Promoting Student Engagement: The Efficacy of a Criminal Justice Short-Term Study Abroad Program

In this study, the authors assessed student engagement during a short-term faculty-led criminal justice study abroad course using elements of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).  Study Abroad education has been identified as a high impact learning strategy but has not been well validated particularly when delivered in a short-term format. This study is a partial replication of Rourke & Kanuka’s Student Engagement and Study Abroad study (2012). Data were collected from a group of Metropolitan State University of Denver undergraduate students over a period of two years from five different courses traveling to three different destinations for study abroad education. A comparison of responses from the two administrations of the NSSE-based surveys indicated that students’ engagement increased after their participation in the programs. Students’ knowledge in international criminal justice system also improved. Limitations and areas for further research are also discussed.