June 3rd – July 4th 2025
Immerse yourself in experiential learning...
Spend your summer in the rich culture of
Kyoto, Japan, while studying Art and
Architecture with Orange Coast College and
AIFS. Experience dynamic courses led by OCC
faculty, enhanced by visits and lectures that
bring the city’s architectural wonders to life.
Discover Japan’s historical and cultural
landmarks—monuments, museums, and
galleries—as Kyoto itself becomes an
extension of your classroom. Students will live
in shared student apartments, with double or
triple rooms. The AIFS Kyoto Study Center
offers dedicated support and guidance,
ensuring an unforgettable and enriching
study abroad experience.
6 Units:
Art A120/124/263 Drawing or Watercolor (3
units)
- ARCH A296 Architectural History 2 (3 units)
Attend an Info Meeting!
Join Chris and Dean in person to
go over all the program details in
person and get your questions
answered.
2/11 6:00pm OCC Technology 210
- For those who can’t get to campus for
meeting, a recording of our Jan. 8th
Zoom meeting can be found here.
Keep reading for more details.
- 👇
The program is now full!
- Click this link to get on the
waitlist. We will look to the
waitlist if students drop out and
we need to fill their spots.
- With all of Kyoto as your subject, assignments will be
designed to explore and experience the region and its
history. Course-related visits within Kyoto include the Gion
District, Maruyama Park, Higashiyama, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji,
and Ginkakuji. Visits are chosen based on the academic
curriculum and are subject to change. - Cultural learning is an integral part of the program. In Kyoto
students will partake in a traditional Japanese cooking
class, a half-day guided walk on the Philosopher’s Path, and
an Ikebana workshop. - Excursions included in the program are half-day excursions
to Arashiyama, Fushimi-Inari, Osaka, and Himeji; a full day
excursion to Nara; and an overnight excursion to Koyasan
where students will sleep in a temple and experience temple
activities and a dinner.
Cultural Activities and Excursions
The Academic Curriculum
ART A120 Beginning Drawing or Art A 124 Advanced Drawing or Art A 263 Watercolor (3 units)
These classes offered by Chris Kerins are designed for the beginning and intermediate student.
With Japan as our classroom, we will walk the streets of Kyoto and other Japanese cities to find
our subjects while learning the basic elements of shape, volume, and perspective. The technical
application of diverse drawing materials will include charcoal, graphite, ink, and watercolor media
to create illusionistic space and form. As part of class, we will visit museums and other areas of
culture in the region. (UC/CSU)
ARCH A296 Architectural History 2 (3 units)
Dr. Abernathy will teach a global introductory study of the development of architecture and urban
environments from the fifteenth century AD through the early twenty-first century. The lectures,
presentations and field trips explore global developments with focus on Japanese environments,
structures, architects, people of influence, and architectural movements of significance through
history. Japan, with its rich environmental and architectural history is the reference textbook.
Transferable Academic Credit
The Summer in Kyoto Program is offered for transferable college credit through Orange Coast
College. Orange Coast College, an accredited California Community College, will provide a
transcript upon request for the coursework completed overseas. Generally courses are
transferable to the University of California and California State University systems. Please verify
the transferability of courses with your advisor or registrar before you apply.
Chris Kerins has been an Art and Architecture instructor at Orange
Coast College for 16 years, specializing in illustration, drawing, and
watercolor. He has also taught at Brooks College and UCLA, where he
earned his MFA in Design for Theater, Film, and Television. Chris has
previously led study abroad programs teaching Art in Rome and
Barcelona.
- Please email Chris for more information about Summer in Kyoto
2025: jkerins@occ.cccd.edu
Program Faculty - Chris Kerins & Dean Abernathy
- Dr. Dean L. Abernathy is a practicing architect with over two and a
half decades of teaching and architectural research experience at
Orange Coast College, The University of Virginia and The University
of California at Los Angeles. He was site architect for three seasons
at the Villa Orazio excavations in Italy and has lead architectural
and drawing classes in Europe and South America. He currently
teaches design and fabrication studios as well as architectural
history. He has a Master of Architecture degree and PhD from
UCLA, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Get the Details
What Is Included:
Double/triple room in shared student apartments in a student
residence, double/triple rooms on excursions
- A half-day excursion to Arashiyama including a visit to the
bamboo forest and Tenryu-ji with the services of a professional,
English-speaking guide. - A half-day excursion to Fushimi-Inari with the services of a
professional, English-speaking guide. - A half-day excursion to Osaka by private bus including a guided
tour of Osaka Castle. - A half-day excursion to Himeji by public transportation
including entrance with guided tour to Himeji Castle. - A full day excursion to Nara by private bus including a guided
walking tour, entrance to Todaji temple and Kasuga Shrine. - An overnight excursion to Koyasan by public transport,
including one nights’ accommodation in temple style multi
bedded Japanese bedding rooms, temple activities and dinner. - Visits led by the program leaders to major museums and other
cultural sites in and around Kyoto - Welcome and farewell meals
- Pre-departure and overseas orientation program
- Kyoto transit pass pre-loaded with ¥10,000
- Overseas information and resource center with AIFS Kyoto on-
site staff - Transfers from and to Kyoto airport for group flight
participants (based on a minimum of 10 group flight
participants)
Get the Details
What Is Not Included:
- Round-trip airfare (a group flight is available to purchase
through AIFS) - The Coast Community College District tuition and fees
- Personal expenses, passports, visas, books, art supplies and
anything not listed as included - Meals other than those listed
- Required CCCD medical insurance ($)
- Travel and personal property insurance
Program Timetable
Application due: with first payment by March 7
Final payment due: April 8
On campus orientation in late April
Departure from U.S.: June 2
Arrival in Kyoto: June 3
Overseas orientation: June 4
Return to U.S.: July 4
Initial prep and final wrap-up classes will also be held in May and
July on the OCC campus in Costa Mesa California.
Payment Schedule
Non-refundable first payment – $450
Final payment due April 8, 2025 – $5,745
The program is now full!
Click this link to get on the waitlist. We will look
to the waitlist if students drop out and we
need to fill their spots.
NOTE: the application period will end when we
receive 30 applications. This could happen
BEFORE March 8th so please don’t wait until
the end. It is possible the application may be
removed.
Financial Aid
Scholarships are available! Please see the
Scholarships page in OCC’s Study Abroad
website for more information and to get the
ball rolling.
How to Sign Up
Service Provider
What does a service provider do?
Orange Coast College, as part of the Coast Community College District, contracts with companies called
“service providers”. Service providers are chosen based on each program’s specific needs. The service
provider chosen for this program has not only had many years working with the Coast Community College
District, but also has been given the ‘thumbs up’ by both faculty members and students from previous
programs.
Service providers are the ‘behind the scenes’ logistical organizers of successful Study Abroad programs.
Some of the responsibilities that service providers are charged with is making sure students and faculty
members are not only comfortable, but experience a healthy and safe learning environment. Housing, meals,
transportation, and other details such as recommending restaurants or shops are just some of the added
benefits service providers offer to study abroad students and faculty. They are extremely familiar with the
‘local culture’ and are the ones to go to in order to make the most of your program.
- Most service providers offer two levels of assistance. The first level occurs before departure from the United
States. This help may be in the form of helping you obtain airplane tickets, or answering questions specific to
the overseas housing. The second level of help is when you are overseas on the program. Examples of help
are: should you lose your wallet, can’t withdraw money from the ATM, or if you are ill and need medical
attention. Service providers may refer you to short courses to help you more thoroughly experience the local
culture, but these courses are not meant to be in place of the classes offered through Orange Coast College.
About AIFS
AIFS is recognized as a leading provider of study abroad programs. AIFS was founded in 1964 and since then,
over 1.5 million students have participated in our educational and cultural exchange programs. Over 6,000
American college students study abroad each year with the AIFS Study Abroad— approximately 2,000 of
these participate on Customized, Faculty-Led Programs. With more than 50 years of experience, we have the
resources and experience to provide what our students want and need in a study abroad program, and to
safeguard their welfare around the
globe.
AIFS pioneered Customized, Faculty-Led Programs, which are formal arrangements between educational
institutions and AIFS in which AIFS provides logistical support, student services, classrooms, housing facilities
and cultural activities at a location abroad, plus student medical and fee refund insurances and over $50
million of liability insurance for the U.S. college/university. This enables institutions to conduct their own
academic programs abroad at minimal expense.
Faculty from the home institution teach their curriculum abroad (with optional use of local adjunct
professors), and the institution maintains academic control over the program and retains tuition income.
Students pay a non-academic program fee directly to AIFS.
- Since 1964, AIFS has been at the forefront of international education and study abroad, with a commitment to
high academic standards, health and safety practices, and a dedication to supporting students in order to
maximize their time abroad.