Belmont students can go from here to anywhere, but advance planning is essential.
Whether you’re interested in study abroad or study away — away from Belmont in places as diverse as New York, South Dakota and California — programs fill up fast.
“Each year we’ve seen an increase in the number of students doing study abroad,” said Dr. Maggie Monteverde, Belmont’s assistant provost for international education and study away. “More than 200 Belmont students participated in study abroad programs last summer, the largest group ever.” Some programs are offered through CCSA, the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad that is based at Belmont, and others are offered through the university. Monteverde said that all of the full semester programs for 2011-12 are still accepting student applications, while many of those coming up this summer are already filled.
Among the new programs is Belmont London, which is patterned after the Belmont East in California and Belmont West in New York. All three are semester programs.
“Belmont London combines an internship with a research project,” Monteverde said. Course offerings include an international business course and a study of the development of British popular music. Students are also able to add third-year writing as an additional component. The program is limited to 10 students.
Two programs at the University of Manchester are also new initiatives, and the deadline for those is in April.
“The University of Manchester is one of the top universities in the UK,” Monteverde said.
Other semester programs include offerings in South Africa, China, France, Germany and Italy.
Locations for both semester and summer programs are expected to become even more diverse. This summer, for example, Turkey is a first-time destination for a Belmont-led program.
“Each year over the last several years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of students participating in study abroad and also in the varied interests the students have,” Monteverde said.
At least three factors are bringing bigger numbers to programs, she said. Belmont’s student body is changing, marketing campaigns are reaching more students, and returning students bring their positive experiences to other students.