Student summer education abroad opportunities coming up

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State students will have the opportunity to earn academic credits in a faculty-led summer education abroad program.

Information sessions to be held this month on campus will showcase all 16 locations for students to begin planning their education abroad. The sessions cover all aspects of the program, including the academics, costs, deadlines for applications and orientations. The sessions will also cover why studying abroad in a faculty-led program is different than a normal semester abroad.

“There is a lot more travel included, as part of the class fee,” said Judith Meder, senior conference planner for Penn State Outreach. “That includes different things for different programs — travel as a group and, in most cases, ‘free time’ for independent travel.”

The class fee can cover various expenses, including insurance, room, board, transportation and meals, depending on the program. However, despite the required class fee, the programs are typically cheaper than a normal semester, because all of the students, regardless of where they reside, pay in-state tuition.

Students are also accompanied and, in most cases, taught by Penn State faculty, which is different than most semesters abroad and “can be a nice first step for someone who is not used to traveling,” Meder said.

Future information sessions include:

• Mexico — Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. in 234 Burrowes Building
• Turkey — Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in 124 Thomas Building
• Business Information — Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. in 102 Business Administration Building
• Ireland — Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in 220 Thomas Building
• Israel — Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in 269 Willard Building
• Maastricht, The Netherlands — Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. in 109 Boucke Building

According to Meder, the programs are designed to satisfy academic needs and geared toward certain majors, including business and art. Language requirements can also be satisfied, as students are immersed in cultures, sometimes staying with families. Students normally find something that can satisfy their curriculums.

“Students often say it’s a life-changing experience, and as you can imagine -- it is,” Meder said. “I think they learn a lot -- academically -- about other people and about themselves.”

For more information on summer study abroad, e-mail ConferenceInfo2@psu.edu, call 800-PSU-TODAY (778-8632) or visit http://www.outreach.psu.edu/summerabroad online.

About Penn State Conferences

Penn State Conferences plans and manages more than 300 programs each year, with enrollments of nearly 45,000. The programs represent the diversity and strength of Penn State’s academic colleges and provide opportunities for many individuals -- scholars and scientists; business and organization clients; youth, families, precollege students and seniors; current Penn State students and professionals in health care, education, workforce development and other areas -- to learn about the latest scholarship, research and developments in their fields or participate in enriching learning experiences. Penn State Conferences is part of Penn State Outreach, the largest unified outreach organization in American higher education. Penn State Outreach serves more than 5 million people each year, delivering more than 2,000 programs to people in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, all 50 states and 114 countries worldwide.