Casper College students now have the opportunity to wander through Europe and earn college credit at the same time.

The college is offering a new set of independent study abroad courses this year, focused on art, health care services, literature and women's studies.

The college has partnered with Busabout, a budget European travel agency, to offer the classes. Travelers use a bus pass, valid from May to October, to visit any country or region on the agency's network.

"It's a bargain for students who kind of just want to wander around Europe for a summer," said Barbara Mueller, director of the college's International Education Department.

The department used a college grant to send four instructors abroad this summer to develop the courses. Students complete online assignments based on their instructor's own travel experiences.

The benefit of taking an independent course is students can set their own itineraries but still have a plan of study, Mueller said.

"A lot of students just want to do their own thing," she said. "It gives them a focus when they're traveling."

Instructor Valerie Innella said the independent study course offers students a chance to focus on a particular subject. Innella's course focuses on art and architecture of the Renaissance and Baroque era.

"This really allows them to have that extra information as they're traveling," Innella said. "It allows for the student to understand more about the culture, using artwork as a vehicle for understanding the culture."

Mueller said the courses are open to any student interested in taking them, even if the student already lives abroad.

"It's a way for us to not only serve our students here on campus, but it's also a way for us to have enrollment around the world," Mueller said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.