For more than five years, the study abroad program at Shepherd has helped countless students enhance their college education by providing them opportunities to study outside of the United States.
From Costa Rica to China, the study abroad program offers various courses for students in many countries. These courses include foreign language, literature, history and communication.
Ann Henriksson, the study abroad director and one of the librarians for the Scarborough Library, is one of the driving forces of the study abroad program.
“I volunteered to coordinate study abroad in 2004 and met with several people on campus,” Henriksson stated. She also listed the vice president of academic affairs and the library dean as key players for the program.
The study abroad program officially started in 2006.
In order for students to study abroad, they need to register online on the study abroad website and make an account. In addition to creating an online account, students need to choose one of the many programs that are offered.
According to Henriksson, there are different types of programs that a student can pick: faculty-led, affiliated and exchange.
The faculty-led programs are taught by a Shepherd University professor. These programs can run from eight days to as many as three weeks. If a student wants to apply for a faculty-led program, they should contact the faculty leader for more details.
The affiliated and exchange programs run longer than the faculty-led programs, sometimes even an entire semester. These programs allow students to be more independent.
In addition to applying online, the affiliated program requires a student to have at least a 2.5 GPA, 30 college credits, and 15 credits from Shepherd University. The student cannot do the program in their last semester before graduation.
If a student wishes to do one of these programs, Henriksson encourages them to plan out “at least a year ahead.” She also suggests students to go to their academic advisor to see how the program would fit with their schedule.
All of these programs also require a working passport.
For this semester, the study abroad program is offering new programs for students such as the International Education and Nursing Student Experience in Jamaica, which will take place during spring break.
Cara Jeffries, a fourth-year education major and the president of Shepherd Education Student Association, is one of the students attending the program. She said that the purpose of the program is “so that nursing and education majors are able to compare the U.S. healthcare system and educational system with Jamaica.”
During the program, Jeffries will have a hands-on opportunity to work in a school and teach. She will also be involved in a few cultural events such as meeting judges of court systems in Jamaica. By doing this program, Jeffries hopes that she can learn something that she can pass on to her future students.
“As a future elementary teacher, I believe that I cannot truly teach my students how to be great contributors to the global society without teaching them about global diversity,” Jeffries said.
Other programs that will be offered this semester are The Art of Paris and Amsterdam as well as Capitals of Couture with FACS/BADM, both of which will take place during spring break.
The study abroad program also has scholarships to help students pay for the trips. According to the study abroad website, there are two main types of scholarships. The first is the Create the Future Study Abroad Scholarship which is funded by Suzanne Shipley, the Shepherd University president, and Randy Wadsworth. The deadline for this scholarship is March 24.
The second is the SGA Study Abroad Scholarship, which is funded by the Student Government Association. The deadline for this scholarship is Feb. 14.
If students visit other countries, the study abroad program can help improve their language skills. Brendan Darby, a fourth-year English major, did the program last year for his French class, and it helped him since no one would speak English to him. “You have to make a much greater effort to get even the smallest of tasks done when you are forced to communicate in another language every minute of every day,” Darby stated.
Although the study abroad program helps students academically, it also helps them prepare for life after college. Henriksson stated, “The opportunity to live in a different culture and learn a new language in that country broadens the student in ways that go beyond classroom knowledge.” She said that students who study abroad become more independent, mature and confident.
“When you learn another culture, you learn about yourself,” Henriksson said.