Magis Immersion Experiences

Instructor: Fr. Andrew Downing, S.J.

This course is a collaboration with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and is open to all undergraduate students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. 

Pilgrimage is central to all the major religions. Since time immemorial, humans have taken spiritual journeys to sacred destinations. A pilgrimage can be a visceral performance of the search for meaning in daily life, an attempt to find a greater sense of spiritual well-being, or a reconfirmation of one’s faith commitments. For any Christian, the city of Rome, more than any other destination, still has the power to fascinate and invigorate belief. The many layers of Rome offer a way for Christians and other seekers to encounter the faith of the apostles, the church fathers and mothers, great medieval saints, the world of Renaissance popes, the Jesuit contributions to the faith, and the modern Church in all of its vitality. With Rome as our classroom, we will investigate the theological, historical, sociological, and literary contours of pilgrimage. The course will be based in the Roman Catholic tradition but will attempt to make some comparisons with other faith traditions.

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Rome. The due date for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Instructor: Dr. Christine Trotter

This course is a collaboration with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and is open to all undergraduate students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. 

This course studies the urban character of the missionary activity of the apostle Paul in the Eastern Roman Empire with an emphasis on Greece. The first seven weeks of the course will focus on the letters that Paul wrote to the communities he established in Thessaloniki, Corinth, and Philippi. Using historical–critical methods, the course will situate Paul’s letters in the historical, social, and religious contexts in which they were composed. This will prepare students for the immersion experience during spring break, where we will follow in the footsteps of St. Paul. Thus, a close reading of his letters and related other material is essential for gaining sufficient knowledge of Paul and his associates, as well as of the people to whom he was preaching in the Greek cities that we will visit.

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Greece. The due date for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Instructor: Dr. Min-Ah Cho

This course is a collaboration with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and is open to all undergraduate students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. 

This course explores Korea’s modern history, shaped by events such as Japanese annexation, the Korean War, national division, military dictatorship, and the effects of rapid economic growth on capitalist development. While examining Korea’s geopolitical significance—mainly focusing on the 70-year armistice since the Korean War and recent emerging challenges—we will investigate the complex tensions within Northeast Asia, its relationship with the USA, the influence of militarism, and increasing societal diversity. Amidst these narratives and contemporary dynamics, we will pay special attention to the impact on marginalized groups, particularly women and those facing economic hardship. We will also explore the role of faith communities in Korea’s ongoing democratization and pursuit of justice. During the immersive spring break trip, we will engage with local Korean faith communities, scholars, activists, and students, fostering personal reflection and encouraging contemplation of the role of faith communities within and beyond the South Korean context.

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Korea. The deadline for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Instructor: Dr. Andria Wisler

This course is a collaboration with the Justice and Peace Studies Program and is open to all undergraduate students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. 

Over the first seven weeks of this course on Georgetown’s Hilltop campus, we will explore the roots and impacts of Colombia’s armed conflict from the late 1940s to the mid-2010s. This exploration will ground us as we witness in person during Spring Break how the country and its communities have forged forward through reconciliatory pathways and grassroots to statewide peacebuilding initiatives. Reflection steeped in Ignatian Spirituality will be one practice that showcases our commitment to pilgrimage and to a spiritual enlightenment that invites us to experience the “felt knowledge” of reconciliation frameworks and theories of peace from individuals who generously contribute to our immersion.  

While developing critical competencies in strategic analysis of complex conflicts and deepening our understanding of systemic approaches to conflict transformation, we will gain insights into the growth and transition over the last ten years in Colombia, a living case study of how societies move from cycles of direct, cultural, and structural violence towards coexistence and cultures of peace. Our time in Bogota and Cartagena will surface dissonance and stark contrasts, as well as creative visions of a shared humanity and innovative tools for creating justice. We hope that all participants in this course will have space and support for discovering, naming, and acting on what we have learned in light of our ongoing commitments as global citizens.

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Colombia. The due date for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Instructor: Dr. Ori Soltes

This course is a collaboration with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and is open to all undergraduate students in the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. 

This Magis course will address three interwoven issues. How have Christianity, Judaism and Islam emerged and evolved in what has, over the centuries, become “Spain”? How have these three faiths articulated themselves within themselves and with regard to each other, conceptually, across the history and geography of Iberia? How, in particular, have Catholic-Jewish relations shaped and been shaped by Spain, from the sixth through the twenty-first centuries—both within Spain itself and across Spanish dominions in the New World, on the one hand, and the Sephardic Jewish diaspora in the Americas on the other hand?

As participants in a Magis course, we will spend the first half of the semester in the classroom and focus on history, religion, and culture by way of readings and images, before spending spring break moving across Spain, from Madrid to Toledo, Cordova, Sevilla, and Granada, amplifying our understanding of this multi-valent intellectual and emotional adventure through diverse encounters with its everyday people and compelling places. Our travels will be accompanied at the end of most days by a process of meditative reflection referred to as the Examen by St. Ignatius of Loyola. 

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Spain. The due date for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Instructor: Sarah Vittone, Dr. Edilma Yearwood

This course is a collaboration with the Department of Theology & Religious Studies and is open to all This course is a collaboration with the Berkley School of Nursing and is open to undergraduate students in BSN. The course is 2 credits, and the travel portion takes place after the end of the Spring semester, late May to early June. 

This seminar incorporates experiential learning to explore spirituality and cultural humility through professional formation, personal service, and exposure to pilgrimage. Faculty provide intentional instruction and reflection to both explore and evaluate personal and professional attitudes, perceptions, and competence in spiritual caregiving. Kolb’s experiential learning theory, “Experience – Reflect – Think – Act,” will inform learning in real time on location. In Lourdes, students and faculty will serve pilgrims from around the world who come to participate in the religious ritual of bathing in the healing waters of Lourdes. The focus of this Magis Immersion Seminar is blending cultural humility and spiritual care. This experience is a balance between service (provide assistance in the baths to women, men, and youth from diverse countries, regions and experiences; attending and participating in the processions), formation (educational sessions), sharing across various faith and practice traditions, small group reflection and prayer/spiritual practices (Mass, confession, the rosary, candlelight procession, and Eucharistic processions), and development of community among participants.

Complete this form to apply for a place in this Magis Immersion Seminar to Lourdes. The due date for applications is Thursday, 15 October 2026.