Jenn Schneider wanted to go beyond textbooks and see Rome firsthand. She wanted to walk in the Roman Forum, hear the water that remains in the ancient baths and find her way around the city so one day she could take her experiences into the classroom.
Study abroad used to mean staying overseas for a semester or year, but in less than four weeks Schneider, a sophomore Latin education major, said she gained enough information about ancient Rome to create ample lesson plans for her future career.
Of the 369 Ball State students who earned credit overseas during the 2001-2002 school year, more than half did so in a summer or short-term program. This semester, 33 of the 52 applications turned in to the Center for International Programs have been for five-week sessions.
Schneider represents the growing number of students who opt for short-term study abroad programs nationwide and at Ball State. A study by the Institute of International Education found that more than half of the 160,920 students who went overseas during 2001-2002 did so in a program lasting less than eight weeks, redefining what it means to learn overseas.
Citing safety, cost, easy credit transfer and accessibility have led to the growing popularity of short-term programs, but some educators say students miss out on the cultural experience of living in a country for an extended period of time.
"Students have the perception that a short-term program is safer, and their family members are more comfortable," Kelly Wright, Ball State study abroad and exchange program coordinator, said. "There is less planning involved, less commitment and short-term programs can fit into the summer, which is normally down time for students. They can get easy credit transfer or get some additional coursework out of the way."
Those aspects of the short-term program appealed to Schneider.
"I don't have enough money to take off a summer or an entire semester," she said. "It's a cheaper alternative. You still get to go longer than when you are older, and I knew I wouldn't be falling behind in my classes."
Like Schneider, many students are worried about money and time commitment so the all-inclusive aspect makes short-term programs popular. Wright said students like the fact that all their meals, airfare and tuition are already included in the price.
Adding to the growing popularity of short-term program, students view studying abroad as a necessity of the full college experience, yet feel the pressure to graduate in four years, Wright said.
"There is a lot of stress today on students to have this four-year plan," Wright said. "They feel they have to take this course at this time, the majors have become more specific and specialized and there is less time for liberal arts electives, which you earn overseas."
In fact, Ball State's short-term programs predate the study abroad and student exchanges. Wright said the Department of History, the Department of Anthropology and the Honors College have taken students on field studies for years.
The growing interest has been leading to more programs being offered, which means students can go wherever they wish, whether it is Europe, Asia or Australia. This summer the Athens-Rome five-week program is most popular, with more student applications than spots available, Wright said.
Journalism professor Mark Popovich, a six-time London Centre director, said the short-term programs benefit students, but not as much as a semester or yearlong exchanges.
The ability to communicate, interact and explore a culture different from your own are what Popovich sees as the most important aspects of long-term student exchanges.
"The longer you stay, the better off you are," Popovich said. "Then you really get involved in the culture, you get a chance to meet people, experience their friendship and what motivates them to do things. With the short-term experience, you really don't get a chance to meet people and cultivate friendships unless you are a really outgoing person."
While no program is perfect, Wright said most students in a long-term program have a more serious approach to learning.
"A short-term program is positive because it gets students excited and gets their feet wet," Wright said. "But it takes away the study in study abroad. It feels like a vacation in some aspects, and some students do not take it seriously."
Realizing the importance of the full experience, the CIP is using short-term programs to appeal to freshman and sophomore students who can use the experience as a stepping stone to more international travel.
Wright said the goal is to get freshman or sophomore students to participate in a faculty-led short-term program in hopes that they will go off for a semester or year later in college.
Schneider hopes to once again study abroad in a few semesters. "If I can afford it, I will definitely do the long-term, but short-term is the cheaper alternative," she said. "If this is your only option, do it."
With the variety of exchange programs, both long-term and short-term, Popovich does not see an excuse as to why a student would not participate.
"We can't live in a vacuum. We have to interest our people into being aware of other cultures and wanting to study other cultures and languages," Popovich said. "There is no excuse for not going overseas. If you're into learning -- and that's what this is about: learning about other cultures -- you should be willing to go."
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