MAY 15, 2024 — Students seeking exciting new educational adventures should explore the many opportunities offered by the UTSA Study Abroad office.
The UTSA Study Abroad office offers students a wide variety of opportunities, including over 20 university-led programs that are taught by dedicated faculty and staff who have the expertise to offer unique academic experiences abroad.
For example, UTSA history professor Catherine Nolan-Ferrell will lead a group of students this summer on an educational experience in Oaxaca, Mexico, with support from the U.S. Department of State. UTSA is one of just 34 colleges and universities that received funding from the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which awarded nearly $1.2 million in Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students grants during the 2023 competition.
Nolan-Ferrell has seen firsthand the positive effects that these learning experiences can have on students.
“Students are getting skills that help with a job search and graduate school applications, but more importantly they’re learning a respect for different cultures, an openness to seeing the world through different perspectives,” she said.
During the five-week trip to Mexico, open to UTSA students of all majors, participants will stay with host families, attend classes at the Universidad Autónoma de Benito Juarez de Oaxaca (UABJO) in Oaxaca City and participate in community-engaged learning programs. UABJO faculty members will work with the students to design individual research projects tailored to their interests and fields of study. Also, the students will be immersed in Spanish classes or, if they are already fluent, study Zapotec, an indigenous language spoken in the area.
“Language learning is an important part of the experience,” Nolan-Ferrell said. “When we go someplace, learning the language is a sign of respect. Any time you get a chance to break down barriers between people, you’ve got to do it.”
“Students are getting skills that help with a job search and graduate school applications, but more importantly they’re learning a respect for different cultures, an openness to seeing the world through different perspectives.”
Other faculty-led programs take students to countries across the globe, including Germany, Peru and South Korea.
Since 2010, Urbino, Italy, has been a common destination for Roadrunners. The UTSA Global Study Center Italy (GSCI) provides students in a variety of degree programs with the opportunity to spend time in the country.
Many of these programs run during the summer, but there are also options during the fall and spring semesters.
Other options for students are exchange partnerships, which enable them to study in English at international partner universities, and affiliated programs, which are coordinated by outside providers and offer the widest variety of destinations and areas of study.
Research shows that studying abroad can have a significant impact on the lives of students. The University System of Georgia’s Consortium for Analysis of Student Success through International Education showed that students who studied abroad were 6.2 percentage points more likely to graduate in four years and earned a 0.12 higher GPA, compared to similar students who did not study abroad. The positive effect of studying abroad was even stronger among students from underrepresented minorities, who were 11.6 percentage points more likely to graduate in four years compared to peers who did not study abroad.
Students interested in studying internationally can explore all the options available through the UTSA Study Abroad office. The study abroad team regularly offers online Study Abroad 101 sessions and Navigating the Study Abroad Application sessions that teach students about the many opportunities available. Students can also schedule virtual appointments.
Students needing financial assistance can apply for financial aid. Federal aid programs, including Federal Direct Loans and the Pell Grant, are often used to help fund study abroad programs. Scholarships, grants and alternative loans may also be used.
The Study Abroad Office offers its own internal scholarship, the International Education Fund, with awards ranging from $300-$1,500 for students participating in UTSA-approved programs. Students can also apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, a federal program designed to open up these valuable international experiences to a wider and more diverse group of students.
Study abroad is one of the experiential learning opportunities that advance the university’s Classroom to Career Initiative. Students who study away experience many benefits, including improving their language and intercultural skills, broadening their perspectives through exposure to different cultures and traditions and gaining confidence, all of which help prepare them for career success.
