TCU offers more study abroad courses
Students and professors now have the opportunity to spend the summer in Belize, China, Spain, France or Chile.

By Natalie Mattern

There are new programs offered abroad this summer for students and professors looking to expand their horizons.

New study-abroad programs include a research program in Belize, a history program in China, a nutrition and food culture program in France and Spain, a Spanish program in Chile and a geography program in Southern Spain.

These new programs are brought forth by professors with ideas to expand the excitement of their classes or by the study-abroad department if it feels a certain class needs an international approach, said Tracy Williams, education abroad coordinator.

“Study abroad promotes international awareness,” Williams said. “The global community touches all majors.”

Peter Worthing, head of the China program, said it gives him the opportunity to get paid to do his own research and teach in a new environment.

Professors take the knowledge they learned abroad and apply it in their class on campus, Worthing said.

“Students learn more about history and geography of Europe in one day than they would a whole semester here,” said Jeff Roet, a geography professor.

Any experience abroad will help students with their professions, Williams said.
“We want to reach students to open their mind to a global community,” she said.

About 30 percent of TCU students study abroad at some point of their college careers. Summer is the most popular time.

There are 12 TCU programs already in place and 19 other affiliated programs.

Williams said there is a study-abroad fair March 5 and two information sessions Feb. 11-12 to dispel some of the myths about studying abroad. Issues such as foreign crime, how to dress and act, costs and living situations will be addressed.

Williams said about 200 students signed up for this summer and she is expecting about 100 more. The application deadline is Feb. 27.