For SMU students the opportunity to explore and travel to new countries just got a lot easier.
The Office of Education Abroad announced new semester and summer program destinations on Jan. 27.
Among the new locations are semester programs in Costa Rica, Kenya and Lugano, Switzerland.
A new semester program to Great Britain and Ireland will also be offered. This new program offering is in addition to the year-long program already in existence.
New summer program destinations include Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Jamaica and the SMU Human Rights Education trip to Rwanda.
“We are trying to expand and diversify the program,” Todd Chiscano, Education Abroad adviser said. “We are extremely excited about our new destinations.”
He said, with the recent additions, SMU now has 32 programs to 24 countries.
Chiscano said study abroad offers many new and exciting opportunities for students.
“Students not only learn about other cultures but they also have the opportunity to learn a lot about themselves,” he said. “Through study abroad, students can have the opportunity to look at the world through a different lens, which a classroom setting may not be able provide.”
Chiscano said before a program can be added to the offerings it must pass a two-tier approval process.
“First the program must be approved by the department on campus, and then it must be approved by the Education Abroad Council,” Chiscano said.
He said the EAC assesses the academic quality of the program while the Education Abroad office looks at the logistics involved with each program such as the facilities students use, meals and most importantly safety issues.
Julia Gossard, who interns in the Office of Education Abroad, said with the new additions Education Abroad offers many programs to fit different students’ needs.
“Students interested in study abroad should begin discussing programs with an adviser early on in their college career,” Gossard said. “Now there are even more choices to decide from.”
Gossard, who graduated in December and spent two back-to-back semesters in Paris and a summer there as well, said her time in the City of Lights was a memorable one.
“The time I spent abroad was the most rewarding of my college experience,” Gossard said.
She also said many students may not have the resources to study abroad for the entire one may look into a summer or mid-semester program.
“The summer programs are ideal for students who want to go abroad, but who are not comfortable going the entire semester or those who are financially restricted,” Gossard? said.
Chiscano said, “summer programs are a good way to get a taste of study abroad; for students who love it they can do a semester abroad program.”
Marketing and French major freshman Seth Ramey, said he is in the process of applying for the summer in France program.
“It’s a great opportunity to gain some credits, and living on the beach ten minutes from the Cannes Film Festival sounds pretty awesome,” Ramey said.
Chiscano said the Education Abroad office is always looking for new ideas of places to go.
“We are always looking for new programs so we can offer students new opportunities. Especially in countries where we do not have programs, such as those in South America,” Chiscano said.
The Office of Education Abroad, which includes study abroad, offers students the opportunity to explore and intern in other countries as well.
“We are trying to get involved in more areas of the educational experience. In the future we would like to offer more programs, which will benefit all students, like service-learning,” Chiscano said.
For more information on education abroad opportunities students can visit the Education Abroad Fair 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 13 in Hughes-Trigg Student Center commons area. Program directors and student participants will be on-site to answer any questions students may have.
