Semester at Sea, Students set sail with international program

Semester at Sea International program

From the beaches of Havana to the streets of Dublin, Semester at Sea has been making students’ dreams of international travel a reality for the past 50 years, and University of Central Florida students have been reaping the benefits.

Semester at Sea is a multi-country, study-abroad program sponsored by the University of Virginia where students from all majors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the global community, all while engaging in courses and relevant field studies. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Semester at Sea is embarking on a yearlong international program as well as a fall 2013 Atlantic Exploration, currently in progress, and a spring 2014 Around the World voyage that sets sail in January. This floating campus offers 75 courses across several disciplines, each of which includes lectures, as well as Field Labs that provide practical experiences in a real-life situation. Students aren’t required to take courses in their majors.

Megan Diffey, a junior psychology major, traveled during the summer on a 70-day European voyage where she took courses on religion, negotiation and marine biology. She credited her experiences on the voyage for opening her eyes to the many possibilities in the field of psychology and said it impacted her career path.

“I’m figuring out exactly what I want to do with my life. I know that I want to travel, and I have to figure out how to fit it in now because it’s no longer optional,” Diffey said.

In addition to the extended program, Semester at Sea is launching a Social EntrepreneurSHIP program to teach students the principles of innovation, creative problem-solving and entrepreneurship, as well as a new partnership with Resolution Project, an organization focused on developing socially responsible young leaders and empowering them to make a positive impact. Lauren Judge, director of public affairs for Semester at Sea, said the program receives between 1,100 and 1,300 applications, depending on the voyage, however, its academic capacity is only 700 students. Applicants need to be a full-time college student with a 2.75 GPA and demonstrate strong writing skills.

“The best thing a candidate can do is demonstrate a true interest in global education,” Judge said in an email. “We want to know that they are applying for the right reason. We’re looking for students who are committed to academics and want to challenge their view of the world.”

Program fees differ depending on the semester, with fall and spring semesters in 2014 ranging from $23,950 to $29,950; and summer 2014 from $13,950 to $16,950.

Not only do students earn college credit for courses taken, but they are allotted free time to explore the ports. Ian Cohen, a 2003 UCF radio-television production graduate, traveled with Semester at Sea in the fall of 200. He said that his time traveling throughout Asia with Semester at Sea greatly influenced his future endeavors and education decisions.

“I had recently gotten into Asian film, and being able to visit various countries in Asia — Japan, China, Vietnam — either put some of what I’d seen in context, or sparked my curiosity so that I wanted to investigate further,” Cohen said. Cohen went on to graduate with his master’s degree in Asian studies from Florida International University and is currently an adjunct instructor teaching an Asian cinema course at FIU, which he developed.

“Despite everything I had the chance to experience — visiting the Great Wall of China, the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia, a safari in Kenya, a Santeria ceremony in Havana — it was the personal experiences, the chance to bond and connect with people, that I continue to value the most,” Cohen said.

Like Cohen, Diffey said while she loved looking for dolphins from the deck or visiting an aquarium in Lisbon, Portugal, during her marine biology course, the value of the relationships she formed outweighed the technical knowledge she gained.

“The people on the trip made the experiences, it wasn’t the places. Places you take pictures of but people you have conversations and experiences with become your best friends,” Diffey said. “Semester at Sea breeds a sense of community; when you’re in a foreign country, they are your family.”