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MU
() A Letter from the Director of Study Abroad Study Abroad Participation by Year, 1992-2003 (Figure 1). Following a slight decrease in participation in 2000-2001, more MU students than ever before chose to study abroad during 2002-2003. With 629 overseas studies participants, MU registered a 20% increase over the 2001-2002 rate of participation. Over the past five years, the percentage of MU students who study abroad has grown by 49%. Percentage of MU Undergraduates Studying Abroad, 1992-2003 (Figure 2). After a year of decline, the percentage of MU students studying abroad during 2002-2003 reached a high of 3.2%. This percentage is based on the 2002-2003 average MU enrollment of 18,749. Credit Hours Generated by Study Abroad, 1992-2003 (Figure 3). The relatively modest increase in the number of MU credit hours generated by overseas studies reflects the growing popularity of three credit interim study abroad programs. Estimates are based on the following formula: Academic Year Abroad = 24 credit hours; Semester Abroad = 12 credit hours; Mexico Semester Abroad = 15 credit hours; Summer Abroad = 7 credit hours. Study Abroad Participation by Term, 2001-2003 (Figure 4). The number of MU students who participated in short-term programs increased dramatically during 2002-2003. The number of fall 2002 participants includes 73 students who participated in a fall interim program. Winter 2003 numbers include 16 winter interim participants. The number of MU students who took part in summer study abroad returned to pre-September 11 levels. There was also a steady increase in participation in semester-long overseas studies programs. Study Abroad Participation by Class Level, 1998-2003 (Figure 5). In continuance of a long-term trend, the majority of MU students chose to study abroad either during their senior years (53%) or junior years (31%). Given the fact that class-standing at MU is based solely on total number of credits earned, in most cases this does not mean that students classified as seniors are completing their final years. The increase in the number of freshman who studied overseas in 2002-03 stemmed from their participation in MU's new interim study abroad programs, which appear to appeal to first-year students. Study Abroad Participation by Gender, 1998-2003 (Figure 6). In line with national trends, the number of females studying abroad greatly outnumbers males. The ratio of female to male MU students participating in overseas studies has remained virtually unchanged since 1997-98. Ethnicity of Study Abroad Participants (compared to that of the overall MU undergraduate population), 2002-2003 (Figure 7). The percentages of MU students from minority groups who studied abroad during the 2002-2003 academic year closely mirrored the percentages of minority students enrolled on campus. Percentage of Undergraduate Students Participating in Study Abroad by College, 2002-2003 (Figure 8). During the 2002-2003 academic year, 3.2% of MU students studied overseas. The School of Journalism sent a significantly higher percentage of its students abroad (11.9%), as did the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (7.5%), and the School of Social Work (6.4%). Study Abroad Participation by College (compared to percent of total MU undergraduate enrollment), 2002-2003 (Figure 9). The College of Arts and Sciences, which enrolls the largest number of MU undergraduate students, continued to send the greatest number of students abroad. This was followed by the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (23%), the College of Business (19%) and the School of Journalism (14%), all of which continue to send large numbers of their students overseas. College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 10). The College of Arts and Sciences continues to send more MU students abroad than any other MU College/School. In recent years, the number of Arts and Sciences students who have chosen to study overseas has remained virtually unchanged. A&S Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 11). During 2002-2003, in the College of Arts and Sciences, Biological Sciences sent the greatest number of its majors abroad, followed closely by Political Science. College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 12) and CAFNR Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 13). There was a significant increase in the number of College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) students who studied abroad during the 2002-2003 academic year as compared to the previous year. A high percentage of these students (61%) participated in a fall interim program in Germany. The majority of CAFNR study abroad participants (65%) were majoring in one or more of the following disciplines: Agricultural Systems Management, Animal Sciences, Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Education. School of Journalism Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 14) and School of Journalism Study Abroad Participation by Emphasis, 2002-2003 (Figure 15). The number of School of Journalism students who studied overseas was up by 36% as compared to the previous year. Increases in participation occurred in both semester and summer study abroad programs. The greatest number of study abroad participants had an emphasis in Advertising. College of Business Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 16) and College of Business Study Abroad Participation by Major/Emphasis Area, 2002-2003 (Figure 17). The College of Business registered a 34% increase in overseas studies participation during the 2002-2003 academic year. Nearly all of this growth can be attributed to enrollment in a new College of Business faculty-led program. Majors sending the greatest number of students abroad were Marketing (25%) and International Business (21%). College of Engineering Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 18) and College of Engineering Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 19). The number of College of Engineering students studying abroad during the 2002-2003 academic year remained unchanged as compared with the previous academic year. College of Education Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 20) and College of Education Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 21). During 2002-2003, there was a significant decrease in the number of College of Education students who participated in overseas studies as compared with the previous two years. The majority of College of Education students who studied abroad were Secondary Education majors. College of Human and Environmental Sciences (HES) Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 22) and College of HES Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 23). The number of College of Human Environmental Sciences students who studied abroad nearly doubled as compared with the previous year. Much of this growth can be attributed to the participation in a faculty-initiated program for summer 2003. Students majoring in Textile and Apparel Management (48%) and Environmental Design (44%) made up the vast majority of abroad participants in this College. School of Health Professions Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 24) and School of Health Professions Study Abroad Participation by Major, 2002-2003 (Figure 25). The number of School of Health Professions students who studied abroad during 2002-2003 remained unchanged from the previous year. The major with the most students studying overseas was Communication Science and Disorders. School of Social Work Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 26). The number of School of Social Work students who study abroad has remained steady for the past four years. Note: Majors are not listed due to the fact that all students in this School major in Social Work. School of Nursing Participation in Study Abroad, 1998-2003 (Figure 27). There was a significant decrease in the number of School of Nursing students who studied overseas during 2002-2003 as compared to the previous year. Note: Majors are not listed due to the fact that all students in this School major in Nursing. Participation in MU vs. Non-MU Sponsored Programs, 1996-2003 (Figure 28). The vast majority of MU students chose to participate in MU Sponsored overseas studies programs rather than programs that are not affiliated with the University. In most cases, students who study abroad on MU Sponsored programs are able to apply all of their financial aid toward program costs. Regional Distribution of Participation in all MU Study Abroad Programs, 2002-2003 (Figure 29). While the majority of MU students continue to choose to study abroad in Western Europe (73%), Latin America (14%) has become an increasingly popular destination. For the first time ever at MU, Germany was one of the top three Western European destinations (see Table 1). This is due in part to the introduction of an interim study abroad program in Germany during fall 2003. Geographic Distribution of Study Abroad Participation, 2002-2003 (Table. 1). |
