Ogden News

For many WKU students, Winter Break means more than just a pause from college life and classes. The time off can also be an opportunity to travel, learn more about their world and earn additional college credit through Study Away courses. This January 34 WKU students took advantage of Study Away opportunities during Winter Term, studying in New York City, Pasadena/San Francisco or New Orleans/Galveston.

Nicole Coomer, a Journalism & Broadcasting major from Bowling Green, took the course “NYC Religion and Broadway” in New York City. Coomer described it as “the experience of a lifetime.” Over eight days, Coomer and fellow students explored The Big Apple, attended eight Broadway shows and even met Tony Award-winning actors and Broadway playwrights and musical directors. “I came away from the class with so many new friends that I shared the experience with,” said Coomer. “I recommend study away/abroad to any student here at WKU.”

In another course, “New Orleans to Houston: Humans, Hurricanes and Darwin Awards,” students visited areas along the Gulf Coast devastated by hurricanes. Students studied the role politics plays in catastrophic coastal storm response, impacts of severe storms on society and the economy and approaches to building disaster-resistant communities.

“Floral Design at the Rose Bowl Parade” took horticulture students to California where they visited area botanical gardens, cut flower operations and national forests and parks. Students also gained hands-on experience in designing floral arrangements for floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Additional Study Away courses are scheduled for throughout 2013. This spring, music students will study in New York City, and this summer students can study fly fishing in Montana or the American frontier culture in Virginia.

For information about WKU Study Away, visit www.wku.edu/studyaway.

WKU Study Away is a unit of Extended Learning and Outreach. 

Contact: Jerry Barnaby, (270) 745-2231