Studying Abroad for STEM majors

It seems like there is a common misconception about studying abroad among STEM majors because students think that they cannot fit in the requirements for graduation if they study abroad. Even in the US as a whole, STEM majors are underrepresented in studying abroad. However, this is not always the case. In fact, there are some great benefits to studying abroad that we’ll discuss here.

First of all, as you move up into elective classes in your major, there are classes that are offered in some particular programs that your department might not offer during your time at Denison. Studying abroad will give you the opportunity to take classes on topics that you like but can’t have at Denison and may also introduce you to different teaching styles. For example, you might take classes at a bigger university, the change in class size or new ways of teaching by professors that may challenge you intellectually.

There are also experiential learning opportunities abroad where you can get involved in research or do an internship as part of your study. This will be an asset for you as you start your career in STEM.

We also need more STEM majors to study abroad because the global mindset you will gain can help you consider problems from different perspectives. If you want to build a technology that helps another part of the world, it is best if you get to experience the problem that you are trying to solve in that country and so on.

Lastly, if you are considering applying to graduate school or getting a job, having a study abroad experience is a great way to showcase your cultural competency, global perspective, intellectual curiosity and engagement, and work experience you might build while abroad.

So to address the concerns regarding meeting major requirements, here are some suggestions.

  • Start the process early and talk to your professor to plan ahead for classes as soon as possible. They will help you strategize how to fit all the classes you need to take in order to study abroad. 
  • Talk to your advisor and chair of your department to make sure the classes you want to take abroad can be transferred back and applied to your degree program. 
  • Contact the study abroad program to ensure you meet the requirements for courses in the abroad program.
  • Talk to OCS ambassadors about their study abroad experience and get advice!
By Thao Pham
Thao Pham Peer Career Fellow: Technology, Data and Science and Financial Services, Consulting and Business