From Australia to Argentina

Ranked second in the nation for study abroad participation, USD has a unique emphasis on the importance of international travel. The International Studies department website reveals just how strongly the university believes in student participation: "Change your life – go international!"

Unlike many colleges, USD's study abroad program allows students to travel abroad several times throughout one school year. Fall semester and spring semester programs are offered, but there is also a vast array of summer programs, and even more uniquely, a bundle of different intersession opportunities.

Programs cover all majors, with some designed to meet the requirements of specific majors. One intersession program called "Europe and the Islamic World: Traveling Seminar," gives students the chance to see 12 different cities in four different countries. The program can be taken for Spanish or political science credit, and is designed for Spanish, political science, or international relations majors.

The application to study abroad is entirely online on the department website, gointernational.sandiego.edu, which spells out all required steps and lists deadlines by program date. There is even a digital checklist once a student has applied in order to avoid confusion and ensure that all required documents are turned in.

For members of the class of 2014, the "Second Year Experience Abroad" during intersession is designed to build students' "awareness, appreciation and respect" for the global community, according to the program's webpage. Opportunities include Barcelona, Spain; Florence, Italy; London, England and Hong Kong, China, with courses aimed at fulfilling core curriculum credit. The application deadline is Dec. 1, 2010, and students will travel abroad during intersession of sophomore year.

For the many students that have chosen to go abroad already, the stories they tell share a common theme. The experience is life changing.

"Living independently made my experience abroad special. I realize now that my self confidence has gone up significantly and I feel as though I am able to tackle any situation or go to any place," said senior Jessica Chapman, recalling her studies in Paris, France. "If anything, studying internationally made me want to travel more and experience more."

Junior Deanna Wolf, who studied in Guadalajara this past summer session, offers some encouragement to fellow students. "Whoever gets the chance should definitely study abroad. We think we learn so much in college, but abroad that knowledge is multiplied. I was given a whole new perspective, and now I am able to examine myself and others in a cultural context."

Senior Hailey Means attended Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. While abroad, she held a koala, went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef and studied the legendary Sydney electronic music scene. "I made friends with some of the most adventurous and kind spirited people I have ever met. As Aussies would say, it was ‘heaps' cool," she said.

The chance to mature in one's social and academic prowess by studying internationally is well worth the semester away from campus. Traveling abroad exposes you to a new culture, which means different food, music, people, architecture and language - an experience which everyone deserves to have at least once in their lifetime. Students at USD can consider themselves fortunate because the opportunity to become immersed in foreign cultures has never been closer at hand.

If studying abroad is something you are considering, swing by the international center in Serra 315 to meet with one of the many helpful advisors.