Students visited Chile, Japan, and Italy this summer as part of the CU Denver Global Education Program. These opportunities for international study provide students with immersive experiences, introducing them to cultures and perspectives that they will carry with them throughout their lives and careers.
Santiago, Chile | Santiago Public Space Studio
The Master of Urban Design (MUD) and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) programs’ focus for their summer study abroad program is on Santiago, Chile, which shares many commonalities with Denver and Colorado in terms of settlement patterns, culture, language, and urbanism, while still allowing students to experience and study urban design and urban planning from diverse and unique perspectives.
“CU Denver’s recent partnership with the University of Chile’s Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo (equivalent to College of Architecture and Planning in Spanish) gives us a tremendous opportunity to study in one of Latin America’s major capital cities while also having a dedicated partner there to give us strong academic and logistical support” said Urban Design Program Director Ken Schroeppel, who co-taught the studio along with CAP Professor Jeremy Németh and CAP Lecturer Andy Rutz.
“Santiago is a beautiful, dynamic city framed by the Andes Mountains, similar to how Denver is situated next to the Rockies. There’s a lot we can learn from Santiago about walkable urbanism that can be applied to locations in the United States.”
The goal of the Santiago Public Space Studio was to teach students the importance of having great public spaces available to all citizens through the application of urban design and planning principles, tools, and methodologies. In the studio, students worked on public space design assignments, engaged with local design and planning professionals, and worked in small interdisciplinary groups. Students also experienced exciting excursions in and around Santiago and a day trip to Valparaiso, Chile, which is located near Santiago along the Pacific coast.
“Students stayed in the heart of the urban core and were given exercises that required them to explore Santiago’s urban environment; tour and study public spaces; and visit sites of cultural and historic importance to the Chilean people,” said Schroeppel.
“My favorite aspect of my time in Santiago was being able to explore a city and culture through the lens of public spaces, with my friends and fellow students,” said dual Master of Urban and Regional Planning and Master of Urban Design student Hogan Henz. “Travel helps to broaden one’s perspective and to appreciate places, practices, and people that are different or new. Santiago showed me how complex and beautiful public spaces can be.”
The Santiago Public Space Studio is in the works for 2026 and is available to not only MUD and MURP students but graduate students from other CAP programs who are interested in public space design from an international perspective.
Japan | CU Denver in Japan: Tectonics in Context
For two and a half weeks this summer, students were immersed in the Japanese context, a unique building culture unlike anywhere else in the world. While in Japan, students were given three design prompts, supported by tutorials and embedded within three contexts in three different communities. Students participated in joint exercises with students and faculty from Kyoto University and traveled between Tokyo, Miyajima, Naoshima, and Kyoto.
“The program offered several profound challenges. Navigating Tokyo’s intricate urban fabric and public transport system forced students to hone their orientation and observation skills in a high-density, dynamic environment,” said Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate Architecture Program Kevin Hirth. “On-site sketching and detailed documentation of unfamiliar architectural typologies, like traditional temples or innovative contemporary structures, pushed them to slow down, analyze, and translate complex spatial relationships onto paper. This rigorous engagement with both ancient and modern forms, often amidst language barriers, developed critical thinking and adaptability.”
Hirth also commented, “Travel is the ultimate immersive learning for architecture students.” Immersive experiences are hallmarks of an education from the College of Architecture and Planning. Whether through global study programs, hands-on design studios, and/or community engagements, students are constantly challenged to apply their learning in real-world contexts.
Japan is home to a variety of architectural styles, innovative urban spaces, and cultural influences that may not otherwise be experienced by students. Marc Swackhamer, former Chair of the Department of Architecture and new Dean of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic University, co-taught this year’s program in Japan and offered his insights about the importance of immersive, travel experiences.
“When students travel to Japan or anywhere, they are naturally uncomfortable. Their surroundings are unfamiliar, the culture is different from their own, the languages spoken are different, the food is different, the architecture is different, and even the climate is different,” said Swackhamer. “All this difference jars students, productively, into taking notice of the everyday things they would normally take for granted. An important quality all good architects embody is the capacity to notice little things, to see beauty in everyday life experiences. Foreign travel prompts students to take notice of the everyday and to grow their skills of observation and critical analysis.”
Interested in studying architecture in Japan? Hirth is currently planning a return visit next summer. Visit the Office of Global Education/Study Abroad to check in for updates about CU Denver in Japan: Tectonics in Context – Japan Lab.
Rome | CU Denver in Italy: Architecture and the Urban Context of Rome
The CU Denver in Italy study abroad program provides valuable benefits for an education in architecture from explorations in culture and history to experiences with the city in its modern context. Students explored, sketched, measured, and observed the rich history and culture unique to Rome.
“Rome is an important city for students of architecture and urbanism to explore, offering a living laboratory of history, design, and urban life,” said Assistant Professor of Architecture Matt Shea. “Experiencing the city firsthand is always exciting — from walking and sketching its streets and piazzas to seeing how a vibrant contemporary city exists alongside millennia of architectural and urban history.”
The courses taught in Rome focused on the design analysis of the relationship between the past and our present. Through observational drawing and historic site visits, students gained essential skills that helped refine the way the see and interpret spaces in both ancient and contemporary contexts.
“As amazing as Rome itself was, the connections I made with everyone on the trip were truly the highlight,” said Master of Architecture student Mia Mettais. “Experiencing such an amazing city alongside people who made every day fun and memorable made it even more special. I also appreciated that we took trips to such a wide variety of places, from the ancient Basilica of San Clemente to the modern MAXXI museum. Many sites included tours and museum visits I might not have explored on my own, adding incredible depth to the experience.”
“Sometimes it takes stepping out of your daily routine and immersing yourself in another culture to truly appreciate your field of study and see it in a new light,” noted Mettais, “Experiencing monuments and historic sites in person brings a depth of understanding you just can’t get in a classroom. Beyond the academic value, you also form meaningful friendships that continue to enrich your life long after the program ends.”
Summer 2026 Study Abroad
While planning is still underway for the Summer 2026 study abroad schedule, but these three study abroad opportunities—Chile, Japan, and Rome—will return next year.
Applications for these programs are not yet open, make plans to attend an info session, but make plans to attend the CU Denver Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, September 9 in the Tivoli Turnhalle from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. to learn more about the travel opportunities available at CU Denver in 2026.
AloJapan.com