Study abroad program offers new courses

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? Argentina? Scotland? Italy? How about Greece? This year, Northwest's study abroad program is allowing students the opportunity to visit all of the above and is participating in the Missouri Greece program at the American College of Greece for the first time.Northwest has always taken pride in the multiple educational opportunities its students are privy to, but this time, Jeaneth Puriel, study abroad coordinator explained the details of the upcoming study abroad opportunity in Athens, Greece.
This is the first time that this program has been offered,Puriel said. There are a variety of courses available to students and all classes are taught in English."

During spring 2012, from Feb. 21 through June 16, students will be able to take courses that range from art history all the way to physical education. With only a year away, full time students are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA, apply before Oct. 1, and once in Greece; attend all classes, field trips and required orientations.The application fee to apply is $125 and students must pay for their own airfare, books, meals/personal experiences and Northwest health insurance. The MO-Greece program fee is $9,200 and that includes up to 15 credit hours, housing, visa assistance, transportation, welcome reception and guide, facility usage, doctor visits and field trips.

Located merely two blocks from campus, students will stay in furnished one to three bedroom apartments that have access to Internet, a free laundry site and a fitness center. Students will obtain the full Grecian experience once amongst the 90 percent Greek student body and are encouraged to join clubs and organizations to connect easier.The intercultural experience that students receive by being in a different culture is life changing,Dawn Gilley, assistant professor in the history department, said. The ability of learning themselves more and knowing what they are capable of accomplishing somewhere else inspires them to know they can do that here.For three weeks in May, students have the option of studying in China,Germany, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Ireland, England, Argentina and Italy. These opportunities are faculty led programs in which Northwest faculty travel with the students and teach a course in the country of their choice. Even though students often go on the faculty lead trips, Puriel encourages all students to take advantage of the MO-Greece program.

The study abroad department is offering a $600 scholarship to a participating student,'Puriel said.Every student I've encountered comes back a different person from when they left, they are more mature, focused and empowered. I think successfully living there and figuring things out on their own changes them.