Participation in study abroad has tripled in the last two decades, with over 332,000 U.S. undergraduate students studying overseas for academic credit in the 2016/2017 school year (Institute of International Education, 2018). Programs aimed at freshman students are a popular new trend in education abroad. As freshman program offerings increase, so does the urgency to assess the merits and effectiveness of these programs. Existing literature illustrates benefits of the study abroad experience in general, but provides little insight on outcomes for freshman students participating in first-year programs. Through a mixed methods approach, this study seeks to investigate academic and intercultural communication program outcomes of a full, first-year study abroad experience for a single freshman cohort. This study will provide institutional stakeholders their first outcomes assessment of a new and increasingly popular type of educational program. Additionally, the study will inform the field of study abroad through a descriptive analysis of participant data and their perceptions. The results have the potential to serve as a foundation for future research and the development of best practices. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]