brief time in the area of Manchester. Many days are in the field on landscape sites or at galleries or in urban parks.