Global Pathways Program

Since the inception of the Global Pathways Program in 2006, more than 700 DeLaSalle students, alumni and staff have traveled extensively throughout the world, with trips to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya, India, Ireland, Italy and Spain. Through collaborative partnerships with schools like Hamline University, St. Catherine University, and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, students can earn academic college credit for their study abroad experience. DeLaSalle teachers and professors who are experts in their subject field – from art to history to the natural sciences – develop rigorous coursework that meets the highest academic standards.

Upcoming 2024 Academic Trips

Chile and Argentina - March 2024

DeLaSalle is offering a 10-day for credit trip to Chile and Argentina. During the 20th century, Latin America was marked by a violent and transformative history due to a series of dictatorial governments, activism and change. As a result, a period of intense creative production arose. The literature, cinema, plastic arts and music created, transformed the Latin American landscape and its people, becoming a mecca of expression. 

This trip will focus on Latin American artistic expressions and memory work that reflect and defy reality in the last century. Students will have an opportunity to see and experience these artistic expressions and will be asked to reflect on their own cultural expressions as a means to tell the stories from their own cultural backgrounds. 

Brazil

DeLaSalle High School is offering a 12-day/11-night for credit trip to Brazil in June 2024. Our trip will take place from June 19-30 and travel to São Bento do Sapucaí, Paraty, Ilha Grande and Rio de Janeiro. The academic focus of the trip will be nutrition and the United Nation Sustainable Development goals.

Greece History and Literature - June 2024

Basque Spain and France - June 2024

Recent Academic Trips

• Italy (June 2023): DeLaSalle students toured Italy on an 8-day / 9-night academic trip titled Art and Lasallian Leadership with credit given by DeLaSalle. The trip took place from June 13-23, 2023. Students embarked on an artistic and leadership journey traveling to Northern Italy, studying art and culture while incorporating leadership skills through travel and volunteering. Their base was in Pieve del Grappa at the Instituti Filippin with day trips to Verona and Venice. Additional excursions  included Possagno, Asolo, Monte Grappa, Bassano del Grappa, and Castelcucco. 21 students plus 3 DeLaSalle chaperones participated. Students were selected for the trip based on an application and two letters of recommendation.
• Spain (June 2023): On June 4-15, 2023 students took part in an 11-day/10-night “Spanish Culture, History & Language” academic trip to Spain. The trip included overnight stays in Madrid, Valladolid, San Sebastián, Zaragoza and Barcelona. Students were able to earn DeLaSalle credit for their work and participation. The group also visited Lasallian schools in four cities that are future exchange partners; giving interested DeLaSalle students the opportunity to know the schools, students and cities. The tour explored Spanish and Basque history, great scenery and fantastic food.

Past opportunities have also included trips to India (March 2014), Ireland (June 2014), Costa Rica (July 2014), Costa Rica (April 2015), Italy (June 2015), and Brazil (August 2015), Ecuador (June 2016), Costa Rica (June & July 2016), Bolivia (July-August 2017), Italy (June-July 2018) and Costa Rica (July-August 2019).

Our continued close relationships with our partnering schools have brought many benefits to our students and our schools.  Because we share students, there is no tuition to pay to the host school, keeping our costs to the price of a ticket and spending money. We also often share host families between students which can help grow life-long relationships, family to family.  Our faculty and staff benefit from the connections made between schools by learning from each other’s practice and even connecting our schools’ curricula with activities done virtually between schools. Our faculty has visited our partner schools and they have personally visited our school, giving us hands-on knowledge and understanding for what and where our students will be learning and spending time.  A trust has been built between us, and that is priceless when we place our students in their hands.

Students interested in applying should first understand and meet the following qualifying criteria;

1. Students must be in good academic standing with no outstanding credits needing recovery.  

2. Students must be in good financial standing with DeLaSalle High School.

3. Students should have a generally positive behavioral record.

4. Students/families should have the financial ability to pay for a student’s emergency return and/or any medical treatment needed if necessary while in the host country.

5. Students must consider how the exchange could affect a student’s participation in co-curricular activities.

Exchanges last between four and eight weeks – depending on the location and time of year.

All costs include round trip airfare from Minneapolis (airport code MSP) to the host country. Airfare costs to all exchange destinations can vary from one day to the next. The Travel Advantage travel agency will work with students and families to find the most affordable ticket with the best travel itinerary. 

DeLaSalle has exchange partnerships with multiple Lasallian schools in Argentina, Italy and Spain and is working toward new partnerships in Brazil, Chile and France.

Students do not pay tuition, academic fees for uniforms or technology or room and board. Students who are accepted for an exchange will pay a $350 fee. Students should plan to have between $500 - $1,000 in spending money for each destination. Passports, spending money and optional activities are the responsibility of the student.

A review committee will determine whether a student is eligible to continue with the interview phase of the application process