By: Rachel Moore
Spending a semester in another country is a dream for many, and thanks to the study abroad program, qualified students can spend a summer or semester at one of AUM’s sister schools. With exchange institutions in South Korea, China, Japan and England, students can diversify their education and stand out among job applicants! Students in the past have spent a semester earning credits that count towards their degree while spending their free time immersed in another culture. Those who travel to one of AUM’s sister schools come home with a sense of pride and some serious bragging rights!
For those who just want a taste of another culture, AUM offers a faculty-led program. Want to spend a couple of weeks on a literary tour in England? Observing wild creatures in South Africa? Why spend a semester across the world, though? According to Dr. Chelsea Ward, who has conducted multiple excursions to places such as Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, students who travel learn important lessons in seeing how others live, and how experiencing being the “other” is valuable. Dr. Ward enthusiastically describes her travels with students, including close encounters with wildlife and lodging in different ecosystems.
The faculty-led travel option is usually several weeks spent in a foreign country, but Dr. Donald Amoroso would remind you it’s not just a guided tour. His experience with AUM abroad is mainly in Japan, which he describes as a prime destination for those who joined him on his two-week trip, enjoying flexible freedom to explore and research and presentation-based course. Besides enthusing about unbeatable sushi and ramen, Dr. Amoroso expresses that students return home as different people. Dr. Seth Reno would agree, who, based on his own experience, describes his travels as transformative. Dr. Reno piloted an academic course abroad focusing on celebrity authors across the United Kingdom. He believes getting out of your comfort zone by traveling is important for students.
These are just a few examples of the many travels that our faculty members have planned and conducted. Students have ventured with AUM to places like Mexico, Sri Lanka, Belize, and more! Reading this you might wonder: how can I make this happen? After all, traveling is expensive. Students may find restrictions when it comes to time and money, students have many options to afford traveling with AUM. Dr. Reno held fundraising for his faculty-led trip abroad back in the Summer of 2017 and Dr. Amoroso has a knack for finding cost-effective travel. Plus, there are even scholarships available for you! Check out the campus website for more details.
So, the question remains: are you ready to stamp your passport?
