It’s nearly unheard of for freshmen to participate in a study abroad experience – except at the College of Charleston. Dozens of freshmen will be traveling overseas during spring break 2013 (March 2-10, 2013) as part of the First Year Experience (FYE) Abroad program.
One group of students will head to the UK for the UK Soccer Experience, which combines book-based discussion with real world learning in a global setting. Students traveling to the UK will experience Premier League and FA Cup football while also learning about the historical, cultural, and socioeconomic aspects of England’s favorite sport. They will meet with officials at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, interact with students on UK university campuses, and even get to see Center Court at Wimbledon. Watch a video of the 2012 trip.
Another group of students will travel to Berlin, Germany to explore the coming age of genetics, gene sequencing, and genetic testing through the lens of history. The Biomedical Ethics in Berlin course will be explore the history of human genetics and human experimentation in the 20th Century through readings, movies, and discussions. Watch a video of a similar program.
The final group of students will travel to Costa Rica for an Alternative Spring Break in which they will help the local community through service learning and explore the local culture.
“The opportunity to study abroad as a freshman enriches their entire college experience,” says Bruce Fleming, the director of Living/Learning communities at the College. “This week gives students a taste for studying abroad and encourages them to explore another country in a semester-long experience. Plus they are traveling with peers that they have already been introduced to, and will spend the next three years with at the College.”
Prior to spring break, students attend weekly classes to explore academic content, learn about another culture, and prepare for their travel experience during spring break. After the week abroad, students return to “unpack” the trip reflecting on what they experienced, what they learned, and what it all meant to them.
For more information, contact Bruce Fleming at flemingw@cofc.edu.
