Oh, the places you can go

It is the time of year when students have to make decisions about studying abroad. With the usual thoughts of where to go and what is available in mind, the Office of Global Education hosted the Global Education Showcase Jan. 31 to answer those and other questions. This showcase is the smaller of the two showcases the Global Education Office hosts each year.

Stacy Rodlund, operations manager of the Office of Global Education, said that the main purpose of this particular showcase is to remind students that there is still time to sign up to study abroad during spring semester 2013, but the deadline is March 9.

With booths lining the Atrium in Knutson and a tray of cookies for added courtesy, the showcase presented ten different programs. Two programs were fall exploration seminars, and the other eight were spring seminars.

Two programs are new this year. “Mathematical Semesters in Budapest” is a program intended for math majors that takes them to the Hungarian capital for study and research. The second program, which is with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is the first opportunity for students to take the trip to the Israeli.

The English Department presented two programs at the showcase. One trip is to Scotland and has been in existence for about five years. This trip is unique in itself, according to English professor W. Scott Olsen, who heads the program.

“It is the only trip mainly for incoming freshmen,” he said.

The trip, which caters to students who take Olsen’s Inquiry Seminar “Adventure, Exploration and Risk,” is now open to all students. Olsen especially recommends it for students who have any interest in travel writing, hiking and adventure. It is primarily a 100-mile hiking trip with night stays in different bed and breakfasts for the duration of the trip. This exploration seminar is a popular one for Cobbers as many students go on the trip more than once, Olson said..

Originally offered during spring semesters, the trip called “England of Chaucer and Shakespeare” is a fall exploration trip for the first time this year. English professor David Sprunger, who runs the program with fellow English professor Joan Kopperud, said that the change was made to accommodate Education students who have their student teaching and music students who also have important music activities during the spring.

This change enables them to participate. Unlike the Scotland trip, which is now offered to all students, this trip requires that students take at least one of three courses: English 326, English 401 or Education 374. It is a trip that brings students in London, Stratford and Canterbury.

According to Rodlund, the study abroad programs have students currently studying in Hawaii, Egypt, Norway and Austria. In 2011, 47% of the graduates studied abroad, Rodlund said.

The Office of Global Education is still doing helping those who are undecided. The Gateway to Study Abroad is a program that will can answer questions students have about studying abroad.

“It will go over everything a student needs to know about study abroad,” Rodlund said.

Event times and locations will be delivered when they are determined.