Southwest Studies (SWS) is a fall tradition at UWC-USA, when first-year students fan out across the American Southwest to explore the region’s history, culture, and remarkable geography. Each trip is led by faculty and trained outdoor educators who help students develop deeper connections to the land and its people.
This year’s destinations and themes included:
- Reading the Landscape: Students traveled to Marfa, Texas, to explore how the unique landscapes of eastern New Mexico and western Texas inspire creativity and artistic expression.
- The Grand Canyon: Approximately half of the first-year class experienced the awe of the canyon’s geology and natural beauty.
- Relationships with the Land: A journey focused on Indigenous histories, stewardship, and questions of land ownership in the Southwest.
- Arizona Border: This trip examined the political, economic, and humanitarian issues related to current U.S. border policy.
- Southwest Explorations: Other students visited notable sites such as Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, New Mexico, discovering the region’s hidden gems.
Every SWS trip incorporates meaningful community service and structured reflection, both in the field and after students return to campus. Alumni frequently describe their Southwest Studies trips as some of the most transformative and memorable experiences of their time at UWC-USA. Check out the award-winning photos from these trips!