Traveling the World One Credit at a Time

Date
10/01/18

By Maddy Chalifoux, 2018-19 SCS Student Advising Leader:     

            Have you considered studying abroad, but thought that as a science or engineering major, you would never be able to fit it into your schedule? Well, I’m here to tell you that this is not the case! The study abroad office at the University of Illinois has an abundance of programs to fit the needs and interests of a diverse study body. Opportunities range from year or semester-long exchange programs to summer internships overseas, to one or two-week study tours over winter or spring break. Some programs have language requirements, while others are taught in English. Accommodations for trips vary from host families to hotels, dormitories, to sleeping under the stars! One of my most memorable study abroad experiences were camping out under the stars in the Sahara desert with my peers on my two-week study abroad trip to Morocco in the winter of 2017.

            Programs approved by the University are sponsored by IAGE (Illinois Abroad and Global Exchange) or individual colleges (e.g. ACES, BUS, ENG, EDU, LAW, and LAS). Many colleges have their own study abroad office and you can find a link to their websites here. However, no matter what college you belong to, you can apply to programs sponsored by other colleges. For example, as a student in LAS, I have participated in two winter short-term study abroad trips through the College of ACES.

            While the application deadlines for most study abroad trips for the winter of 2018-2019 has already passed, there are many opportunities for trips over spring break in 2019! For example, you could take an engineering trip to Puerto Rico, immerse yourself in French culture by while learning about the country’s education system or learn about human rights, political culture, and politics in Argentina. Opportunities for summer 2019 include trips to Indonesia, Zimbabwe, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Ghana, Australia and more! One program that may be of particular interest to students in the School of Chemical Sciences is a two-week trip to Costa Rica through the Chemistry department at the University of Illinois. This course (CHEM 492) is hosted at the center for natural products research in San José, Costa Rica (CIPRONA). During this trip, students work on projects such as elucidating molecular structures of substances in plants and researching natural polymers. For more information on this program, check out the program brochure here! Additionally, many summer study abroad programs also include internship opportunities for those who are looking to gain experience in their field. No matter what your goals are, it’s never too early to start planning ahead for next summer!        

            All in all, study abroad looks great on a resume and is a great way to get hands-on experience in your area of study, or to explore other interests you may have! Most importantly, however, it allows you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture and to create lifelong memories and friendships. Interested? Visit the Illinois study abroad website for more information and search for your perfect program! Bon voyage!