As study abroad programs grow in number and become more accessible to students, new opportunities offer the chance for alternative abroad experiences.

One of the newest study abroad opportunities at Vanderbilt is the VISAGE Program, which is designed in three parts to provide students with a summer study abroad opportunity as well as academic experience.

"I don't think anyone else has a program like this. What we combine is academics through a course in the spring, service through a trip in the summer and a follow-up through another course in the fall," said Dr. Marshall Eakin, professor of History and VISAGE program director.

The program's design is meant to integrate academics with being a global citizen, both in Nashville and abroad. Each particular program is centered on its own theme, varying from resource sustainability, economic development to social justice. While only in its second year, VISAGE offers programs to Australia, Nicaragua, South Africa and newly added Costa Rica.

"Last year in the Australia program, half our students were Arts and Science (students) while half were engineers, so we created this nice environment for students who approach problems in completely different ways and I think you'll find that in completely different sites," said Marie Martin, assistant director of the Global Education Office.

Unlike traditional study abroad summer programs where students barely have time to digest their experiences, the length of the program is meant to place a greater emphasis on understanding solutions to global problems through both scholarly and service work. During the trips in the summer session, students will perform 15-20 hours of community service per week in addition to lectures, tours and cultural immersions.

"In this program, you're learning so much about the country first, and when you get there, you can actually see those that you saw in the book and it registers differently," said Waldir Sepulveda, senior lecturer in the department of Spanish and Portuguese and site director of Nicaragua. "People open their eyes a little wider. It's different in that way because you have the academics in the beginning and then you have the experience side of it as well."

Applications for the VISAGE Program are available in the study abroad office and are due on Nov. 3.