Bonjour! and Guten Tag! Dustdevils

Dr. Jose Lozano, a well rounded Communication Professor at Texas A&M International University, is currently putting together a study abroad program in Belgium and Germany for this upcoming summer 2014 session starting June 4 and concluding July 3, just in time before the second summer session begins. Dr. Lozano has travelled around the world and has made close friendships with professors from other universities. However, after having spent one year as a professor in Germany, Dr. Lozano is excited to announce his return of the summer study abroad program.

Although it is yet to be approved, Dr. Lozano shared details of what this program has to offer which will include two courses (3 credit hours each): Communication Theory & Practice (COMM 4360) and Media and Behavior (COMM 4311). Being that the course Media and Behavior is cross listed with Communication, Psychology and Criminal Justice majors, it will attract many TAMIU undergraduate students.

TAMIU students will have the opportunity to share classes with German students while attending Tubingen University.  This will further expose students to different cultures and will help them improve their communication skills significantly.

Aside from meeting German students, TAMIU students will have the opportunity to visit some of the most important cities in Belgium and Germany. Even though the cost has not been revealed to the students, the itinerary where the students will study are already set. Dr. Lozano said that, "students will spend two weeks in Belgium and two weeks in Germany." The first week will take place in Antwerp at the University of Antwerp, the Flemish part of Belgium, and will consist of classes at the local university. The second week abroad will take place in Ghent at Ghent University, a province of East Flanders in the Northeastern part of Belgium. Here students will have the opportunity of spending another week studying at the local university. To end the summer session, students will attend Tubingen University in Tubingen the last two weeks, where they will continue their courses.

Besides studying in these beautiful European countries, students will have the opportunity to visit some of the nearby cities. Dr. Lozano stated that, "students will have weekend excursions to Brussels, Brugge, Munich, and Stuttgart."

The requirements to apply to the study abroad program requires that students have a declared major in Communication, Criminal Justice, or Psychology.

The deadline to apply is February 15, with an application fee of $200 dollars. Students will also have to submit a TAMIU study abroad application, reference form and letter of recommendation from professor or employer, and official transcripts.These documents are available in the Student Affairs Office in the Student Center Suite 226 or in www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs.

Although the costs are not yet available in the Student Affairs office, Dr. Lozano states that, "they are trying to make it less than $3,500  dollars." This approximate cost is yet to be concluded but Dr. Lozano does state that "this cost includes most excursions in Belgium and Germany".

Students will only be spending one month abroad, a valid passport will be required for students with an American nationality due to a 90 day tourist visa upon arrival for american nationalities.

Accommodation details have yet to be discussed but Dr. Lozano stated that, "more than likely students will stay in student halls."

Scholarships for the summer session study abroad program will be offered in the Office of Student Affairs. Some of the scholarships available to students participating are: International Education Scholarship Fee (IEFS), Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez International Fellows Scholarship, and the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, among others. Both the IEFS and the G&LM-IFS are due no later than March 15, 2014. For the Gilman scholarship, students have until March 4, 2014 to submit all of the paperwork.

There is still plenty of time to decide in applying for the study abroad program, however, only 20 slots will be available for those interested.  "I believe this is a great experience because students need to experience different cultures in this globalization age. If you stay here (Laredo), you will not be as flexible with different cultures,"  Dr. Lozano advises. Qualified students are encourage to apply for these slots are on a first-come-first-serve basis, so don't miss the opportunity of exploring new cultures and travel abroad.

Further information regarding the approval for the Belgium and Germany study abroad program will be posted in the official Student Affairs website: www.tamiu.edu/studentaffairs. Next week we will visit with Dr. Diana Linn who is also offering a study abroad program in Madrid starting May 25, 2014 to June 28, 2014.Any questions regarding scholarships, feel free to contact Triana Gonzalez at 956-326-2565 or by e-mail: triana.gonzalez@tamiu.edu. For any questions regarding the itinerary, feel free to contact Dr. Jose Lozano by e-mail: jose.lozano@tamiu.edu.

(Gabriela G. Trevino may be reached at gabrielatrevino@dusty.tamiu.edu)(Brenda Carrera may be reached at  brendacarrera@dusty.tamiu.edu)