Iona University Announces Exciting Return to Ireland Campus
Applications now open for the 2025 Westport Summer Session!
Iona University’s roots are steeped in the rich Irish legacy of St. Columba, Blessed Edmund Rice and the Christian Brothers, who founded Iona in 1940. Building upon this heritage, Iona launched its new global campus in County Mayo, Ireland, earlier this year and is proud to announce courses for the upcoming 2025 Westport Summer Session.
From May 10-23, 2025, students will once again have a chance to live and learn in Westport, with classes taking place on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. Iona students are encouraged to learn more and apply today. Applications close December 1.
“Iona Ireland fosters a deeper connection – both spiritually and historically – to the legacy of our founders and our institution,” said President Seamus Carey, Ph.D. “With this new home abroad, we renew our enduring commitment to the liberating power of education and look forward to building upon this new chapter in the years ahead.”
Explore the Following:
The Immigrant Experience (HST337)
This course will offer a comprehensive exploration of U.S. immigration history, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants in New York City. Given the magnitude and variation of Irish immigration patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries, the course will focus on immigrants from the southwest of Ireland, including Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry counties. Dr. Carroll, professor of American history, will lead lectures, discussions and readings from scholarly works.
Healthcare Perspectives (NUR 302; NUR 3020)
Students will learn how to critically examine the nursing profession, historical and theoretical frameworks, moral and legal issues, and standards of nursing practice. Current issues and healthcare trends are examined through the interprofessional lens. Emphasis on disparities that exist in the health care system of the United States and in the world are identified. Students are provided with the information and tools to confront health disparities and challenges and taught how to navigate the health care system in a collaborative interdisciplinary partnership.
Learn more about the 2025 Westport Summer Session and apply today!
Learn Outside the Lines
To launch the new campus, Iona offered two inaugural courses in May 2024, giving students an opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world, global situations in keeping with Iona’s promise to “learn outside the lines.”
For instance, both undergraduate and accelerated nursing students spent time at Mayo University Hospital, where they strengthened their understanding of nursing practices under the guidance of Dr. Shery Watson, director of nursing and associate dean of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences. While abroad, Watson instructed students how to critically examine the nursing profession and explore various historical and theoretical frameworks while also delving into moral and legal issues.
Meanwhile, philosophy students uncovered the role of music in everyday experiences and considered its normative influence on morality. Dr. Alexander Eodice, faculty emeritus, led discussions through readings of classical and contemporary philosophical sources while also spending time immersed in local culture and musical performances.
The Impact of Experiential Learning
Emma Brannigan, a junior accounting and finance double major, highlighted how she was able to immerse herself in Irish culture, make new friends and explore a new country thanks to the experience in Ireland. Brannigan further emphasized the value of short-term study abroad programs, especially for students with rigorous majors like hers.
"This trip was perfect because it allowed me to travel while staying on course with my degree requirements,” said Brannigan, an Honors student. "Studying at the historic Westport House was incredible. I would absolutely love to do it again."
Brannigan participated in the philosophy class, examining the influence of music on culture. The course included thoughtful classroom discussions in the Westport House library amplified by live musical performances in town. The camaraderie among the students was also a significant aspect of her experience.
"Meeting new people was one of the biggest takeaways for me,” Brannigan said. “We all met at the airport, and from there, it was like we became a close-knit family.”
Meanwhile, Joey Silva ’24, a nursing student in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, said that when he immersed himself in Ireland’s healthcare system, he noticed several key differences from his experiences in the United States.
“Ireland’s healthcare system was much more community-based than what I have experienced here,” said Silva. “They also use much less technology than we are used to, which was interesting to observe and take part in.”
Reflecting on his time abroad, Silva said he also appreciated the opportunity to explore the beautiful town of Westport, adding that he “was able to meet a lot of locals who were very welcoming, and I grew much closer to my classmates.”
His most valuable takeaway?
“It would be the importance of taking time to consider each patient’s background and cultural values,” Silva said. "This is something we learn early in the nursing major but it was great to actually apply it and consider different values and belief systems on such a large scale.”
Learn more about Iona study abroad opportunities here.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.