Study Abroad
According to statistics published in the Institute of International Education's Open Doors, the number of U.S. students studying abroad has more than doubled over the past decade. During the academic year of 2005/2006, over 8,000 students in North Carolina went abroad which was an increase of 7.8% from the previous year. Because we live in a world in which countries are becoming increasingly more connected and economically interdependent, study of and in other cultures is now being promoted as a significant part of a liberal education. In fact, students can use their federal student aid toward a summer, a semester, or an academic year U.S. accredited program abroad. The U.S. Department of State also offers numerous scholarships (http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/resources.html#undergraduates) to ensure that students are not impeded from going abroad by their financial circumstances.
Greensboro College offers a variety of study abroad opportunities. We have exchange programs with universities in England, Northern Ireland, and Germany for which students may apply their institutional scholarships. Furthermore, Greensboro College participates in the Greater Greensboro Consortium (http://its.uncg.edu/Policy_Manual/Consortium) which means Greensboro College students are entitled to participate in UNC-Greensboro exchange programs (http://www.uncg.edu/ipg/sae/study_abroad_exchanges.html).
Greensboro College is also a member of the North Carolina Semester in Paris Consortium (http://www.uncw.edu/international). Greensboro College students as well as students from the other participating institutions are eligible to apply to this longstanding, high-quality, and reasonably priced academic program in the “City of Lights.”
Students at Greensboro College have also gone abroad through highly reputable third party providers such as
Check out testimonials and photographs contributed by former study abroad students who have participated in these programs as well as our exchange program in London.
Faculty-led seminars also offer Greensboro College students a short-term experience abroad for which they can receive 3-6 credit hours. In summer of 2008, two students took intensive language and cultural courses through Randolph Community College’s summer program in San Jose, Costa Rica (http://www.randolph.edu/academics/costa_rica/index.php).
Greensboro College hopes that all students take advantage of the wide array of study abroad opportunities, both short- and long-term. Not only will living and studying in another part of world deepen one’s perception and appreciation of other cultures, but the addition of international experience to a resume will impress potential employers.
Students are encouraged to speak with their parents, their academic advisor, and of course the study abroad advisor (jhaeseler@greensborocollege.edu) about making study abroad an integral, significant part of their undergraduate experience at Greensboro College.
