Summer Study Abroad Programs

For English students looking to travel and gain unique perspectives this summer, the faculty-led summer study abroad programs are seeking applicants until February 15. A couple of programs can be completed for English credit, including the “Narratives, Culture, and Reconciliation” trip to Ireland and the “HPI: Conflict, Communication, and Global Peacebuilding” trip to Vietnam. Multiple other programs provide humanities credits, including the “Humanities and Arts” trip to Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; the “Modern Art and Museums” trip to England and France; and the “Relics of Empire: Asian Objects in Britain” trip to England.

Global Communications student, Marinn Cahoon, participated in a faculty-led study abroad program last summer in Vietnam with English Department Senior Lecturer Dustin Crawford and Communication Studies Associate Professor Jason Gilmore. “One of my biggest takeaways was that there is so much more to the world than my little bubble,” Marinn reflects. “And people are so, so wonderful, and I want to get to know as many of them from around the world as possible.”

Lindsey McBrayer, another Global Communications major, went on the trip as well. She says, “One of my biggest takeaways from Vietnam was that while history is important to countries, it does not have to define how you see others. While America and Vietnam have a history of strife from the mid-20th century, the Vietnamese do not let that part in their history determine how they treat Americans. The forgiveness and drive for reconciliation of the Vietnamese people is something that I continue to admire.”

Both students stressed how their experience studying abroad positively impacted their time at USU, and Lindsey noted the future opportunities her time in Vietnam could produce. “I am hoping that this experience will boost my applications for grad school next year,” Lindsey comments. “It was also an amazing opportunity to partner with a humanitarian organization, Youthlinc, which showed me how it may look to work full-time as a humanitarian in various countries. I hope that through this trip, networking opportunities arise that hopefully lead to a career in humanitarian work!” 

Marinn spoke on the value of studying abroad in her life: “Studying abroad is so worth it. Worth every blister on my feet, every stress dream of forgetting my passport, every doubt that crossed my mind, and worth all the extra hours at work. And I am sorry to all my friends and family because I just cannot shut up about it.”

For students interested in studying abroad this summer, visit the USU Study Abroad page.