By David E. Hubler
Contributor, Online Learning Tips

Over the past several years, the School of Security and Global Studies has successfully launched several innovative programs in and outside the online classroom. Most recently, members of the faculty have planned a week-long student study trip to London in May 2020 with a focus on criminal justice and law.

According to a recent NAFTA study, over 300,000 students took part in a study-abroad program in the 2016-2017 academic year. The London trip, organized by Associate Professor James Barney of the Legal Studies Department, will provide APUS students with an educational experience similar to that which hundreds of thousands of brick-and-mortar students engage in each year.

Noting the keen interest in the trip, Barney said, “I am rather impressed by the level of interest in the London program as several students have already signed up for the 2020 trip, and many more have expressed an interest in programs in 2021.”

Students Will Visit Many of London’s Storied Legal and Political Sites

The London trip will give six to 12 students an opportunity to visit many of London’s storied legal and political sites, including the Houses of Parliament, the Old Bailey courthouse and a possible tour of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

Also, students will be able to attend a day-long seminar on forensics, tour law firms and engage in other educational activities. In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet with students and professors from other schools who will be attending the same trip.

Experiences like this not only provide students with a chance to experience another culture and visit a major foreign city, but they will be joined by like-minded peers. Focusing on criminal justice and law will help students have a specific and memorable experience.

London May Be the First of Many Future Study-Abroad Trips

Barney said the 2020 London trip will break new ground for the University. He added that he hoped it would be the first of many such study-abroad trips to Europe focusing on students’ varied academic interests. This first trip will also provide professors from various APUS departments with a template for future study-abroad trips.

This Trip Is Part of a Series of Experiments in Experiential Education

“I have been fortunate that the school has allowed me to experiment with a host of ideas over the years. This trip is part of a series of experiments in experiential education that seeks to blur the line between online and brick-and-mortar education,” explained Barney, one of the co-advisors of the school’s Phi Alpha Delta chapter and the Model United Nations Club.

“These projects also seek to address the demand for short, in-person experiences that many students seek when making their choice among schools,” Barney added.

A Study-Abroad Trip Is Not a Glorified Vacation

The students who participate in London trip will not earn academic credit, but Barney emphasized its many intangible educational benefits. “A study-abroad trip is not a vacation. Instead, a study-abroad is an educational experience that seeks to expose students to a host of new ideas and experiences. For example, on the London trip, we will explore the similarities and differences between the legal and criminal justice systems in the United States and the United Kingdom.”

In addition, Barney said, “Traveling to a different country also allows students to obtain valuable insight into the host country and the United States. This perspective is a valuable educational experience in itself. Academic studies over the years have repeatedly demonstrated that there is a link between academic success and study-abroad.”

In explaining his reason for selecting London for the university’s inaugural trip abroad, Barney cited his familiarity with the city and the British legal system. He fondly recounted how his trip to London and other European cities as a college student in the 1990s shaped his career and his world view. Barney said he wanted to share that educational experience of study-abroad programs with a new generation of students and professors.   

Private Study-Abroad Travel Company Will Provide the Logistics for the Trip

EF Educational Tours will handle the logistics for the  London trip. The company hosts hundreds of domestic and international programs each year. Its EF College Study Tours division has partnered with more than a thousand universities for one- to three-week, faculty-led, study-abroad experiences over the past 50 years.

Students interested in learning more about the London visit can check the company’s website at www.efcst.com/2196845AJ or by calling EF Educational Tours at 1-877-485-4184.

This opportunity is being made available by EF College Tours, an organization not affiliated with APUS. APUS does not endorse or otherwise sponsor EF College Tours or this program. While an exciting opportunity, this program is not for credit at APUS. All expenses will be the participant’s responsibility.