The Center for Global Engagement, the School of Public Service and University Foundations is launching a program to establish a reoccurring study abroad trip for Boise State students during the summer term after their freshman year. The First College Summer Study Abroad Program will allow students to study abroad with students and faculty from across campus. The program hopes to offer three to four existing general education courses, led by Boise State faculty and taught on the campus of the National University of Costa Rica.
“We are looking to recruit a pool of rotating faculty, so as to both reduce the workload of any one faculty involved, while ensuring continuity for both students, advisors and our partner organization on the ground, University Studies Abroad Consortium,” said Isaac Castellano, an assistant clinical professor in the School of Public Service. “Our hope is that this becomes an annual international experience open to all students.”
A pilot program will launch this coming summer term, with University Foundations 200 being offered as the only course. The grant covers the travel expenses for three faculty interested in being part of the program to visit Heredia, Costa Rica for one week in May 2023 to explore the campus and how their course could fit.
Interested faculty can send a brief statement outlining the course they could offer, its applicability to students entering their sophomore year, and any connection their course has to Costa Rica to Castellano at isaaccastellano@boisestate.edu by Nov. 1.
Boise State was elected to receive an Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Capacity Building Program for U.S. Study Abroad. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and supported in its implementation by World Learning.