Spring Field Study: U.S. - Arc of the Moral Universe
U.S.: Arc of the Moral Universe
Spend your spring break walking in the footsteps of the Civil Rights Movement. This faculty-led field study takes Rollins students on a civil rights pilgrimage through Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery—a short-term immersion where history leaves the textbook behind. You'll cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, step inside the churches where the movement was organized, and reflect at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Along the way, you'll explore how race, religion, music, and protest powered the movement—and how the way we remember it continues to shape the present.
Program Highlights
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia, and Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery, Alabama
- Term: Spring Break (March)
- Program Length: Approximately 5 days
- Course: INT 295F
- Related Majors & Minors: African & African American Studies, History, Sociology, American Studies, Religious Studies
- Financial Aid & Scholarships: Need-based scholarships are available to help offset the costs associated with field studies.
Itinerary Highlights
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Stand Where History Happened
Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, visit the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, and stand at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church and the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery—landmarks where ordinary people showed extraordinary courage.
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Explore Museums and Memorials
Tour the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery. Guided tours, workshops, and conversations with local leaders reveal how the movement is remembered—and why it still matters.
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Reflect on Faith and Justice
Explore how theology and spirituality fueled activism, from church pulpits to protest lines. Daily journaling and peer-to-peer dialogue help you connect what you see on the road to your own commitments to justice and community.
Meet Your Faculty Leader: Dr. Dorrell Briscoe
“I want students to experience civil rights history not as something distant or confined to a book, but as something embodied and tangible—a force that continues to shape our present.” — Dr. Dorrell Briscoe
Rev. Dr. Harold “Dorrell” Briscoe is Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Rollins College, where he oversees the Center for Spiritual Life & Interfaith Engagement. A historian and public theologian, he studies the intersection of race, religion, and public policy. His doctoral research in history examines how members of President Truman’s Committee on Civil Rights helped shape the landmark 1947 report To Secure These Rights, and he teaches courses on prophetic religion, the Civil Rights Movement, theomusicology, and cultural memory.
On this field study, he draws on his own civil rights pilgrimage across Alabama to help students explore how faith, theology, and moral courage fueled the movement—and what those lessons ask of us today.
Education: BA, University of North Florida; MPA, Texas A&M University; MTS, Liberty University; DMin, Duke University; PhD, University of Leicester (UK)
See Full Bio
Meet Your Faculty Leader: Dr. Matthew Nichter
Dr. Matthew Nichter is an Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at Rollins College and a past director of the African & African American Studies program. His teaching focuses on inequality, social movements, and the Civil Rights Movement, and his research explores the intersections of the Black freedom struggle, labor unions, and socialist movements.
On this field study, he helps students connect the places they visit to the grassroots organizing behind them—and to the ongoing dynamics of race and justice in the United States.
Education: BA, Brown University; MS, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Why Study Civil Rights History in Alabama?
Learn History Where It Happened
Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery are where the Civil Rights Movement won some of its defining victories. Instead of reading about the march from Selma or the Montgomery bus boycott, you'll stand in the places where they unfolded and hear from the communities that carry their legacy.
Build Skills for Civic Life
Practice honest dialogue across difference, deepen your civic awareness, and sharpen your historical imagination. These are skills that matter in graduate school and in careers in law, education, ministry, public service, and community leadership.
Make the Most of Spring Break
Field studies are designed to maximize learning during short-term breaks—no semester commitment required. Earn credit while gaining hands-on field experience that stands out on your resume and in future interviews.
Financial Support Is Available
Partial need-based scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 are available to help offset costs. Apply directly through your program application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Rollins field study?
Field studies are short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs typically held during spring break, winter break, or summer. They combine academic coursework with immersive, in-country experiences and are open to eligible Rollins students.
How much does the U.S.: Arc of the Moral Universe field study cost?
Field study costs vary by destination, length, and number of credits. Total out-of-pocket costs for Rollins field studies typically range from $3,500 to $6,000, including the program fee and any additional expenses. Partial need-based scholarships of $500–$2,500 are available to help offset costs. For exact pricing for this program, visit the U.S.: Arc of the Moral Universe Field Study program details on Via TRM.
What does the program fee include?
The U.S.: Arc of the Moral Universe field study fee covers tuition, airfare, local transportation, hotel housing, meals, excursions, administrative fees, pre-departure advising, and on-site staff support. See the full list of what's covered for this program in our official study abroad platform, Via TRM.
What students should consider this field study?
This field study is open to students across majors and is an especially strong fit for those studying History, Sociology, African & African American Studies, or Religious Studies, as well as anyone who wants to understand how ordinary people changed the course of a nation. There are no prerequisites; students need a minimum GPA of 2.0 and good academic and College standing. Expect active days with substantial walking, uneven ground, stairs, and time on the road between cities. You can learn more and apply on our official study abroad platform, Via TRM.
When does this field study take place?
The U.S. Arc of the Moral Universe field study takes place during spring break in March and lasts approximately five days. Please visit Via TRM for exact travel dates and application deadlines.
Ready to Apply?
Trace the history of the Civil Rights Movement through Georgia and Alabama on this powerful faculty-led field study. Apply on Via TRM to join.
Apply on Via TRM