02/05/2026
The Kokomo Experience & You (KEY) Program engages students in a variety of relevant and authentic course- and program-related experiential learning opportunities. A new addition to KEY, namely an interdisciplinary Summer 2026 experience linked to a one-credit online independent study course, will culminate in an immersive seven-day/six-night, academic study trip to Washington, D.C. This experience, including both the course and the trip, will be open to IU Kokomo, East, South Bend, Northwest, and Southeast students enrolled in Sociology, History, Political Science, Communication or related courses and programs. This KEY Program event is intended to serve as a model for multi-campus, interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities, using IU’s new Capital Campus as a study trip base and resource.
By bringing together multiple disciplinary perspectives, this course and study trip will emphasize how social structures, political institutions, historical narratives, and media representations intersect to shape civic life in the nation’s capital. Students will engage in guided visits to museums, prominent memorials, and historic sites. These visits are paired with faculty-led discussions, reflective assignments, and collaborative activities that encourage students to apply theoretical insights to real-world contexts. Together, these experiences will prepare students to think across disciplinary boundaries and develop informed, critically engaged perspectives on the complex social, political, and historical dynamics that define Washington, D.C.
Participating students must enroll in one of three, one-credit, independent study hybrid course options offered through IU Kokomo (below). Courses will be cross-listed and team-taught by three IU Kokomo faculty members, with assigned readings, discussions and projects identical across the three options, but tailored to students’ disciplinary interests:
SPCH-S 398 Independent Study in Speech Communication
Instructor: Dr. Chris Darr, Professor of Communication
SOC-S 495 Individual Readings in Sociology
Instructor: Dr. Nick Baxter, Assistant Professor of Sociology
HIST-H 495 Individual Readings in History
Instructor: Dr. Andrew McFarland, Professor of History
The courses will run from May 11 – 27 and will encompass a required week-long study trip to Washington, D.C., from May 16 – 22. Class meetings before and after the study trip will be held online, concurrently and synchronously (dates, meeting time and topics to be announced).
Space is limited to 30 students, accepted on a first-come basis, with preference given to students who major or minor in one of these disciplines, and to students with junior or senior level standing. While priority will be given to seniors and juniors, all students in these majors are welcome to apply.
The cost of this KEY experience is $800 per student, which includes round-trip air fare from Indianapolis to D.C., a group meal the day of arrival and departure, some ground transportation, and six nights lodging at IU’s Capital Campus (1619 Massachusetts Ave.), which offers both low-cost, single and double-occupancy rooms (with shared kitchenettes and common areas) and a central location from which to explore the city. Students will be responsible for all other meals (restaurants and a grocery store are near the IU campus) and incidental expenses (laundry, souvenirs, hygiene products, etc.).
Enrollment in one of the IU Kokomo independent study course sections and a $250 deposit are required to reserve a space. (Permission to enroll is required.)
Interested students should complete a Qualtrics form expressing their interest in the program by February 15, 2026.
Web link: https://go.iu.edu/8wD2
For questions, contact Dr. Chris Darr ([email protected]) Professor of Communication & Dean of the IU Kokomo School of Humanities & Social Sciences.
Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.
