» Types of Study Abroad Programs

A semester-long study abroad program is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in an unknown culture, learn about how the rest of the world lives, and learn a new language.

Of my seven semesters at Chapman, the semester I spent abroad in Spain was my favorite. It may have even been my favorite four months of my life. I gained a level of insight and perspective on the world that I don’t think I could have through any other experience. I had the opportunity to travel to eleven different countries during my time abroad, expanding my horizons and facing challenges and opportunities for growth everywhere I went. From getting seasick on the boat to Morocco to missing my flight from Austria, traveling for an extended period of time and learning about other cultures of the world is filled with both hardship and delight, challenge and adventure. There is immense satisfaction in mastering a language and learning to live like a people who you once felt confused by and separate from. My semester abroad showed me that all the way across the world, on a different continent and in different countries, people live so differently from the way we do in America, yet even so, at the core they are the same.

Taking an interterm or summer travel course might be the perfect option for you if you are a double major, are nervous about leaving the country for a whole semester, or feel like your schedule is exceptionally busy. On an interterm or summer travel course, you will get the perfect taste of life abroad while fulfilling 3 credits, and not spending more than 2-3 weeks out of the country. There are countless different countries you can visit and subjects you can learn about all just an application away. These courses often require a separate application and an extra fee for your expenses abroad, but these are well worth the experiences and memories you will gain.

I spent my sophomore year interterm in Costa Rica, taking arguably my all-time favorite class I have taken during my time at Chapman. While in Costa Rica, twenty or so other students and I traveled to different cities learning about different non-profit, for-profit, and co-op businesses, and how they function. From a fishing village to a coffee and vanilla farm, Costa Rica’s businesses were captivating to learn about, and compare to what we are used to in the United States. We got to see the world through the eyes of the business people of Costa Rica and experience their culture by joining in their customs and habits. Each of us took turns writing blog posts about where our "classroom for the day" was set so that we could share our experiences with our families back home and have a permanent log of our journey. We had the privilege of beginning and ending our trip with a couple of days studying at the University for Peace, a United Nations-mandated university in San Jose, Costa Rica. Here we learned about businesses in the area, as well as restorative justice circles, and creative problem-solving.

Besides the traditional study abroad approaches, Chapman also provides opportunities for students to have internships abroad to help them fulfill their career goals. The countries that you can apply for internships include Australia, Ireland (Dublin), Spain(Madrid), New Zealand, China(Shanghai), Chile(Santiago), France(Cannes) and Prague.* After your application to the Chapman Center of Global Education gets accepted, you will be connected with ISA or EUSA for your actual job application. You will have an individual program manager who will ask you about your career objectives and the types of jobs you want. After they confirmed this with you, they will help you find the company abroad which best fits your needs. They also provide training for resume, cover letter, and interviews to assist you to get the job. This is a great opportunity for you to explore the cultural differences in the workplace and get the upper-division internship credits at the same time. 

* The country list may vary every year based on needs