Iowa State hosts approximately 110 study abroad programs annually spanning at least 28 countries over two semesters and during summer, winter, fall and spring breaks.
Annually, Iowa State hosts a study abroad fair to introduce students to programs available to them. Representatives from study abroad programs across campus attended the fair Tuesday.
Christine Denison, an Ivy Summer in Rome professor, explained why she values the study abroad experience.
“For me, just getting the students exposure to a different culture and kind of being immersed in that different place, it brings everyone together,” Denison said.
Students study abroad for a variety of reasons, including language immersion and a love for learning through new cultural experiences.
“I think one of the reasons students love the opportunity to go abroad is that you really have the opportunity to learn about a new culture and embed yourself in a new school and just general community,” Samantha Secor, clinical experience coordinator for the School of Education, said.
Secor places students in international student teaching experiences every semester in Norway, New Zealand, Germany, Poland and Taiwan.
Students also have the opportunity to student teach abroad.
“Their first step would be to come to an event like this, but we also have a student teaching open house that we run in the school of education every semester,” Secor said. “Come and talk with our team about what your interests are so we can help you identify what locations might suit your interests and your teaching area.”
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) had the most reported students, 330, participating in study abroad programs in the 2025-26 school year.
“Before studying abroad, I had never traveled internationally,” Libby Lansing, a travel consultant for CALS, said. “I kind of just took a chance, and I think, at least for myself, that was really important.”
Lansing studied abroad in Germany, Belgium and Panama during her time at Iowa State.
“Panama, to me, was a very non-traditional country to travel to,” Lansing said. “So I would encourage students to kind of look around at places that maybe they wouldn’t go on a vacation because I feel like sometimes you can learn a lot more going to those non-traditional locations.”
CALS will also be having its own study abroad fair on September 24th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on central campus.
For information on studying abroad, visit the study abroad webpage.