Students can study abroad or in Taos, N.M., where SMU has a campus. (Courtesy of Devin Kerns)

Getting out of the SMU bubble is not always easy, but with Taos and SMU Abroad programs the university offers students many ways to expand their horizons.

Senior Houstoun Waring went to Taos, New Mexico in May for the SMU-in-Taos program.

“I had a great experience. Having one academic class a day offered the opportunity to enjoy nature and take in the scenery, as well as to explore Taos. All of the classes include several field trips to important or famous cultural sites in the area,” Waring said.

Just 12 hours away from Dallas, Taos didn’t offer too much of a culture shock for Waring. But senior Tony Shallcross discovered living in Copenhagen, Denmark was very different.

“I went abroad because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend four months in another country, while taking classes, meeting new people and an opportunity to get out of the SMU bubble we all love,” Shallcross said.

Along with travelling to 12 other countries, Shallcross rock climbed the Cinque Terre, visited a beach in Malta and stood on the historic battlefields of Istanbul.

“I can say with one hundred percent certainty that this was the best decision I have ever made,” Shallcross said.

SMU Abroad offers opportunities in several continents with exclusive programs at elite institutions like the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics. All schools, especially the Cox School of Business, encourage students to go abroad.