With over 50 programs to choose from, Belmont students have never had a better opportunity to enrich their education by going abroad. Thanks to the department of Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education, the Office of Study Abroad and the dedication of Belmont faculty, the catalog of study abroad programs continues to grow. The spring and summer of 2018 will see students travel to several countries that have previously been part of the study abroad program, such as Ireland, Germany, France and Italy, as well as some new additions, including Iceland, Portugal, South Korea, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
According to Thandi Dinani, director of Study Abroad, “Belmont’s study abroad programs continue to provide culturally enriching programs that enhance a student’s academic experience. Classrooms come to life as faculty take students to visit places where history took place. Whether visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, walking streets where Jesus walked in Israel, or learning how Galileo’s time in Italy was impacted by the Renaissance movement, students see how countries, concepts and cultures have shaped history and impact their world.”
More than 600 Belmont students study abroad each year, including Ashley Harris, a sophomore publishing major who studied in London and Scotland in Maymester 2017. She said, “Studying abroad allowed me to experience new cultures, challenge my mind and make new friends. In Edinburgh I found a place that felt like home even though I was 3,500 miles away from my family. This opportunity is one that I will cherish deeply for the rest of my life.”
Belmont offers both short and extended program types, ranging from one week to one full academic year. The short programs are led by Belmont faculty, and the credits are applied directly to students’ degrees. Longer trips can be completed as direct-enroll or exchange programs with partner institutions abroad or through affiliate program providers. Not only can students earn academic credits in their program and country of choice, but internship and service opportunities are also available.
“By engaging with the world while at Belmont,” said Dinani, “We empower students to understand global dynamics and perspectives, so they are prepared to navigate the world as global citizens upon graduation.”
In the words of Harris, “To any student thinking about going abroad, do it.”
Applications for Spring Break 2018 programs are due Nov. 15, while the deadlines for Maymester and Summer 2018 trips are Feb. 1 and Feb. 15, respectively. Contact the Study Abroad office for more information.
