University of Rochester Study Abroad Hits 10-Year High
The number of University of Rochester undergraduates who study abroad has hit a 10-year high, with more than 130 students going out of the country this spring. They'll join another eight students already abroad on full-year programs.
University of Rochester Study Abroad Hits 10-Year High Interest Grows in Spanish-Speaking Countries, UK Internships
And as a way to prepare for the upcoming journey, students are invited to a "Bon Voyage" party today in the Havens Lounge in Wilson Commons on the University's River Campus. The event, hosted by the Center for Study Abroad and Interdepartmental Programs, will serve as an opportunity for students to ask last-minute questions before they leave campus for the semester abroad.
Jacqueline Levine, assistant dean and director for study abroad, said that although historically since 1993 about 8 percent of students in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering were studying abroad, this year that number has jumped to 15 percent. Nationally this is also true. More American undergraduates are going abroad, according to the Institute of International Education's Open Doors report.
The majority of University students choose to explore Western Europe, and this spring there will be an especially strong presence in Spain and Latin America. In fact, about 19 percent, or 38 students, will be studying in Spanish-speaking countries. Spain, Barcelona in particular, takes the lead as the most popular destination, but other countries include Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.
Students often choose programs that fulfill both personal interests and academic goals. For instance, the majors of students studying in Spanish-speaking countries this spring range from linguistics to biomedical engineering—but those students are equally drawn to learn Spanish history, art and politics, for example.
"Study abroad programming has been very responsive to the changing needs and interests of undergraduates," Levine said. "There's a recognition that while many students lack the foreign language skills to enroll in universities overseas, they have the intellectual curiosity to explore other cultures."
The semester-long programs in London, Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Paris, and Madrid that combine eight-credit internships with coursework throughout the semester are also very popular. Students are given the opportunity to study, live, and work in a European capital city. The College has always encouraged academic credit for internships, and these allow students to gain valuable work experience in law, politics, finance, the arts, health sciences and medical research. Domestic political experience, for example, can be enlightening to a future lawmaker; however, few opportunities can compare with a semester working as an intern to a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels, or a Member of Parliament in London.
About the University of Rochester The University of Rochester ( www.rochester.edu ) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
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