Learning Abroad at Rutgers-Camden: Opportunities Beyond the Classroom

While the thirteen programs have succeeded in catering to a majority of majors and aspiring career positions, it is important to note that Learning Abroad is open to all students on campus. Whether one’s major is a “perfect fit” or “out of the scope,” students are welcome and encouraged to apply and seize the opportunity. 

“I have to say, it changed my life,” explains Anisha Snell, a Rutgers-Camden alumna, now studying medicine at RowanSOM. “I knew it would be fun, but something about traveling with your closest friends on campus makes it stand out in all of my travel experiences. Not to mention the friends I still talk to that I met only because of the class.”

The Learning Abroad programs span an impressive range of disciplines from law and business to science and health. “Comparative Criminal Justice in the UK” enables Criminal Justice majors to examine similarities and differences between the systems of the United States and the United Kingdom, fostering a broader understanding of the field. “Yasuni: Exploration of the Amazon’s Jewel of Biodiversity” and “Health and Healing in Guatemala: A Service Learning Journey” open the doors for future science and health professionals to learn hands-on, utilizing their current knowledge and expanding their expertise. The Camden Learning Abroad Department continues this trend, providing opportunities for aspiring lawyers, current political science majors, business majors, and history majors.

Students from a wide range of majors have taken advantage of these opportunities in different ways. Anna Ramoundos, a current third-year Nursing major and Psychology minor, explains that she knew no one going on her Journalism trip to London and Paris in 2025. “I would have rather looked back, having no regrets about going, than staying home, worrying about meeting new people.” She now encourages other students to take the same chance, saying that stepping out of her comfort zone offered “an escape from my typical routine,” taking advantage of the course being outside of her major, rather than viewing it as a limitation.

To make this opportunity more accessible to students, Rutgers-Camden offers an Experiential Learning Scholarship, aiding those who may be worried about affording the trip:

All first-time, matriculated Rutgers-Camden undergraduate students who enrolled in Fall 2022 or later and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 are eligible to apply for a one-time award of up to $3,000 from the Chancellor’s Experiential Learning Fund to support their participation in a travel, internship, or research experience.

Ashley Gimbal, an assistant professor in the Department of English and Communication, who led a Learning Abroad trip in London and Paris in Spring of 2025, notes that one of her biggest challenges was recruiting enough students to make the trip possible. “We have to have a certain number of students participating in order for the courses to run… a lot of students are just not aware of Learning Abroad,” she says. Gimbal adds that many students face a wide range of responsibilities that make it difficult to commit the time to prepare and go on a trip. “Students are busy managing classes, work, and even their personal and social lives, so it can be hard for them to add another thing on top of it all.”

Despite these challenges, Gimbal emphasizes the profound impact this experience can have. “A Learning Abroad trip can be life changing,” she explains, adding that “every single student at Rutgers-Camden should be taking advantage of this opportunity, not only from an academic perspective but from a personal perspective.”

Even if students are not ready to join a program, they can take advantage of this time to explore current options and plan for future participation. Because offerings vary by semester and year, students have a wide range of options throughout their four years. With applications due between December and January, students are encouraged to contact the Learning Abroad Department to learn more about the various programs offered, discover how to apply, and how to prepare for future participation.