Political Science Study Abroad
NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Fall 2019
We encourage you to study abroad for an extraordinary experience away from campus. Programs are available across the world for you to travel for a week, a winter session, a summer session, a semester, or even for a year - all while working fulfilling graduation requirements. Earn academic credit while you're away through faculty-led programs, enrollment in a bi-lateral exchange program, or direct enrollment in programs across the world. See your advisor to learn more about upcoming study abroad programs and check out what is available through the Global Education Office.
Political Science Study Abroad Programs
The European Affairs in a Global Context study abroad program explores Europe’s economic and political rise in the 19th century, its collapse in the first half of the 20th century, and Europe’s rebuilding after the Second World War. The program evaluates new social and political fractures that are emerging in Europe today, including those related to the economic and security challenges associated with EU integration and its accession process, and the re-emergence of far-right politics throughout the continent.
Program Details
Where: Based at Virginia Tech’s Steger Center for International Scholarship in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland.
Courses: Complete five program-specific courses that fulfill requirements in the Political Science and International Studies Program’s five majors and build toward the minor in Global Engagement.
Excursions: The two ten-day excursions provide an opportunity to apply course concepts in an experiential field study.
The program's first excursion to Geneva, Lausanne, and Brussels allows you to visit several of Europe’s most important international organizations. In Geneva and Lausanne, take part in workshops and seminars at the World Trade Organization, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the World Health Organization, and the International Olympic Committee. In Brussels, visit European political institutions, including the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament, as well as NATO Headquarters. You will have ample free time to explore the cultural, historical, and culinary offerings of these destinations.
The second field study excursion takes us to Cyprus and Greece. In Cyprus, we explore the history of colonialism and anti-colonial politics, as well as ethnic tensions in one of the most contested territories of Europe. Hosted by faculty at the University of Cyprus, tour the island (including the Turskish “non-state” Republic in the North and the UN-protected buffer zone), visit the Museum of National Independence, and attend lectures on political developments related to the political history of the island, and peace-keeping since the Turkist invasion of 1974. In Athens, you will take part in several seminars and workshops put together by Athens-based scholars and researchers. Topics discussed include Greece’s challenges in the context of the EU and the euro, Greek-Turkish relations, and ancient and early-modern Greek history and culture. Complementing the stay in Greece is a day-long cruise to three islands in the Aegean Sea, a visit to the Acropolis and the Parthenon, and trips to several historical and cultural sites outside of Athens.
Required Courses
ITAL 1105: Beginning Italian
IS/PSCI 3115: Selected World Problems
IS/PSCI 4024: Seminar in Diplomacy and Security
IS/PSCI 4054: Seminar in Global Political Economy
IS/PSCI 4724: Senior Seminar in Political Theory
Optional: IS/PSCI 4964: Field Study or IS/PSCI 4994: Undergraduate Research
For more information about scholarships or study abroad, please contact Marielle Wijnands in the Global Education Office.
Apply by visiting the Global Education Office website.
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At the United Nations, Geneva, Fall 2018
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NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Fall 2019
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At the Acropolis, Athens, Fall 2019
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Dinner at Calypso's Athens, Fall 2018
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Hydra Island, Greece, Fall 2018
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World Trade Organization, Geneva, Fall 2019
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European Parliament, Brussels, Fall 2019
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The ancient city of Salamis, near Farmagusta, Cyprus, Fall 2019
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Seaside lunch outside Athens, Greece, Fall 2019
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Steger Center, Riva San Vitale, Canton Ticino, Switzerland
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Group dinner in Brussels, Fall 2019
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Dr. Scott Nelson and Dr. Yannis Stivachtis on a walk through town, Fall 2018, Riva San Vitale, Switzerland
Opportunities Abroad
Education Abroad Programs
Visit the Global Education Office for programs, travel guidelines, scholarships, and more information. Have more questions?
- Review program types and transfer credit information on our website
- Attend walk-in advising hours
- Reach out via email
Interested in the Peace Corps?
The Virginia Tech Peace Corps Prep Program is designed to prepare you for international development fieldwork, international service careers, and Peace Corps service. Open to undergraduate students of any major, the Prep program pairs selected courses with leadership development and experiential learning to help you prepare for global service work.
Ut Prosim Beyond Boundaries: Global Outreach During the Pandemic
Check out the Ut Prosim Beyond Boundaries: Global Outreach During the Pandemic exhibition curated by Dr. Sweta Baniya, Laura Gautier, and Scott Fralin, which presents an example of Virginia Tech’s motto Ut Prosim in action. In this exhibition, we curate our experiences of an online service-learning-based Professional and Technical writing course at the Department of English that aimed at serving rural communities in Nepal to enhance digital literacy.
Academic Credit and Scholarships
Transferring Course from Other Institutions
- If you are on academic suspension, you may not take courses for transfer.
- Credit hours transfer; grades do not
- A limited number of credit hours may be transferred; see your course catalogue for more transfer credit policies
- Major upper-level courses are more difficult to transfer than lower-level elective courses because there are not exact equivalents; you should plan to take most major courses at Virginia Tech (of the last 45 hours before graduation, only 18 can be transferred).
Authorization to Take Course Elsewhere
If you are studying abroad, through an international school, third party program, or domestic institution, please register your experience with the Global Education Office. Begin by searching for your program on the Global Education Office website. By registering you will have a study abroad account that has all the mandatory paperwork you need to submit. One of the forms in your study abroad account will be the “Authorization to Take Courses Abroad Form” which you need to submit for your credits to be reviewed for transfer. Course syllabi should also be included when submitting this form.