The Office of Global Education held its Mini Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday on the Library Quad.

The event was intended to give Sacramento State students an opportunity to learn more about the study abroad options available both on campus and through independent programs.

Study abroad programs give students the chance to gain an understanding of foreign cultures, challenge themselves and meet new people.

Multiple booths were set up so students could browse through pamphlets and travel guides as well as talk to program representatives regarding various travel options.

“Our goal is to get all of the Sac State students to go study abroad,” Janis Silvers, study abroad adviser for the Office of Global Education, said. “At this time, it is very important for students to gain a whole different perspective. Students gain so much more self-confidence and knowledge of who they are.”

The Sacramento State and California State University Study Abroad program intends to promote studying abroad and hopes to encourage more student involvement.

To help students avoid paying for expensive private study abroad companies, the program allows students to continue paying regular campus fees, rather than overseas tuition. In addition to paying campus tuition, students are individually responsible for covering their transportation, living expenses, insurance and spending costs. Campus financial aid can still be applied to tuition costs and scholarships are available as well.

The program offers the option of studying abroad for either a semester or a full year, and in order to participate in the program students must be upper division students with a declared major and should have a minimum GPA of 2.75, depending on the intended program.

Students must also pass the Writing Proficiency Examination before participating in the program.

Last year, senior history major Trevor Jackson traveled to Sweden for a year, which he said was “…truly the single most valuable thing I’ve ever done.”

In addition to Sac State’s program booth, representatives for independent programs such as Semester at Sea, the Institute for Study Abroad and American Institute for Foreign Studies were also on campus to promote their programs.

Amber Kantner can be reached at [email protected].