American Modern : Online and Extended Programs : Texas State University

Honors College
Location: Chicago, IL (primary); St. Louis, MO; New Harmony, IN; Columbus, IN.
Courses: Up to two of HON 3384C: Modern, Antimodern, Postmodern, HON 2306F: Rethinking American Exceptionalism, HON 2305D: Honors Creative Arts (050 Creative Arts), & HON 4391: Honors Independent Study
CRN: TBD
Program Directors: Dr. Peter Tschirhart, plt39@txstate.edu & Dr. Ron Haas, rmh109@txstate.edu
Course Dates: Summer I, May 26 - June 29, 2026
Travel: May 27 - June 6, 2026
Program Fee: $2,445
Course Tuition: 3-hours $1,068.24, 6-hours $2,136.48
*Financial Aid eligible

Program Itinerary

Step into America’s boldest experiments with modernity. From the utopian social visions of New Harmony to the monumental symbolism of the Gateway Arch, from Columbus’s architectural avant-garde to musical experiments in Chicago, this program immerses you in the ideas and creative works that defined the modern condition.

Anchored by the Honors course Modern, Antimodern, Postmodern, you’ll interrogate the collapse of tradition, the rise of industrial rationality, and the aesthetics of postmodern play. Alongside great thinkers and philosophers—as well as creators from Bach to the Bauhaus—you’ll experience a seminar on the move: part classroom, part cultural pilgrimage, part intellectual road trip through the century that reinvented the world.

Date	Activities	Location
Wednesday, May 27	—Arrival into IND —Rent vans, drive to Columbus, IN —Walking & tours	Columbus, IN
Thursday, May 28	—Walking & tours —Drive to New Harmony, IN —Walking & Tours	New Harmony, IN
Friday, May 29	—New Harmony History Tour —Class focus time	New Harmony, IN
Saturday, May 30	—Class focus time	New Harmony, IN
Sunday, May 31	—Class focus time	New Harmony, IN
Monday, June 1	—Drive to St. Louis —Tour of Arch & Gateway Park —Drive-by Pruitt-Igoe	Alton, IL (outside St Louis, IL)
Tuesday, June 2	—Take early train to Chicago —Walking tour of the 606	Chicago, IL
Wednesday, June 3	—Oak Park: Unity Temple —Oak Park: Walking tour	Chicago, IL
Thursday, June 4	—Robie House —Chicago Symphony	Chicago, IL
Friday, June 5	—Elmhurst Museum	Chicago, IL
Saturday, June 6	—Return Home

*Itinerary is subject to change.

Application Process

Follow these steps to enroll.

STEP 1

Complete SIA student application. Deadline is February 1, 2026.

STEP 2

Applications reviewed by Program Directors & OXP.

STEP 3

Pay $50 program deposit. Deadline is February 22, 2026.

STEP 4

Program FAQ

Expand FAQ List

General Information
- Who is eligible to participate in the program?
  
  All undergraduate students are eligible. Priority will be given to Honors college students and students in History, Philosophy, and the arts of high academic standing.
- Will I need to be in person at the San Marcos campus for the course?
  
  Course instruction before and after travel will be online June 10, 17, and 24 (Wednesdays in June 2026) for 1 hours each day. Students do not have to be in San Marcos to participate.
Costs
- What is included in the program fee?
  The program fee includes:
  - Lodging throughout the duration of the trip
  - On site transportation
  - 6 breakfasts (at hotels)
  - Train from STL to CHI
  - ST Louis Arch
  - Miller House and Iconic Columbus Tour
  - New Harmony History Tour
  - Robie House Tour
  - Unity Temple
  - Art Institute
  - Elmhurst Art Museum
  - Chicago Symphony
- What is NOT included in the program fee?
  The program fee does not include:
  - Airfare
  - 4 breakfasts, all lunches and dinners
  - Any additional activities students participate in during program free time.
  - Course tuition.
  *Per OXP policy, airfare is purchased by the student is not refundable by the university. Students are encouraged to purchase flexible airfare or travel insurance in case of the event they are unable to travel.
- What is the program deposit?
  
  Students are required to pay a $50 nonrefundable program deposit to secure their spot in the program. The deposit is applied to the overall program fee.
- Is Study in America Financial Aid eligible?
  
  Yes, SIA programs are financial aid eligible; however, eligibility can vary by student award. Students should always confirm with TXST One Stop whether their financial aid will cover the course tuition and program fee.
Program Preparation
- Will I need to provide my transportation?
  
  Students are responsible for purchasing airfare, on-site transportation will be provided.
- Is there a dress code for specific visits?
  
  No, but students are expected to dress appropriately for visits to the symphony, museums, and religious sites.
- Will there be downtime on the trip?
  
  Yes, students will have downtime during the trip.
Drop & Refund Policy
- Course Tuition Refund
  
  Refunds for a dropped extension course are given according to university policy for regular university courses on campus. Refer to the TXST One Stop for more information.
- SIA Program Fee Refund
  
  Students may receive a refund for the program fee if they drop/withdraw within the refund schedule. The program fee refund policy is separate from the refund deadlines associated with course tuition costs. See full drop/refund policy.
  Please note the course start date is not the first day of travel.