Students at Texas A&M University-Commerce who are interested in studying abroad this summer can check out the International Studies program. Informational seminars begin this month.
All seminars will take place in Room 304 of the Ferguson Social Sciences Building.
“Students that participate need to do it as an investment in themselves,” Dr. Kenneth Lawrence Clinton, director of International Studies, said. “Ninety percent say it’s the best experience they’ve had at the University. Seventy-five percent say it’s the best experience of their life.”
According to Clinton, there are 18 different locations for students to choose from, and costs vary by program.
Clinton has been with the University’s International Studies Program since 1983, when he and Dr. Glen Fournet, director of Independent Studies at the time, helped found it.
“We wanted to create something special for students,” Clinton said.
Students can pick up catalogues in the Joe B. Hinton Office of International Studies – Room 220 of the Ferguson Social Sciences Building. These catalogues can help students prepare for seminars.
The first seminars are at 2 and 3 p.m. on Jan. 30 and at 9 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 6. These meetings will cover general information for all programs.
Seminars for specific programs, such as British Studies, Spanish and Mexico Culture, and American Institute for Foreign Study Programs, take place throughout February. A full list of dates and times can be found at http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/internationalstudies.
“We think it’s best if interested students attend the seminars,” Clinton said. “They take about an hour and answer about 25 questions. Over the phone, we can only answer one at a time.”
JoAnn Preas, administrative assistant for International Studies, said “We [A&M-Commerce] have a conjunction agreement with the University of Southern Mississippi, the American Institute for Foreign Studies, University of Arizona, and Universitas Castellae.”
Preas said programs available for most undergraduate majors as well as some graduate studies.
“Some of those programs are ongoing and offered every year,” she said.
According to the International Studies Web site, students should apply for programs early because classes have limited space.
Preas said, “It’s [participation] been down since 9-11 because of what happened.” She said there is an average of 50 students a year.
According to an article written by Jeanie Davis for the Jan. 28, 1998, edition of The East Texan, participation used to average 60 students a year. There were also only 13 programs offered at that time.
With more programs and locations available, there are plenty of opportunities for students wishing to broaden their cultural awareness.