At Symposium on Thursday, April 10, a panel of previous study abroad participants will present their experience and answer questions about travel studies from 1:40 to 2:40 in the Swanson Center Screening Room.
Piedmont offers many programs and opportunities for students who want to travel abroad while earning credits toward their degree. Students can choose from three categories: semester abroad, faculty-led short-term courses, and others.
“The specific offers within these categories change all the time and the newest options are anywhere you want to go in any way that you want to go,” said Dr. Susanna Warnock, the current Director of Travel Study at Piedmont University. “I’m open to day-dreaming about how we can get a student where they want to be because I firmly believe that the experience abroad is life-changing.”
Warnock, who recently became the Director of Travel Study, is committed to ensuring that students have the opportunity to make their ambitions of studying abroad come true.
“I participated in a faculty-led course to Germany, Czechia and Russia my first summer in college and it was life-changing,” said Warnock. “Almost everyone I have known who participated in a study abroad program has had a life-changing moment, whether it was realizing their strengths, finding their place in the world, or growing as they overcame challenges in another culture.”
If Piedmont students want to study abroad for an entire semester, they can choose between Germany, Italy, England and Costa Rica. In most cases, fees are the same as if a student were to attend a semester on the Demorest campus of Piedmont University. Warnock is currently working on expanding options to Australia and Ireland.
The second option for students to study abroad is a “Maymester,” or a faculty-led short-term course for roughly two weeks. Students will take two courses during the summer. Current location options for students are Japan, Ireland, England, Iceland, Germany and Spain.
The final option is more flexible and typically just a week long. Piedmont offers a service learning week in Costa Rica, during which students can get experience and course credit in their field of study by volunteering in schools, businesses and health clinics. Piedmont can also connect athletes with organizations such as BeyondSports and EF Travel to participate in global athletics. This option does not count for course credit but allows students to play their sport with other athletes from across the country while traveling in another country.
The most common trouble students face when planning a travel study is finances. Many schools charge up to $5,000 in travel study expenses on top of tuition, but at Piedmont, only a $500 travel fee. Sometimes, financial aid and scholarships cover travel study expenses.
Warnock advises students to participate in travel studies during the summer because tuition is less expensive.
“Don’t assume that studying abroad is out of reach for you,” said Warnock. “In a few cases, studying abroad is cheaper than taking the same courses on campus at Piedmont. The impact of the experience will be well worth it!”
When it comes to graduation plans, partner schools in other countries offer plenty of English courses each semester. The variety of courses helps Piedmont students remain on track for graduation, but it is easier for students to take general education courses when studying abroad.
Warnock is more than willing to help students solve potential issues, such as a fear of traveling alone or falling off track for graduation.
“I fully believe in the transformative education that takes place in a study abroad program and I am grateful to work at an institution that invests in that,” said Warnock.
The locations for 2026 will be announced this summer. To learn more about travel study opportunities at Piedmont, visit www.piedmont.edu/travel-study or contact Dr. Warnock at [email protected].
