A lot has changed between 1960 and 2016 though, including the very concept of study abroad. “Study abroad has traditionally been associated with humanities and language majors taking classes in a European university for a semester or a full year,” said Mary Dando, director of CU Boulder Study Abroad. “But the variety of programs that we offer has expanded to become so much more than that. Beyond traditional study abroad we also offer international internships, service learning, volunteer experiences, and we support all international experiences undertaken by students.”

To that end, the office of Study Abroad is becoming Education Abroad. “The name change better reflects what we do, and the direction we are moving,” said Dando.

Study Abroad has been offering international internships, service learning, and volunteer experiences for some time. But with the transition to Education Abroad also comes the goal of providing even more of these program options to the CU Boulder student population.

“Our programs should match the needs and interests of our students,” Dando said. “And those needs include developing professional skills to prepare for a global marketplace, which our international internships can provide. We’re also very proud of how service-oriented CU Boulder students are. At heart many of them are trying to make the world a better place. We hope that when we roll out our expanded portfolio of volunteer programs will give them more avenues to do so.”

Students interested in internationalizing their college career, either through study abroad, internships, or service learning should visit Education Abroad at http://abroad.colorado.edu, or drop-in and speak to an Ed Abroad advisor Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm in C4C S355.