St. Joseph’s College offers plenty of chances for students to travel to a foreign country to study, whether it’s for a week, a month or an entire semester. Through the College’s global studies program, students can go to predetermined locations with SJC faculty, or they can study abroad for a semester in a location of their choosing.
In the past, SJC students have traveled to Bermuda, Cuba, England, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Oxford, Romania, Taiwan and many other destinations.
Across the United States, 15 percent of students seeking a bachelor’s degree study abroad at some point during their time in college. Students who study abroad “experience the world and begin to form networks that will enhance their prospects in the world’s marketplace and their potential as global problem-solvers,” according to the U.S. Department of State.
Here are five reasons to study abroad with SJC:
1. Affordability
St. Joseph’s College offers competitively priced study abroad programs, making them more accessible to our students. Additionally, SJC provides qualified students with the chance to apply for a generous Study Abroad Scholarship. If a financial situation has stopped students from applying to the study abroad program of their dreams, this might be the perfect option. Full-time students with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to apply.
2. Step outside your comfort zone
College is full of chances to step outside of your comfort zone. One way to do so is to travel to a foreign country and learn! Don’t let your fears hold you back. Go somewhere you’ve never been before. Whether you travel to a preselected location with SJC faculty and other students, or you plan your own individualized semester abroad, it is sure be the chance of a lifetime.
3. Self-growth
Travel abroad excursions at SJC are chalk full of new experiences that aid in a student’s self-growth. New culture, new food, new interests, new activities — the entire adventure will encourage self-discovery. Being exposed to a different style of living in another country also leads to self-growth, as it gives students a broader view of the world and a peek at how people live in different places.
4. Enhance your resume
Many employers are looking for global experience. A résumé that features a semester studying in a different country will make you stand out among hundreds of other applicants for a job. It has been statistically proven that studying abroad increases a person’s chance of being hired soon after college. Potential employers like what studying abroad says about you, such as not being afraid of a challenge, being open to new experiences, your ability to adapt to new settings and your worldly knowledge.
5. Expand the way you learn
Studying abroad allows students to learn from a mixture of teaching styles that are not American-centric. These new ways of learning can be carried over and inspire students to change the way they take notes or participate in classes back home.