About ASMSA's Global Learning Program

The Global Learning Program seeks to provide students with educational travel opportunities that allow the students to learn firsthand about other countries and cultures. We believe that when students travel to a foreign country, encounter a different culture, and meet new people, they develop new perspectives, global awareness, and better critical thinking skills. The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts will offer a limited number of grants to ASMSA students who enroll in one of the Global Learning programs and submit the following application.  The purpose of the grant is to help lower the cost of study abroad for students and is part of our commitment to ensuring greater equity accessing these extraordinary experiences.

The goals of the program are as follows:

  1. To enhance student understanding of different countries and cultures.
  2. To foster global awareness and critical thinking skills through experiential learning.
  3. To teach students how to travel abroad in a safe and efficient manner.

EF Tours to Spain, New York City, and Costa Rica as well as two trips to Japan

ASMSA has partnered with EF Tours to offer a tour of Spain, New York City, and Costa Rica. The Spain and New York City tripswill take place during Spring Break in March 2027. The Costa Rica trip will take place in Summer 2027.

A trip to Osaka, Japan, will take place in Fall 2026, a continuation of our relationship with Tennoji Super Science High School in Osaka. Students are also invited to apply to join the Hot Springs Sister City Trip to Hanamaki, Japan, during the summer of 2027.

These global learning trips will be led by one or more ASMSA teachers and staff who will prepare the students for the trip and supervise them while abroad. For more detailed descriptions of these trips, please click the appropriate link on the right of the this page. Complete costs information is included in the Financial Aid Application below.

EF Tours to Spain, New York City, and Costa Rica

Spain Trip

One trip will be offered through EF Tours to Spain.  For this trip, students receiving the standard grant will be responsible for covering the cost of $3,369 of qualifying travel expenses. Students are also responsible for costs associated with travel to and from the Little Rock airport, any passports or visas, drinks, snacks, lunches, souvenirs, optional excursions, tips, and other personal expenses.  Students should budget ~$50-$60 per day for spending money to cover snacks, drinks, lunches, souvenirs, and optional excursions while on tour.  There will be one or more need-based scholarships for this trip, and it will depart over Spring Break 2027. You can learn more about the trip here: https://www.eftours.com/educational-tour/barcelona-madrid.

New York City Trip

One trip will be offered through EF Tours to New York City.  For this trip, students receiving the standard grant will be responsible for covering the cost of $2,159 of qualifying travel expenses. Students are also responsible for costs associated with travel to and from the Little Rock airport, any passports or visas, drinks, snacks, lunches, souvenirs, optional excursions, tips, and other personal expenses.  Students should budget ~$50-$60 per day for spending money to cover snacks, drinks, lunches, souvenirs, and optional excursions while on tour.  There will be one or more need-based scholarships for this trip, and it will depart over Spring Break 2027. You can learn more about the trip here: https://www.efexploreamerica.com/educational-tour/new-york-city-big-apple.

Costa Rica Trip

One trip will be offered through EF Tours to Costa Rica.  For this trip, students receiving the standard grant will be responsible for covering the cost of $2,489 of qualifying travel expenses. Students are also responsible for costs associated with travel to and from the Little Rock airport, any passports or visas, drinks, snacks, lunches, souvenirs, optional excursions, tips, and other personal expenses.  Students should budget ~$50-$60 per day for spending money to cover snacks, drinks, lunches, souvenirs, and optional excursions while on tour.  There will be one or more need-based scholarships for this trip, and it will depart summer 2027. You can learn more about the trip here: https://www.eftours.com/educational-tour/explore-costa-rica.

Japanese Exchange Programs

Osaka, Japan: Fall 2026

A trip to Osaka, Japan, will take place in the fall of 2026. This trip is a continuation of our relationship with Tennoji Super Science High School in Osaka. ASMSA students will serve as ambassadors for ASMSA while studying and living alongside Tennoji students. The trip will include time at the school, a homestay with a Tennoji student, as well as various cultural activities and sightseeing. Students also get to travel to Kyoto and Nara as well. There may be one or more need-based scholarships for this trip. Please note that this trip is only for students taking Japanese at ASMSA.

Hanamaki, Japan, Summer 2027

ASMSA students are invited to apply to join the Hot Springs Sister City program. This trip is organized through our Sister City Program, and ASMSA students serve as ambassadors for our school while experiencing a homestay in Hanamaki, Japan. Experience a small city in beautiful Iwate prefecture, onsen, classes at Kita High School, and more. ASMSA students apply through ASMSA and are eligible for the same scholarship and grant funds as any other ASMSA Global Learning trip.

If you have any questions about travel to Japan, please reach out to Sensei Forbess at forbessa@asmsa.org or Dr. Hicks at hicksa@asmsa.org. The estimated cost for either Osaka or Hanamaki after receiving the standard grant will be $2,750. There may be one or more need-based scholarships for this trip, and you should budget at least $300 in spending money.

There are also hosting opportunities available in March and April of each year for ASMSA students to host Japanese students from both Kita High School (Hanamaki) and Tennoji High School (Osaka). Hosting allows students to practice Japanese language skills, deepen their understanding of another culture, and develop important friendships.

 

ASMSA Global Learning Program

Global Learning Program

at The Arkansas School for Math, Sciences and The Arts

ASMSA will offer a limited number of grants to ASMSA students who enroll in one of the Global Learning Program trips and submit the appropriate financial aid application. The purpose of the grant is to help lower the cost of study abroad for students and is part of our commitment to ensuring greater access to these extraordinary experiences. Financial assistance from ASMSA will be applied toward qualifying travel expenses. For more information on trip costs, expenses, and financial assistance, please click here to view the informational document or click on the button on the enrollment information section below.

Qualifying travel expenses include airfare, lodging, transportation at the destination, entry fees to museums and other cultural sites, fees for tour guides, as well as breakfast and dinner daily.

Students are also responsible for costs associated with travel to and from the Little Rock airport, any passports or visas, lunches, souvenirs, optional excursions, and other personal expenses.

Please note that the awarding of the grant is contingent upon the student returning to ASMSA for the entirety of his or her senior year or successful completion of their program of study in the case of Class of 2027 students.

Enrollment Information

To enroll for one of the Spring Break or summer trips, please fill out the Financial Aid Application for Fall, Spring Break, and Summer Trips by clicking here or by clicking the application button on the right and e-mail it to Dan Kostopulos at kostopud@asmsa.org.

Please note that only rising seniors will be considered for full-paid scholarships for Spain, New York City, and Osaka. Rising juniors will be considered for full-paid scholarships for Costa Rica. Complete costs information is included in the Financial Aid Application.

Financial aid applications for all trips should be filed no later than May 15, 2026.

All students should be enrolled for the Spain, New York City, and Osaka trips no later than September 20, 2026. Costa Rica trip enrollment should be completed by November 1, 2026.

 

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