Abstract:

A literature analysis of 95 investigations of study abroad benefits for specific academic disciplines revealed unequal levels of documented benefits. This review includes investigations of specific majors or study abroad programs focusing on one academic discipline. Literature discussing benefits of studying abroad in general are not included. There are twelve categories of personal benefits found in the literature ranging from increased intercultural awareness to improved career identity to greater knowledge of discipline content. Of the fourteen academic major categories, health profession majors have the most documented benefits with evidence of 10-of-the-12; whereas, three disciplines (social sciences; communications & journalism; and legal studies & law enforcement) have the least number of documented benefits with 3-of-the-12, each. Increased career identity attributed to studying abroad was the rarest documented benefit and can be ascribed to only two disciplines: health professions and education. Improved intercultural awareness is the most common with documentation for 11-of-the-14 academic disciplines. It is important to note that the results of this analysis are limited by the available studies. Absence of a documented benefit for an academic discipline could be the result of a deficiency within the discipline or, perhaps, more likely, the lack of discipline-specific investigations.

Keywords:

Study Abroad Benefits, Academic Disciplines.