LAS students have a plethora of study abroad opportunities to choose from, whether it’s exploring leadership in Sweden or technology and art in Berlin.
Now, those options have expanded even further around the globe. The LAS Study Abroad team is launching seven new programs during the 2024-2025 academic year that will help students explore destinations ranging from the bustling streets of Taipei, to the medieval castles of Portugal, to a floating leadership laboratory in the Bahamas.
- Global Leadership Study Abroad: Bahamas – Winter Break 2024
- Service Learning in Costa Rica – Spring Break 2025
- Republicanism Ancient and Modern in Rome – Summer 2025
- ISU Global Experiential Learning: Medical Spanish in Costa Rica – Summer 2025
- Exploring Portugal’s Life and Culture – Summer 2025
- Greenlee Global: Touchdown in Dublin 2025 – Summer 2025
- Exploring Taiwan: A Subtropical Island – Summer 2025
LAS Director of Study Abroad Mercedes Serracin said it’s not unusual to launch many new programs at once. In fact, she’d like to see it happen more often.
“A program’s heart and success is the program director or directors,” she said. “If you find people committed to providing these high-impact opportunities for the students, we will do all we can to help them launch the programs. It is always more work for us, but we know it’s worth it! If we had the resources to put behind more programs, we would add new programs every year. We need to increase programs to geographical regions that are not well represented, and some of our latest programs fall into that category.”
Fantastic itineraries, unique experiences
Serracin said she’s excited about all the diverse programs that LAS Study Abroad now offers in its programming.
“Each has its own flavor and uniqueness,” she said. “Every program – even the long-running ones – excites me every year. We have another new program in Taiwan, a country not well known among our students. The itinerary is fantastic, full of unique experiences.”
Another new program this academic year is “Leadership at Sea,” where students will get to meet government officials from the Bahamas and University of Bahamas students. They’ll then head aboard All Star Blackbeard’s Charter, for a week-long exploration of the Bahamas Out Islands. The ship will serve as a leadership laboratory, allowing students to rotate through various ship positions and attend sessions with the captain and crew.
Some of the new programs also offer hands-on learning opportunities that tie directly to students’ professional interests.
“Greenlee Global: Touchdown in Dublin” is a 10-day program that will focus on media coverage of the Iowa State vs. Kansas State football game that will be played in Ireland in 2025. Students will explore Irish history, culture, sports, and media and produce social media content related to the game and the experiences of Cyclone athletes, band members, and fans.
During the “ISU Global Experiential Learning: Medical Spanish in Costa Rica” program, students will spend three weeks in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica, studying medical Spanish and shadowing health facilities. After participating in intensive language study, students will hear the medical terminology they’ve learned being applied in real-life situations.
“I believe that kind of [applied] experience will give our students an edge when looking for jobs that require flexibility, thinking out of the box, being a team player, and being accepting of ideas other than their own,” Serracin said.
LAS programs range in length from a week to a whole semester, and there are many options to suit any type of traveler.
“If you are not ready to go overseas for a whole semester, a short-term faculty-led program would be perfect!” Serracin said. “It’s like having a professor, a classroom, a guide, and a trip coordinator to help you in a new country without being lost or alone. You will gain practical skills that will serve you for the rest of your life.”
‘Shape the person you are becoming’
During the 2023-2024 academic year, 244 LAS students studied abroad, Serracin noted. In summer 2023, fall 2023, and spring 2024, there were 36 LAS majors represented among students who studied abroad. And, of the LAS students who graduated during those same semesters, 16.5% had studied abroad.
“That’s a great number, but we want to be aspirational,” Serracin said. “Twenty percent is our next goal.”
“Studying abroad is one of the best investments you can make in your personal and professional life,” she said. “It will pay many times over what you put into it. It’s always possible to experience another country or culture but doing it while a student will shape the person you are becoming. Take advantage of the opportunities abroad that ISU has, and that includes applying to scholarships that exist to help you get to that special place.”
LAS students who have questions about programs, scholarships, or course credit can make an appointment with Kate Crow, LAS Study Abroad advisor. She will guide students through the process.
LAS Study Abroad will host “Small World, Big Opportunities” with LAS alumna Brenda McGuire on Oct. 23 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in Marston Hall 2155. McGuire is an accomplished expert with over 20 years of global experience. She will share her study abroad journey and insights into making a career out of international experiences.