Global Studies & Curricular Travel

Upper School students enjoy opportunities to expand their learning and perspectives beyond the classroom. During the academic year, they embark on local curricular excursions within New York City, the tri-state area, and various locations within the United States.

Poly also offers Curricular Travel Paths, immersive trips abroad designed to help students not only deepen their language skills and understanding of diverse cultures, but to better understand their own relationship to, and impact on, the world.

In our Global Studies Certificate Program, students join a cohort of peers and faculty who are invested in sustainability as a contemporary, historical, and global problem. Students in the program are passionate leaders who think about and create solutions to challenges, and present innovative approaches to building a sustainable world.

In 2026-27, our Upper School Curricular Travel Paths offerings include three exciting international experiences. Each trip is designed to deepen students’ understanding of language, culture, and global issues through hands-on experiences and meaningful interactions.

• FRANCE: During this 10-day travel experience, students in Grades 9-11 will immerse themselves in the heart of southern France, building confidence in the language through real-world interactions, dynamic classes, and cultural workshops in the vibrant city of Toulouse. Highlights include kayaking the Garonne River, a night cruise on the Canal du Midi, exploring the Cité de l’Espace, walking through medieval Carcassonne, and day trips to the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean coast. Thoughtfully designed with safety and personal growth in mind, this journey offers students an unforgettable adventure that deepens their connection to French language, culture, and the world around them.
  
  This Path is open to students in Grades 9-11 who will have successfully completed at least French 2 by the time of travel, or by teacher recommendation.
  
  
• MEXICO: On this 10-day curricular journey through central Mexico, Grades 9-11 students will explore history, language, art, and identity across three dynamic regions, beginning in Mexico City with visits to the Zócalo, Templo Mayor, and National Museum of Anthropology, alongside cultural experiences like salsa dancing, Casa Azul, and a trajinera ride through Xochimilco. The journey continues to Puebla, where students will examine the blending of Indigenous and Spanish traditions, and to Oaxaca, where they’ll visit Monte Albán, participate in artisan workshops, and explore local markets and culinary traditions. Throughout the trip, students will practice Spanish in authentic contexts and deepen their understanding of how regional identities shape Mexico’s national narrative, returning with a more nuanced worldview and strengthened cross-cultural skills.
  
  This Path is open to students in Grades 9-11 who will have successfully completed at least Spanish 1 by the time of travel, or by teacher recommendation.
  
  
• GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: During this once-in-a-lifetime nine-day journey through the Galápagos, Grades 9-12 students will have the rare privilege of stepping into one of the most remote and renowned centers for scientific study on Earth. They will explore the same near-shore reefs, mangrove ecosystems, and volcanic landscapes that inspired Charles Darwin’s groundbreaking discoveries. Through guided hikes, hands-on observation, and visits to active conservation sites, students will witness firsthand the extraordinary biodiversity, island biogeography, and restoration efforts that make this archipelago scientifically unparalleled—while also uncovering the history of scientific thought and methodology. Spending most of their time immersed outdoors on land and in the water, students will soak up plenty of sun and appreciate the challenges and profound beauty of equatorial ecosystems.

Study Away Programs

Poly offers students the opportunity to study away from our Brooklyn campus through a curated selection of semester and year-long programs, available both domestically and internationally. These programs combine rigorous academics with hands-on, experiential learning—often incorporating outdoor education, leadership development, and cultural immersion.

Current Poly Prep families may find additional information and details for the 2026-27 Study Away program options by visiting the Parent Portal.

Read more about how our students experienced Curricular Travel Paths:

Global Studies Certificate Program

Starting in Grade 9, students may begin participating in Poly’s Global Studies program. This new certificate program offers a four-year interdisciplinary journey, combining rigorous language study with curricular and co-curricular courses, and projects.

Throughout their time in Upper School, students blend coursework offered in the curriculum guide that is driven by their interests and the actions needed to address global challenges.

In Grade 12 advanced language students may also apply for the Global Studies Language Scholars Program, a transformative and culminating experience of their Global Studies and language coursework.

NOTE: Participation in the Global Studies Program will be noted on transcripts upon acceptance of the portfolio by our Faculty Committee and the Head of Upper School.

See below for more details and a timeline of our Global Studies Certificate Program by grade.