Normandale Community College
Faculty-led Program
Psychology of Life and Living in New Orleans
March 6-11, 2027
Program Summary
This immersive six-day program in New Orleans allows students to explore the city's rich cultural heritage through the lenses of indigenous history, Voodoo traditions, Mardi Gras celebrations, and the enduring impact of Hurricane Katrina. Students will participate in a second-line parade, meet with Mardi Gras Indians, visit museums dedicated to Carnival and jazz funerals, and engage with Katrina survivors in the Lower 9th Ward. The program also includes discussions with palliative care providers, cemetery tours, and guided reflections throughout. This journey offers students a deep, respectful, and nuanced understanding of one of America's most distinctive cities.
Faculty Leaders
Aimee DuBois Aimee.DuBois@normandale.edu
Jay Anderson Jay.Anderson@normandale.edu
Itinerary
Day 1 - Saturday, March 6, 2027
Arrival and program orientation
Walk through the French Quarter
Welcome dinner in authentic Cajun restaurant
Day 2 - Sunday, March 7, 2027
Breakfast at hotel
Indigenous history walking tour focused on
Group lunch
Second-line parade, a vibrant, music-filled, procession led by a live brass band and dancers
Free time to explore the city
Independent dinner (cost not included)
Day 3 - Monday, March 8, 2027
Breakfast at hotel
Voodoo history and culture walking tour
Voodoo Museum - dedicated to the preservation of New Orleans' Voodoo history and culture
Group lunch
Backstreet Cultural Museum - learn about Carnival culture, second-line parades, and jazz funerals
Independent dinner (cost not included)
Day 4 - Tuesday, March 9, 2027
Breakfast at hotel
Lower 9th Ward People's Museum visit - oral histories and relics of the past in the neighborhood hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina
Students will meet with Katrina survivors and participate in a service learning activity
Group lunch
Meet with palliative and hospice care providers
Free time to explore the city and reflect
Independent dinner (cost not included)
Day 5 - Wednesday, March 10, 2027
Breakfast at hotel
Visit the Tate Etienne and Prevost Center with the mission to teach, exhibit, and engage visitors in the history of civil rights in New Orleans.
Meet with Mardi Gras Indians at the House of Dance and Feathers - learn about Black residents’ distinctive celebration traditions in response to exclusion from mainstream Mardi Gras festivities due to slavery and racism.
Group lunch
Tour of two New Orleans cemeteries to explore burial traditions and memory, including a visit to the memorial for Hurricane Katrina victims
Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant
Day 6 - Thursday, March 11, 2027
Breakfast at hotel
Free time to reflect, explore, or relax
Departure
Lodging
Homewood Suites French Quarter
Budget oriented hotel with suites on the edge of the French Quarter
Amenities: free wifi, breakfast, A/C, great location, outdoor pool, fitness center, 24-hour desk
Students: double occupancy, private bath
Faculty: single occupancy, private bath
Additional Details
Program Fee
$ 2,190 - 20-23 students
$ 1,990 - 24-27 students
$ 1,890 - 28+ students
$ 600 - Airfare estimate
Final cost will be determined based on the number of deposits received 90 days prior to start of program
Estimated Total Program Fee Including Airfare = $2,490 - $2,790
Single Occupancy Supplement, subject to availability: $450
Program fee includes:
All ground transportation, including one day public transportation
Accommodation in mid-range hotel, double occupancy
Meals as listed in the itinerary including one non-alcoholic beverage per meal
Activities as described in the itinerary including entrance fees
Travel insurance with cancellation and interruption coverage
24 hour emergency support
Carbon offset for air travel
Excludes:
Tuition
Activities and meals not described in itinerary
Cancel for Any Reason Insurance (optional) - $40
Payment Timeline
$300 - Non-refundable deposit due to register and secure your place
$500 – Non-refundable deposit due 3 months prior to travel (December 6, 2026)
Balance – Due 2 months prior to travel (January 6, 2027)
Cancellation Policy
61 Days or more before first day Program - 100% of Program Fee less any non-refundable deposits
31-60 Days in advance of first day of the Program Dates - 50% of Program Fee
30 Days or less in advance of the first day of the Program Dates or During the Program - No refund
We recommend all participants to purchase travel insurance with cancellation coverage.
