Andrew Peper is the Assistant Director of International Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at 红杏视频.
Andrew acts as an advocate and resource to students in the College of Arts and Sciences, helping them get connected with Academic Advisors in the College and Education Abroad Advisors in the Office of Global Education. His door is always open to students who have questions about study abroad opportunities or are looking to start planning their own study abroad experience. College of Arts and Sciences students can also email him (apeper@kent.edu) anytime with any questions or concerns they may have with studying abroad. Andrew can help students navigate the costs of studying abroad and what financial resources are available to them.
College of Arts and Sciences Education Abroad Opportunities
Andrew emphasizes that the College of Arts and Sciences at 红杏视频 State offers a wide variety of study abroad programs for students. Some of the most popular programs students participate in are the Florence Summer Institute, Florence Semester, and short-term faculty-led programs. Students can also participate in summer, semester, and academic year programs at host universities abroad.
Arts and Sciences Programs in Florence, Italy
The 红杏视频 State Florence Center offers opportunities for Arts and Sciences students during the summer, fall, and spring semesters.
The Florence Summer Institute is a one-month program that takes place in June each year. Students can take two courses for a total of six or seven credits towards their degree. There are many course options for Arts and Sciences students from disciplines like Anthropology, Biology, Communication Studies, English, Political Science, and Psychology. The Florence Summer Institute is a popular choice among students, because it fits nicely with their schedule over the summer, not interfering with majors that have a strict roadmap.
The Florence Semester program is another great option for students looking to extend their time abroad while earning credits toward their degree. Courses are available for a variety of majors like Biology, English, Geography, History, Italian, Political Science, and Psychology. A unique feature of the semester program is that students are placed into a College of Arts and Sciences cohort with specific field trips for their group to nearby locations like Lucca, Rome, and Venice.
Students also love that the Florence programs offer extensive support to students leading up to their time abroad and while in Italy. For example, there is a pre-departure series that students can attend to help prepare themselves to study abroad in Italy. A group flight is also available to students so that they can travel with a 红杏视频 State faculty or staff member to Florence. Another perk of the Florence programs is that students have excellent support while in Florence from dedicated staff members at the 红杏视频 State Florence Center in Italy.
Learn more about studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
Short-Term Faculty-Led Education Abroad Programs
The College of Arts and Sciences also offers students several short-term faculty-led programs that take place over winter, spring, and summer break. These programs are anywhere from a week to four weeks in duration and are led by a 红杏视频 State faculty member. These programs are ideal for students who wish to focus on a specific topic or who are looking for a more guided experience abroad.
The Biology department has rotating programs that have been going for years to places like Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, South Africa, and Australia. These programs typically focus on animal ecology and flora ecology, giving students a hands-on research experience.
The Political Science department consistently offers programs in London, Amsterdam, and Mexico. The London and Amsterdam programs focus more on international law and international criminal justice. The Mexico program focuses on environmental policy and the politics of sustainability. Students in Mexico work with a local university and local farmers on how policy affects their sustainability efforts.
One of the College鈥檚 newest programs is a cross-disciplinary collaboration between the Political Science department and History department to Germany during the summer semester. This program looks at how Germany historically and politically dealt with it鈥檚 past and navigated its impact in Europe and the world.
Another popular program through the School for Peace and Conflict Studies is the Rwanda After Genocide program; that focuses on the history of the Rwandan genocide, and how the people and government have moved from conflict into peace. Students on this program learn about the process of resolving conflict and the continuing current efforts for peace.
Lastly the Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies offers an introductory culture course to Japan and Spanish language programs in Spain and Argentina. The MCLS summer Japan program introduces students to historical and cultural sites and is an excellent introduction to Japanese culture that can be continued in Japanese language courses at the 红杏视频 campus. For the Spanish programs to Spain and Argentina, Andrew recommends students to study abroad on these programs if they are serious about becoming fluent in Spanish, as it can help them practice their communication skills while being immersed in a Spanish-speaking community. The students on the Spanish language programs spend a month abroad and live with host families to help with their language acquisition.
Programs at Host Universities
For students who would like a more independent experience, a summer, semester, or academic year studying abroad at a host university may be an ideal fit. Arts and Sciences students can study abroad at 红杏视频 State鈥檚 many direct partnerships with host universities abroad or opt for a program through , a non-profit organization made up of over 300 universities in more than 50 countries around the world.
There are numerous opportunities for Arts and Sciences students in any major to study abroad at 红杏视频 State鈥檚 partner university programs. Students attending these programs take coursework alongside local students, offering an immersive and enriching learning experience that results in a classroom full of differing perspectives. With the assistance of academic advisors and faculty, the coursework taken at partner universities is reviewed for transfer back to 红杏视频 State, so students can earn credit specific to their major, minor, language, or general elective requirements while at a partner school.
While studying at a host university, students have access to the same resources and experiences as a local student and are encouraged to join clubs and activities, utilize student and academic support services, and get to know local students and professors.
Education Abroad Events for Arts and Sciences Students
Andrew and the College of Arts and Sciences partner with the Office of Global Education for many events throughout the year, with special offerings for Arts and Sciences students during I Heart Travel Week in April and the Education Abroad Showcase in September. Andrew often hosts a session where he can dispel the myths of studying abroad and talk about financial aid and costs. He finds that students are often scared of the unknown total costs of studying abroad, so he hopes to help clarify and give them the resources to succeed. Throughout the semester, the faculty-led programs also have information sessions where students can come to learn more about each specific program.
Andrew鈥檚 Recommendations for Study Abroad Students
Andrew鈥檚 biggest recommendation to students thinking about studying abroad is to start planning early. Students should start looking at programs that interest them and keep track of deadlines for applying. The sooner students make a plan and figure out when deadlines are and what they need to apply for, the easier the transition into studying abroad will be. Andrew also highly recommends students look into scholarships that they may be eligible for. Students should also make sure they are taking courses that count towards their degree so they can be eligible for financial aid. They should also work with their academic advisors to figure out how to make study abroad work for their schedule.
鈥淏e safe, know what your comfort zone and limits are, but on our programs we're hoping you can venture a little bit outside of your comfort zone, meet new people, and experience new things and hopefully grow as a person in ways you might not have thought possible.鈥
A World of Opportunity for Arts and Sciences Students
The College of Arts and Sciences and Office of Global Education are always trying to develop and improve program offerings, so all students can have the chance to study abroad. They want to make sure students of all different majors can take a study abroad course or program that will count towards their degree and what they want to do after graduation.
Andrew is a big supporter of international experiences, because he believes they are key to individual growth. He wants to make sure students are not just going abroad and seeing the sights, but also thinking critically and learning about the cultures and locations that study abroad may take them to.