Study Abroad

Studying abroad encompasses a wide variety of experiences, including:

• Traditional Classroom Experience
• Internships
• Practica
• Service-learning
• Research

Education Abroad FAQs

To receive your Explorations Beyond the Classroom credit for your study abroad experience, you need to create and submit a Study Abroad page (ePortfolio) in Adobe Spark. Read the details below for instructions.

What To Address in Your Reflections Before, During, and After Your Study Abroad

To satisfy your Explorations Beyond the Classroom requirement using your study abroad experience, you need to create and submit a Study Abroad page (ePortfolio) in Adobe Express. Read the details below for instructions.

What To Address in Your Reflections Before, During, and After Your Study Abroad

1. Before you leave to study abroad, write at least three paragraphs reflecting on the following questions:

• Why have you chosen to study abroad?
• What do you expect to learn during your educational experience abroad?
• What are your personal and academic goals that you would like to accomplish while abroad?

2. Then, either while you’re abroad or after you return, upload images, videos, or a multimedia project documenting your international experience. Write several paragraphs explaining the work (coursework, research, internship, etc.) you did while studying abroad, as well as the connections you were able to make between your coursework at UNCW and your international experience.
3. After you return, write a longer reflection (of at least five paragraphs) where you critically reflect on your expectations prior to going abroad and the work you did while abroad. Briefly re-read your earlier reflections, addressing the following questions:
   • What specific steps did you take in order to attain the goals you had prior to departure?
   • What were the most significant challenges and how did you address them?
   • What factors made you more effective?
   • In what ways did your attempts to attain your goals proceed as expected, based on your earlier understanding, and in what ways were you surprised?
   • How did this experience reveal your own attitudes or biases toward other people? Have you made changes, or do you need to make changes based on these insights?

Your ePortfolio Page Will Utilize Adobe Express

Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark) Helpful Resources

• Adobe Spark Instructions (PDF)
• Example Adobe Spark Page

• Students will be able to articulate their expectations, the purpose and / or goals of the experience in terms of their personal educational development.
• Students will synthesize knowledge drawn from their coursework to address the issues / challenges / questions involved in the experience.
• Students will be able to communicate the impact or significance on their personal educational experience and on others in the profession or in the field at the conclusion of the experience.

For more information regarding using your Education Abroad experience for Explorations Beyond the Classroom, contact Dr. Don Bushman at bushmand@uncw.edu.