Study Abroad options available for USU students
With summer around the corner, some students will stay in Logan and work, go to school or go home for a few months. Others may opt to study abroad for a semester.
There are about 150 students who will be going out on various exchange programs, said Kay Forsyth, coordinator of the Study Abroad Program.
The Study Abroad Program started up in the late ’70s, and the Study Abroad office was created six years ago, Forsyth said.
The objective of the program is to match up the number of students who are coming to USU with the number of students who are leaving to go to another country.
“Our students pay tuition and housing costs that would apply to here, and the international students pay the amount that would apply in their country, there,” Forsyth said.
Students have the choice to study abroad for a semester or for two semesters.
“If a student can spend a year, they feel they have lived in another country,” Forsyth said.
Forsyth said studying abroad “expands your horizons.”
Parts of Europe, Japan, Australia, Venezuela and Caribbean are among the list of places Forsyth has traveled.
How do students choose what study abroad program is best for them?
“It depends on what they’re looking for,” Forsyth said.
There are a variety of language programs offered.
Through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) students are given the opportunity to study at universities in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the South Pacific and Canada. The application deadlines are Dec. 15 for the next academic year, Fall Semester and Spring Semester. The priority round deadline is Aug. 15 for Australia, South Pacific, Latin America and the upcoming Spring Semester, according to USU the Study Abroad Office.
“[We] are happy to talk to students at any stage of interest,” Forsyth said.
Once a student has an interest in studying abroad, he or she can do their own research and search by field of study. Then, they can look at schools in the area they would like to travel to, Forsyth said.
Applications and fees are submitted to ISEP through the USU Study Abroad Office. There are also various types of scholarships and financial aid available in the program. The scholarships reward money toward housing, airfare, travel and tuition expenses, according to the Study Abroad scholarships flier.
Students must meet with their adviser to discuss how many credits can be earned and what courses to take. All students are eligible who have a minimum 2.75 GPA and have a completed one year of college, according to the Study Abroad Office.
Another opportunity to interact and live with international students will be available beginning Fall Semester. Global Village, a new concept in student housing, will be at San Juan Hall, located north of the Lundstrom Center. Fifty percent of the residents will be from Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. There will be programs including potlucks and enrichment activities offered to the students. A faculty member with interest in international issues will be assigned to each apartment and assist with the programs.
Students who are interested in studying abroad, traveling to another country or seeking to live in Global Village can obtain more information in the USU Study Abroad Office in the Taggart Student Center, Room 304.