Horace Greeley popularized the phrase, "Go West, young man," which served as the motivating words for the westward expansion. What a time that was, moving west. It defined the America we know -- the world power. Now, we are in the midst of another great watershed, and maybe one greater in significance: Globalization (I don't want to go into it here, but for some good info you may want to read Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat").

I can go on, statistic after statistic, and tell you that China or India will surpass the American economy. I've even been hearing so many predictions I'm likely to believe that Luxembourg will surpass our economy by 2050. Whatever the situation, something needs to happen in our education system to address our need as individuals to be competitive on the global front. We aren't falling behind by any means, but our competition is gaining on us. Maybe one part of the solution is generating more interest in study abroad programs.

Now, I love America, but I feel that everyone should experience a trip abroad, no matter how short. I believe this so much that I think studying abroad should be a required part of all degrees (I may be biased -- I went).

Not only was my study abroad the absolute single best thing about my undergraduate experience, but everyone I know who has been on one will say the same thing. It's not just for those who are learning a language. Maybe you want to go to Latin America to perfect your Spanish, to eastern Asia to study emerging markets, even to Germany to study local beer consumption (I'm not only the president, but also a client of that club). Whatever your reason is, do it.

Not only did I meet some of my best friends during my times abroad, but I got to feel another culture, see a different perspective and then return to the States where I learned not to take my beef jerky and Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwiches for granted (sometimes I cried myself to sleep over missing them).

Here come the details -- Penn State has tons of opportunities to study abroad, whether it is a short-term deal (programs lasting a few weeks), or the traditional semester or yearlong programs.

I was in the office of the Director of Education Abroad, John M. Keller, the other day and he told me that about 2,500 students from this university studied abroad last year. For such a large university, that seems like a very small number. Shame on you, students.

What is your excuse? Too expensive, I don't have the time in my major, or simply why do I need it?

For most programs, the expense is roughly the same. First, you pay your Penn State tuition and an insurance fee. For some that's it. Then you have living costs, which is covered in some programs with housing and meal plans (in the two places I have been abroad the living costs have been the same, if not less than in State College). No excuse here.

There are a lot of programs geared toward specific majors, which allow you the opportunity to complete your studies on time and cover your language requirement classes. And, it will make your resume sparkle like Vegas in the desert night or a rhinestone cowboy (your choice). No excuse here either.

Why do I need it? Hmm... why did you enter college? To get a better job, right? Why do you do anything? To better yourself. And, I'll make a strong statement: I believe that time spent abroad is as important and similarly equivalent to having a master's degree. A quiz for all of you in Econ 004: What should you do when the marginal benefits outweigh the marginal cost? No excuse here.

Again, shame on you, students.

Penn State, as a whole, has recently made a very large leap in this field. The university will establish a School of International Affairs. This new school will be housed in the upcoming Dickinson School of Law building and offer a professional master's degree in International Affairs with many concentrations. Way to go, PSU.

From my understanding, they will have space age computers and digital video conferencing or whatever that will allow the student to have real-time interactions with instructors all over the world.

While I am quite happy over the new development, it seems anti-climatic for me. The program is to open in the fall of 2008. I have to ask the question -- why did it take so long?

It wasn't long ago (10 years or so) when the barriers of intercontinental communication started to come down with the introduction of the Internet, and even further in the past when the "Old East" reunited with the West. These events should have sparked some change and involvement in the process of creating a program that would address this global front. Yet, how much ground has been lost in those 10 years? Yes, enthusiasm can be found in the birth of this program, yet it is only a start.

And now, hopefully, more students will finally see the big picture.