The University of Dayton Education Abroad Office will be offering 18 new summer 2013 study abroad programs ranging from Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
Heather Schieman, the education abroad adviser, said each program pertains to a different field of study and are limited to students of specific major. However, she said all students can take the language and general education abroad programs.
According to Schieman, language and cultural courses offered include abroad programs to Segovia, Spain; Leipzig, Germany and Angers, France. General education abroad programs for all students include London; Florence, Italy; Leipzig and various locations in China.
Social science and law students have the opportunity to study Australian law, policy and rights in Sydney from July 8 to July 26. Law students can also apply to study comparative constitutional and human rights law in Sorrento, Italy.
Engineering and visual arts majors can travel to Florence from June 26 to Aug. 1. Psychology students will be able to study in Buenos Aires, Argentina from May 20 to June 14 to learn about the self, society and psychopathy through a cultural lens.
For business students, opportunities to study in Europe will provide varying concentrations in economics, management, operations systems, marketing, finance and information systems. Schieman said destinations include Rome, London, Amsterdam, Prague, Dublin and various locations in Germany and Spain.
Communication students can pack their bags for London on June 3 to study intercultural communication.
Junior public relations major Andrea Massimilian traveled to Rome for the communication department’s summer 2012 trip and said the experience allowed her to grasp a deeper meaning of ethnocentrism.
“I have always thought of the U.S.A. as a fantastic nation, and it certainly is,” Massimilian said. “But when I visited Italy, it was a wake-up call that allowed me to develop a deeper appreciation for foreign cultures.”
Massimilian said the trip to Rome consisted of two courses Monday through Friday. While studying intercultural communication, Massimilian said she also walked the streets of Rome, Florence, and Sorrento and saw sights like the Colosseum, the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Vatican City and the Duomo.
“Whenever you travel to an unfamiliar place, especially a foreign country, you are bound to get lost,” Massimilian said. “What makes Italy such a great place to visit is that when you get lost, you always seem to end up in beautiful places.”
Schieman said studying abroad is a resume builder for students of all majors and could provide future job opportunities.
“Having international contingency is a must,” Schieman said. “Studying abroad is a huge resume booster because the world is made up of so many languages and cultures and employees want to see you have experience with different languages and cultures.”
General Electric works with sixteen countries in the Middle East, which is a reason the program is specifically directed toward engineering majors, she said. Schieman also said Brazil, Russia, India and China hold employment prospects for students because they are heavily increasing business production.
Schieman explained studying abroad provides students a chance to escape the United States bubble. She said abroad study can help a person look at their own country from a different perspective.
Studying abroad can also increase a student’s independence because they are living and facing challenges on their own, according to Schieman.
Students are often hesitant about studying abroad because of finances, Shieman said.
“A lot of people we lose are people who do not look at the finances of abroad programs,” Schieman said. “Sometimes initial costs scare people, but once you sit down and look at the whole issue, it’s not as scary for people.”
Although finances vary depending on destination, Schieman said the Education Abroad office bundles all costs and estimates the trip’s exact pricing. Students can apply for financial aid and scholarship opportunities for summer 2013.
For more information on education abroad opportunities, udayton.studioabroad.edu.
