Click here for
a printable version of this information.
Northwestern encourages students in all of its schools to
spend all or some of their junior year studying abroad. But
why spend time studying in a foreign country when you worked
so hard to get to Northwestern in the first place? This is
a good question, and this document explains some of the most
important reasons that Northwestern views study abroad as
a crucial part of a well-rounded undergraduate education.
"International education prepares our citizens to
live, work, and compete in the global economy, and promotes
tolerance and the reduction of conflict. [ ...] [I]t is important
for American students to learn other languages, experience
foreign cultures, and develop a broad understanding of global
issues."
-Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State, Department of State
“. . . Today, . . . forces press in from every conceivable
direction. We are all being influenced by the same tides of
political, social and technological change. We are connected
by travel, sport, communications and commerce. Your actions
here in Evanston can influence life in Eritrea; and what happens
in India has implications for Illinois. [. . . .] And in such
a world, we need each and every individual to act as a global
citizen.”
-Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, speaking
at Northwestern University’s 144th commencement on June
21, 2002
Becoming a “Global
Citizen” in Today’s Interconnected World
You have probably heard this before: Now, more than ever,
the world we live in is interconnected. This means that to
be successful—personally, intellectually, and professionally--students
need to become “global citizens,” skilled at interacting
in and between multiple cultures and capable of analyzing
issues on a global level.
As Colin Powell’s statement above suggests, getting
an international education—in other words, studying
abroad—is one of the best ways for students to build
global competence. Specifically, study abroad helps students
do the following:
Develop New Perspectives on Academic Subjects and Real-World
Issues
Study abroad provides students with opportunities to study
a variety of subjects in more depth and from different cultural
perspectives. For example, students who study in Asia may
enroll in upper-level courses abroad that focus on particular
aspects of Asian history, literature, and political science
that generally are not offered at Northwestern. Students who
study in Europe may take courses that teach international
relations from a European, as opposed to American, perspective.
Some study abroad students even choose to take courses that
focus on the U.S. to learn about their own country from an
alternative perspective. Many programs also offer courses
involving field studies that take students out of the classroom
to learn from the local resources. Finally, the learning that
students do in their classes is generally enhanced through
their daily interactions in the foreign culture outside of
the classroom, with host families, housemates, or dorm-mates
from the study abroad country and from other places in the
U.S. and around the world.
Achieve Proficiency in a Foreign Language
While students can learn grammar and vocabulary at Northwestern,
it is impossible to become truly proficient in a foreign language
without using it in a real-world setting. Studying abroad in
a non-English speaking country provides students with the opportunity
to really master another language, on site, in the ultimate
"language classroom."
Experience Personal Growth
Study abroad is a challenging adventure, academically and personally.
Thus, it is not surprising that students who return from abroad
consistently report that they developed a greater sense of confidence
and independence and a general feeling that they can achieve
anything.
Develop Valuable Career Skills
According to Northwestern’s University Career Services
Office, students who study abroad often develop or strengthen
a number of career skills that make them especially marketable
when conducting job searches. Following are just a few of these
skills:
Critical thinking
Teamwork
Motivation
Problem solving
Expanded world view
Ability to learn effectively in unfamiliar settings
Good judgment
Objectivity
Independence
Self-confidence
Functional or job specific skills/knowledge
Personal management
Leadership
Foreign languages
Multicultural perspectives
Adaptability/flexibility
Communication
Study Abroad is an Extension
of Study at Northwestern
Students who are approved by Northwestern to study abroad
remain enrolled at Northwestern during their time abroad.
This means that they may earn Northwestern credit for their
coursework abroad and, in many cases, even fulfill major,
minor, or school requirements. Students often take courses
that build on work they did during their freshman and sophomore
years at Northwestern, and some even do independent research
projects abroad. In keeping with the Provost’s emphasis
on encouraging undergraduates to conduct research, the Study
Abroad Office actively encourages independent research abroad,
in part by inviting exceptional students to participate in
a special pre-departure group that prepares them to do such
research. An increasing number of students have been conducting
research abroad and then working with Northwestern faculty
upon their return to Evanston to turn their projects into
senior honors theses. For example, one student who studied
in Chile wrote her thesis on the urban experiences of Mapuche
in Santiago; another student who studied in Israel wrote his
thesis on the media construction of Yasir Arafat as Israel’s
negotiating partner. In addition, a number of study abroad
returnees have worked with Northwestern’s Office of
Fellowships to pursue fellowships for post-graduate study,
either in their study abroad country, a different country,
or in the U.S.
Planning to Study Abroad
Students interested in studying abroad during the fall, winter,
or spring quarters should start researching study abroad policies,
procedures, and opportunities as early as possible in their
Northwestern careers, preferably as freshmen. The first step
is to attend a Study Abroad 101 Workshop at the Study Abroad
Office, which reviews all the basics of the study abroad process.
These workshops are held two to three times a week (depending
on the quarter) and last about an hour. After attending a
workshop, students are welcome to schedule individual appointments
with our academic and financial advisers, as often as necessary.
They will also discuss their plans in detail with advisers
in their major departments and schools. For more details,
please see our comprehensive Web site at the address listed
below. (The site includes a special section just for parents!)
With proper planning and preparation, the study abroad experience
can truly be life-changing. Nationwide, students who have
studied abroad consistently count their international experience
as one of the best parts of their college careers. They report
that they not only advanced academically, but also acquired
a renewed sense of intellectual energy and focus, as well
as a more sophisticated view of the world around them. In
all, for those students who undertake the challenge, living
and studying abroad is one of the most exciting and enriching
opportunities available at Northwestern.
Student Quotes
“Study abroad was great in that it changed the way
I view my home and my country. It brought a new sense of self,
a new awareness of my American place in the world. I now know
how to travel anywhere and be alone overseas. And in terms
of my [Classics] major, it allowed me to see who the Greeks
and Italians really were and how they are now.”
-Elizabeth Gabel, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Study
Abroad in Greece
“I loved [my] program. It was probably the best
experience of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the
world. I learned so much about myself, others, and the world
around me. I can truly say that my experience there has changed
me and my life goals in a way that staying at school would
have never been able to do.”
-Jessica Tai, School of Education and Social Policy, Study
Abroad in South Africa
Back to top.
|
