Wofford College has been known to send its students across the world to experience learning outside of the classroom.

Now, a New York-based nonprofit organization is recognizing the liberal arts college for having students study abroad.

In its annual report, "Open Doors 2005," the Institute of International Education ranks Wofford second in the nation for its study abroad program.

The IIE determines the ranking by looking at the number of students involved in study abroad programs, compared with the number of bachelor's degrees conferred at each institution.

Other colleges and universities in the top 20 include Davidson College in North Carolina, the University of Dallas and DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.

According to IIE, the number of American students studying abroad is just more than 191,300.

At Wofford College, administrators estimate 250 students receive credit to study abroad. That is out of a total enrollment of about 1,100 students.

The IIE based its report from numbers collected in 2003-2004.

Laura Corbin, associate director of communications at Wofford, said the study abroad program is important to the college.

The January interim -- a four-week period that allows students to travel --

is one of the most popular at Wofford.

"We are committed to giving our students the opportunity to make connections," Corbin said.

"Our study abroad presents the opportunity for them to make the connection with their foreign language, business major or whatever program they can reach out to see how relevant it is in the world."

Stacie Truitt, a 2005 graduate of Wofford, spent the first semester of her senior year in Brussels, Belgium, to improve her French.

Truitt described her experience as wonderful and said the semester influenced her decision to travel around the world as an adult.

"I think it makes you able to see the world and people in a realistic manner; it's not 'us versus them,' " she said.

"Some of the same problems we have in the U.S. are happening there too."

Vanessa Lauber, 19, a junior English and history major, is going to London next fall. She said the college's push to get students to study in foreign countries is part of a bigger effort to prepare students to give back to society.

Next year, Wofford students will have the chance to travel to Japan, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Europe and Asia.

The Road Less Traveled, a new initiative supported by the college, also will encourage students to study in places less frequently traveled, such as Jordan, Senegal, China, Taiwan, Germany, Hungary and Cyprus.

Mesha Williams can be reached at 562- 7424 or mesha.williams@shj.com.