November 21, 2002

Study abroad broadens students' minds

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — "It was one of the best choices of my life and will have an impact for the rest of my life." -- Joseph Kress, criminology and Spanish major who studied in QuerEtaro, Mexico, referring to his study abroad experience.

Vacationing in another country can be a wonderful experience, but many people would tell you that to stay somewhere exotic and different for a few months is the experience of a lifetime. Every semester, students and faculty from all across the United States travel abroad to foreign lands not only to increase knowledge in their respective fields, but also to gain a greater appreciation and familiarity with other cultures.

Janis Halpern, study abroad coordinator, will be the first to exalt the virtues of a well-rounded (and traveled) education, "there are many opportunities for students on campus to participate in the study abroad programs offered here at ISU. The university belongs to several U.S.-based consortia that provide high quality programs to our students."

The Midwest Consortium for Study Abroad (MCSA) is a group of 10 Midwestern universities working together to provide quality opportunities for students who wish to study abroad. MCSA offers three options of structured study for students, with a director at each site and the participation of other American students. The MCSA programs are located in Vienna, Austria; Macerata, Italy and Segovia, Spain. Another location in Mexico specifically tailored for criminology majors interested in coursework in English and study of Spanish is being added.

MCSA programs tend to be slightly more expensive than some other study abroad options, but Halpern thinks the benefits are worth the additional cost.

"Our students are very well-cared for by our experienced bilingual site directors. They can be comfortable and will have other American, Midwestern students to interact with. In addition, these programs include excursions as part of the program cost," she said.

Faculty can also expand their horizons through ISU's membership in MCSA by proposing to teach courses at the program locations. Greg Kelley, assistant professor of English and folklorist, was recently chosen to instruct in Vienna during the Fall 2003 semester. His course, "Freud and Folklore" was chosen over proposals from professors at the other MCSA schools.

"I think my proposed course was chosen due to its site-specific nature," Kelley says, "Vienna, being the home of Freud, offered an excellent opportunity to teach a course that took a psychoanalytical view of folklore."

ISU students studying in Vienna next fall will have the opportunity to take Kelley's class, providing a link to home during their time away.

Another program available to students is the International Student Exchange Program. ISEP offers choices at more than 100 universities, with more than 30 where coursework is offered in English. The cost of attending a university through ISEP is based on tuition, fees, and room and board at an ISU-level.

Faculty advisers play a large role in the implementation of a student's desire to study abroad. While many programs have academic courses that have been reviewed and approved by ISU's departments, a student might choose to attend a university through ISEP and need help in the course comparison and choosing classes at his or her future host institution.

Erin McCrea, senior life sciences major, will be studying at Kingston University, England, in the spring.

"One of the biggest challenges is choosing a location, and finding a school that has your major and fits your educational needs," she said. "Professors can really help you examine the other programs for their value."

Another invaluable source of information is the experience of those who have gone before. Halpern urges students to ask around, attend international fairs when available and find out who has studied or taught abroad in the places in which they are interested.

"Universities in other countries work quite differently. Don't be surprised by the differences in education from country to country. Find out about the educational system where you are interested in traveling to," advises James Park, junior pre-engineering major. Park studied at Yonsei University in South Korea during the 2001-2002 academic year.

The best advice for anyone thinking of studying abroad comes from Becky Barth, junior business administration major, who studied in Vienna, "Go! If you are undecided on if you should go or not, just go. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

For more information:
To learn more about study abroad programs, contact Janis Halpern, coordinator, at (812) 237-3427 or pshalper@isugw.indstate.edu or visit the International Affairs Center website at http://baby.indstate.edu/iac/

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Contact:
Janis Halpern, coordinator, at (812) 237-3427 or pshalper@isugw.indstate.edu
or Gaston Fernandez, executive director, ISU International Affairs Center,
(812) 237-4391 or ascfern@isugw.indstate.edu

Writer:
Curt Koehler, ISU Public Affairs,
(812) 237-3791 or devkoehl@isugw.indstate.edu

ISU Public Affairs:
(812) 237-3773 or http://isunews.indstate.edu