By Dylan Lux and Sydney Fairbanks / Jambar Contributors
Youngstown State University International Programs Office has given students the opportunity to learn in countries around the world.
Study Abroad allows students to earn credits for their major through 10 direct exchange programs, while being a part of another community, culture and country.
Direct exchange programs last 17 weeks throughout the fall and spring semesters, but vary throughout the summer.
Jina Vitullo, coordinator of the English Language Institute, took on Study Abroad in the summer. She said the program partners with 10 universities in different parts of the world.
“We’ve condensed the Study Abroad program to reflect 10 specific direct exchange programs,” Vitullo said. “Students are able to travel abroad to different universities that we have agreements with.”
YSU has agreements with five countries, including Finland, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands and Taiwan, where students can study abroad.
Vitullo said she and the university plan to expand the program as she becomes more experienced with Study Abroad.
Fees for students to Study Abroad vary by program, but the overall payment goes through YSU tuition.
“What makes [Study Abroad] unique is that it’s affordable,” Vitullo said. “Any financial aid or scholarships that you have, they can easily be applied to your [YSU] tuition while you’re studying abroad.”
To be eligible for the Study Abroad program, students must have a 2.5 GPA at the time they begin the application process. More specifically, Vitullo said students need to fulfill two other requirements before the program will accept them.
“[Students] have to be at least a sophomore. We’d rather that students study for a year here first before studying abroad,” Vitullo said. “Students also have to have good standing with the university, which means no holds, balances must be paid in full, so on and so forth.”
Anthony Micco, a senior computer science major, joined the Study Abroad program in the fall semester through the International Student Advisory Board. He said the Study Abroad program is a way for students to experience life outside the U.S.
“It’s quite similar here, but there’s also a lot of differences. The experience of being outside the U.S., being independent and getting that experience is something I would highly recommend,” Micco said.
