In recent years, the number of students studying abroad has grown tremendously and there is no surprise as to why with the benefits it has to offer. By studying abroad you will immerse yourself in a foreign culture, which enhances your cultural awareness and makes you a better-rounded citizen of the world. Participating in a study abroad program will broaden your global knowledge, giving you a new perspective on local, national and world affairs. It also allows you to gain an understanding of how people in other countries perceive Americans. The study abroad experience can set you apart from other students when applying to graduate school or a job with a prospective employer. If these incentives alone aren’t enough to convince you to study abroad, think of all the historical sites you could see, the new friends you could make and the exciting experiences you could have.
There are many study abroad options available. An individual can partake in an internship, a summer program, an academic semester or full year. Another choice available at a limited number of universities, UT being one of them, is the travel course. This option, which is a hidden gem in my opinion, is a course that you take on campus, then during or after the course you complete the travel component with your classmates. Catie Lawson, a junior at UT who is currently enrolled in a travel course that is going to Europe for spring break, points out, “You get to learn a lot about the culture before you go, which enhances the experience. You also become familiar and comfortable with the people you are traveling with since they are your classmates.” Another aspect of travel courses Lawson capitalizes on is, “You still get the same experience of studying abroad without missing out on things at school in Tampa.” The travel time for travel courses can vary from one to four weeks depending on the program.
I took a travel course at UT last spring semester. Rather than traveling during spring break like Lawson, my classmates and I took the course and then spent the first two weeks of summer traveling to Ireland, Italy and France. I can honestly say, as cliche as it sounds, the experience was life changing. Michelle Ocampo, a fellow classmate that accompanied me on the trip agrees, “It was one of the smartest decisions in my life.” My original reasoning for taking a travel course was because I wanted to internationalize my education, but was hesitant to travel overseas for an extended period of time. Now, after having a glimpse of what studying abroad has to offer, I the once shy and cautious student, am participating in a month long summer program in Madrid, Spain and then plan to spend the entire upcoming fall semester studying in London, England.
A large concern for students when deciding whether to study abroad involves the misconception that they are unable to because their major is too restrictive. Lawson is a criminology major, and her friend Kendall Hill who is also enrolled in the travel course, is an education major. They never thought they would have the opportunity to travel abroad because of their majors’ requirements. Yet, travel courses, like the ones provided at UT, allow students of all majors to participate in the abroad experience. These programs are designed to fit a student’s diverse scheduling needs and ensure any credits earned are all transferable. UT offers roughly 15 different travel courses that vary widely in curriculum, including subjects such as sports management, nursing and chemistry.
So take yourself out of your comfort zone and go on a journey of self-discovery. Just because you aren’t an international business major doesn’t mean you can’t study abroad. If you’re interested, check out ut.edu, attend the study abroad open office hours Tue, Wed and Thu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in PH 306 and 308, or contact Katherine Pazda or Elizabeth Mills directly by email. I promise you won’t regret it.