College of Arts & Sciences
Special Programs
Study Abroad and Internship Programs III
SwitzerlandWashington, D.C.
Other Options
Boston University Affiliated Programs
S P A I N
Burgos Language & Liberal Arts Program
Boston University’s program in Burgos, in northern Spain, offers students the opportunity to enroll directly in the University of Burgos (UBU), a modern university centered in a medieval complex of buildings that was once part of the Camino de Santiago. The program provides an excellent opportunity for students who prefer to live and study in a smaller city where there are very few Americans and very little English is spoken.
Burgos students will enroll in an intensive language and cultural immersion course before the regular university semester begins. Once students complete this course they will enroll in courses offered by UBU departments, including Humanities, Business Administration, Economics, and Science. Upon completion of the program, students earn a minimum of 16 Boston University credits.
Because of the Spanish academic calendar, the Burgos program is available only as a spring semester program.
Madrid Language, Liberal Arts, & Internship Program
The Madrid programs, located at the Instituto Internacional en España, offer students many options. Madrid I students, those with a minimum of second-semester Spanish, enroll in an intensive language program that enables them to complete the College of Arts & Sciences’ language requirement. They also take a civilization course.
Madrid II students, those admitted with fifth-semester Spanish or the equivalent, have the option of doing an internship in place of one of the academic courses or (for spring semester and academic year students only) enrolling in coursework at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. The Universidad Autónoma, a state university founded in 1968, currently enrolls about 30,000 students and also hosts international exchanges of students and professors. Its primary site, which includes libraries, computer labs, and a sports center, is the 548-acre Cantoblanco Campus, located fifteen kilometers north of downtown Madrid.
In the spring semester only, exceptionally well qualified students may participate in the Madrid III Honors Program, which combines direct enrollment in Universidad Autónoma with accompanying tutorials.
Students earn 16 semester-hour credits each semester upon successful completion of coursework.
Courses
Level I: Intensive Spanish Language Studies Program
In cooperation with the Instituto Internacional, Boston University has designed a program of studies that enables students with a minimum of second-semester college-level Spanish to complete three semesters of language courses, and one course in Spanish civilization and culture, in one semester.
CAS LS 211 Third-Semester Spanish
Review and practice of the structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Reading in Hispanic civilization. Writing exercises to achieve more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns. 4 cr.
CAS LS 212 Fourth-Semester Spanish
Further review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. Different styles and levels of Spanish through recorded materials. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture with frequent compositions. 4 cr.
CAS LS 241 Spanish Civilization
An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. The course begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students’ fluency increases. It is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and other sites. 4 cr.
CAS LS 303/304 Composition and Conversation in Spanish I/II
Development of skills in spoken and written language. Grammar review, vocabulary building, and regular compositions. 4 cr.
Level II: Advanced Language and University Studies Program
The following courses have been offered at the Instituto Internacional and are representative of those available to Boston University Level II students. All students take a language course at a level appropriate to their proficiency (this requirement is waived for fluent students), and three additional courses of their choice, to earn a total of 16 credits per semester.
Language Courses Advanced Language and Composition.
Literature Courses Contemporary Spanish Novel, Translation through Film and Literature, and Cervantes and Don Quixote.
Culture and Civilization Courses Art in the Museums of Madrid, Contemporary Spanish Politics, History of Spanish Culture, Spain and the European Union, and Women in Spanish Society.
Internship Courses Internships (four credits each) include an academic component and are available in the fall, spring and summer semesters to Level II students. Areas of internship include advertising and public relations; the arts/architecture; business and economics; health and human services; film and television; field placement in hospitality administration; journalism; politics; and comparative law.
CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics; CAS PO 451 Internship in Politics; CAS PO 453 Internship in Comparative Law; CAS PO/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations; COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising or Public Relations; COM FT 493/494 Internship in Film and Television; COM JO 411 Internship in Journalism; SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration
Level III: Honors Program (spring semester only)
Level III offers a specialized program for exceptionally well qualified students who have a strong command of Spanish and a GPA of at least 3.5 and who have taken through sixth semester Spanish. Students enroll directly in coursework at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM). Prior to the start of the semester, students take an advanced-level course on contemporary Spain. Program participants choose three courses from a wide array of subjects offered at the university and participate in semester-long tutorials that assist them with their university coursework.
Selected UAM Courses
Archaeology
Comparative Literature
Cultural Anthropology
Economic History (Global and Spanish)
General Psychology
Hispanic Dialectology
History of Modern Art
History of Philosophy
History of Science I
History of the Spanish Language
History of Spanish Thought
Medieval History of Spain
Modern History
Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Power Elites and Social Movements in Latin America
Social Development
Sociology
Spanish Geography
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Geneva Internship Program
Geneva, Switzerland, on the shores of beautiful Lake Geneva, is an important hub of global diplomacy, business, and humanitarian activities. Geneva is home to over 100 international organizations including the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the International Labour Organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross, 20 United Nations agencies, and many more.
Boston University’s Geneva Internship Program, in collaboration with the University of Geneva, provides students with an opportunity to engage with these global concerns through an in-depth professional internship and carefully focused coursework.
The primary language of the program is English, but students have the option to do their internship in French. During the first five weeks of the program, students study the history and nature of international organizations or international public health.
During the last eight weeks of the program, students work at the internship full time, four days a week, while enrolled in a fourth course.
The Geneva Internship Program offers two tracks: International Relations and Public Health. During the first six weeks of the semester students take and complete two courses, one of which is required for their track:
CAS AH 308E From Caesar to Corbusier: The History of Switzerland Through Its Art and Architecture
Development of the Swiss confederation, from the Roman period to the early twentieth century, through its art and architecture. Major events in Swiss history and how they have shaped the environment of the country and its artistic heritage. 4 cr.
CAS FR 113 GN Intensive Beginning French 1
CAS FR 213 GN Intensive Intermediate French 1
CAS IR 445 Introduction to Public International Law
(required for International Relations track) Prereq: admission to the Geneva Internship Program. Analysis of how public international law governs relations between states. Focus on the decentralized structure of the legal order and on conditions under which states can safeguard their rights. 4 cr.
CAS IR 446 Switzerland and Small States
Prereq: admission to the Geneva Internship Program. Approaches to small states’ security, with focus on Switzerland. General review of foreign, security, and defense policies. Switzerland’s evolution since the Cold War. 4 cr.
SPH PH 506 International Health and the World Health Organization
(required for Public Health track) Theory and practice of health management in developing countries, including policy issues involving research into the causes of illness and treatment of disease. Topics include nutrition, maternal and child health, and infectious diseases. Includes lectures by international experts from the World Health Organization. 4 cr.
During the final eight weeks, students enroll in an internship in one of the many international organizations in Geneva. Students intern full-time, four days per week, and also enroll in one of the following elective courses:
CAS FR 114 GN Intensive Beginning French 2
CAS FR 214 GN Intensive Intermediate French 2
CAS IR 444 International Organizations
Examination of several types of institutional arrangements, both within and outside the UN system, as well as normative, operational, and enforcement activities. Considers role of non-state actors in their relations with international institutional arrangements. 4 cr.
SPH 507 Controversies in International Health
Examines the international character of health, in light of the emergence of HIV/AIDS, multinational droughts and famine, humanitarian crises, and the threat of infectious pandemics like SARS and Avian Flu. Focus on international public health organizations and the coordination of efforts to achieve the greatest benefit for afflicted people. 4 cr.
W A S H I N G T O N, D. C.
Washington, D.C., Internship Program
The Washington, D.C., Internship Program offers a semester of study and work in the political and media center of the United States. The program combines a full-time internship with coursework on the legislative process, government, history, international relations, media, politics, and public policy. All classes are taught by full- and part-time adjunct Boston University faculty at the Boston University Washington Center. Upon successful completion of a semester, students earn 16 Boston University credits. An introductory course in either American Politics or International Relations is highly recommended prior to enrollment in this program. All participants enroll in three courses and an internship. Internships normally run four days a week throughout the semester.
Core Course
CAS SS 350 American Institutions Focuses on the most important institutions and traditions shaping U.S. history. Critical analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the American system of government. 4 cr.
Elective Courses
CAS HI/PO/IR 356 Foreign Affairs, Politics, and Presidents in the Twentieth Century
Overview of the development of U.S. foreign policy ideas and institutions. Respective roles of isolationism, free security, moralism, the rule of law, and national self-interest in shaping the conduct of overseas affairs. 4 cr.
CAS PO 406 Introduction to Congressional Policy-Making
Takes students through a step-by-step analysis of legalizing a bill. The process is studied in minute detail to give students a good understanding of the American system of government. 4 cr.
In addition, students in the Washington, D.C., Internship Program have an opportunity to take one elective course at George Washington University.
Internship Courses
CAS AH 505 Internship in Art/Architecture; CAS EC 497/498 Internship in Business/Economics; CAS GE 404 Internship in Energy and Environmental Policy; CAS PO 451 Internship in Politics; CAS PO 453 Internship in Comparative Law; CAS PO 455 Internship in International Organizations; CAS PS 495 Internship in Health and Human Services; COM CM 411 Internship in Journalism; COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising or Public Relations; COM FT 493/494 Internship in Film and Television; SHA HF 390 Internship in Hospitality Administration
CAS IP 400 Washington Seminar
Students also have the option of taking the Washington Seminar in place of one of the elective courses and in conjunction with the internship. The Washington Seminar builds on the internship course with a series of field trips. 4 cr.
Washington, D.C., Journalism Program
The Washington, D.C., Journalism Program offers graduate and undergraduate journalism students the chance to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., meeting newsmakers, working in the bureaus of national news organizations, reporting on Congress and the federal government for New England outlets, and studying political events or politics in the city where national news is made every day. Participants have the opportunity to make valuable contacts at national news organizations with working journalists both on the job and in the classroom. Students take a core course in Political Reporting. This course includes weekly brown-bag lunches and special events, bringing students together with newsmakers, editors, bureau chiefs, and reporters. Seminars are also given by national journalists such as Kevin Merida of The Washington Post and Fortune Magazine’s Jeffrey Birnbaum. Upon completion of the semester, students earn 16 Boston University credits.
Newsroom Experience
Students work for the Boston University-Washington News Service and serve as the Washington correspondents for New England newspapers such as The Manchester Union Leader, The Bangor Daily News, and The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune. The Boston University Newsroom is also equipped with state-of-the-art television and radio equipment. Broadcast students work as correspondents for Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut Public Radio, and for New Hampshire Public Television. The newsroom is located in the Boston University Washington Center, where students also live. By reporting for New England news clients, students have the chance to earn clips and tapes, and to create a portfolio and résumé reel of national stories.
Journalism Internship
The internship component of the program provides students the opportunity to do an internship in the D.C. bureaus of national news organizations.
Core Courses
All students:
COM JO 502 Political Reporting
Advanced course in public affairs reporting. Students learn about the development of political reporting and analyze contemporary public affairs reporting in the classroom, gain experience through reporting assignments on Congress and federal agencies, and complete a magazine-length enterprise article on a public affairs issue. 4 cr.
Undergraduates:
COM JO 412 Journalism Internship
Students intern 12–15 hours a week, and create a portfolio of work, in the Washington, D.C., bureaus of national news organizations. Includes seminars by national journalists on the legislative process, political feature writing, and money and politics. 4 cr.
COM JO 490 Print Directed Study—Newsroom
Advanced newsroom training in writing and reporting political and public affairs news for publication. Students cover Congress and the federal government three days a week for the Boston University-Washington News Service and its news media clients throughout New England. 8 cr.
COM JO 491 Broadcast Journalism Directed Study—Newsroom
Advanced newsroom training in writing and reporting political and public affairs news for broadcast. Students cover Congress and the federal government three days a week for the Boston University-Washington News Service and its news media clients throughout New England. 8 cr.
Graduate students:
COM JO 737 Internship in Print and Broadcast Journalism
COM JO 954 Directed Study—Newsroom
Other Options
School of Education Programs
Students in the field of education have the opportunity to gain international experience through Boston University School of Education. Refer to programs in Australia, Ecuador, and England for further information on the Sydney, Quito, and London Programs.
Dublin and Sydney Engineering Programs
Boston University’s programs in Dublin, Ireland, and Sydney, Australia, offer a special dedicated engineering track for upper-division students in all engineering majors. These programs combine coursework in the history and culture of the host country with direct enrollment in engineering courses at the host universities (Dublin City University or the University of Sydney), as well as the best of local university study and BU’s unmatched on-site housing and staff.
London College of General Studies Program
The London CGS Fall program provides an opportunity for first-semester CGS sophomores to study in London. Students take the CGS core curriculum (History of Western Epics, Evolution and Biodiversity, and Revolutions in China and Russia) along with one 4-credit elective and a 2-credit British culture course.
Management Internship Programs
For students of management, finance, and commerce, several programs offer a special dedicated management track, including direct university enrollment and often an extended semester. These programs combine the best of local university study, Boston University’s unmatched on-site housing and staff, and customized internship placements. All programs are available spring semester only except Washington, D.C., which is available fall and spring semester. All award 16 Boston University credits upon successful completion of the semester. Some prerequisites apply.
Locations and Host Schools
Auckland, New Zealand: University of Auckland
Dublin, Ireland: University College Dublin
Los Angeles: Boston University Los Angeles Center
Madrid, Spain: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Paris, France: Universit é de Paris IX—Dauphine
Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney
Washington, D.C.: George Washington University and the BU Washington, D.C., Center
Beirut Exchange Program
The Beirut Exchange Program provides Boston University students with an opportunity to spend a semester or an academic year at the American University of Beirut, one of the leading universities of the Middle East. There is no prior language requirement, and special funding may be available to students.
Bocconi Exchange Program
Students have the opportunity to spend a semester or an academic year at the Università Commereciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan, Italy. Founded in 1902, Bocconi was the first Italian University to grant degrees in economics and is internationally recognized as a leader in the fields of economics, business, and law.
Copenhagen Exchange Program
Boston University students have the opportunity to enroll directly at one of Europe’s top universities, the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, for a semester or an academic year. This program is of interest to students in all undergraduate fields. There is no prior language requirement and instruction is available in both English and Danish.
Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
An exchange between Boston University and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) in Paris makes it possible for well-qualified Boston University students to study at Sciences Po for one academic year, normally in their junior year.
Sciences Po is well known for its strong programs in political science, international relations, and history, although students from other disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Students must have a minimum 3.2 GPA and must have declared a major concentration prior to their acceptance as an exchange student. Since all classes at Sciences Po are conducted in French, applicants to the program must have completed five semesters of college-level French and demonstrated a high level of proficiency in the language.
Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies
Boston University students with a serious interest in classics have an opportunity to study for a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome (ICCS). It offers courses in ancient history and archaeology, Greek and Latin literature, and ancient art. Upon completion of a semester, students earn 16 to 20 Boston University credits.
Keio Exchange Program
The Keio Exchange Program, at one of Tokyo’s top universities, offers Boston University students the opportunity to study Japan’s language and unique customs and culture. There is no prior language requirement and instruction is available in both English and Japanese, but students are expected to take one or more courses in Japanese language.
Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies
Boston University students with a minimum of two years of college-level Japanese have the opportunity to participate in a semester or year of study at the Kyoto Center for Japanese Studies (KCJS). The KCJS is sponsored by a consortium of eleven American universities and is administered in Japan by the Overseas Studies Program of Stanford University. Each semester, all students take an eight-credit course in Japanese language. Additional disciplinary-based courses in the humanities and social sciences are taught in English by Japanese and American professors, including the KCJS director and a KCJS professor from one of the consortium universities. During the second semester, several Directed Reading courses are taught in Japanese by Japanese professors. Independent Study courses may also be arranged. Upon completion of a semester, students will earn 16–20 Boston University credits.
Singapore Exchange Program
Boston University students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at the National University of Singapore, one of Asia’s leading universities. Students normally enroll in 4–5 courses per semester and can receive 16–18 Boston University credits per semester.
Turkey Exchange Program
Boston University students have the opportunity to enroll directly at one of two Turkish universities—Bogaziçi University in Istanbul, or Middle East Technical University—for a semester or academic year. All courses are taught in English.
External Programs
Students can take a leave of absence from Boston University to study in overseas programs sponsored by other American colleges and universities, or to enroll directly in foreign colleges and universities. Credits from overseas can be transferred to Boston University, provided that the student selects an approved program and has obtained prior approval for the program through his or her academic advisor and the Division of International Programs, and that academic performance overseas is satisfactory. A continuation fee applies.
Students must meet the admission requirements of the overseas program to which they apply in order to participate in study abroad programs. For more information, contact International Programs, 888 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-9888; abroad@bu.edu; International Programs.
Sea Education Association
The Sea Education Association (SEA) offers programs that provide academic and practical experiences leading to an interdisciplinary understanding of the oceans from a wind-driven sailing ship. SEA accepts students from all majors.
SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration begins with three 3-credit courses in the six-week shore component in Woods Hole, Massachusetts: CAS NS 221, 222, and 223. The second half of the program is the six-week sea component (two 4-credit courses: XAS NS 225 and 226). Semesters begin every two months throughout the year.
SEA Summer Session This eight-week program is the summer version of SEA Semester. It consists of three 3-credit courses (CAS NS 221, 222, and 223), which are taught both on shore in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and at sea, and one 3-credit course at sea (CAS NS 224).
SEA Semester: Oceans and Climate This 17-credit semester for upper-level science students focuses on the role of the oceans in setting the Earth’s climate, with particular attention to ocean carbon cycling. During the shore component, students are guided by SEA faculty and visiting Distinguished Lecturers from across the country in their study of oceanographic processes, and in the design of an independent research project to be carried out during the 6-week research cruise. In addition, students study the connections between ocean science and public policy, and learn the skills necessary to operate a sailing research vessel. At sea, students carry out all functions of the sailing research vessel and gain practical experience in offshore oceanographic research. Students take a total of five courses: CAS NS 223, 320, 321, 324, and 325. Students take CAS NS 223, NS 320, NS 321, and in Woods Hole, followed by XAS NS 324 and NS 325 at sea.
SEA Semester: Documenting Change in the Caribbean In this 17-credit semester, the shore component concentrates on islands visited during the cruise, examining them for changes in ecosystems, population dynamics, and economic bases over the last 500 years. Students take a total of five courses: CAS NS 221, 223, 224, 322, and 323.
For more information on application and tuition, please refer to the Sea Education Association under Special Courses and Programs; write to SEA, P.O. Box 6, Woods Hole, MA 02543; 1-800-552-3633; website: Sea Education Association; e-mail: admission@sea.edu.
Courses
CAS NS 221 Oceanography
A survey of the characteristics and processes of the global ocean. Oceanographic concepts are introduced and developed from their bases in biology, physics, chemistry, and geology. Staff. 3 cr.
CAS NS 222 Maritime Studies
A multidisciplinary study of the history, literature, and art of our maritime heritage, and the political and economic problems of contemporary maritime affairs. Staff. 3 cr.
CAS NS 223 Nautical Science
An introduction to the technologies of operation at sea. The concepts of navigation (piloting, celestial, and electronic), naval architecture, ship construction, marine engineering systems, and the physics of sail are taught from their bases in astronomy, mathematics, and physics. Staff. 3 cr.
CAS NS 224 Practical Oceanographic Research
Prereq: CAS NS 221, 222, 223. This course in oceanography is designed to provide the student with a knowledge of the equipment and methodology used in the study of the oceans. Each student collects and analyzes data in support of a research project in a selected aspect of oceanography aboard the SEA sailing research vessels. Staff. 3 cr.
XAS NS 225 Practical Oceanography I
Prereq: CAS NS 221, 222, 223. Coreq: XAS NS 226 aboard the SEA sailing research vessel. The at-sea research program provides students with practical experience in oceanographic research, following classroom study on shore at SEA’s Woods Hole facilities. Biological, chemical, physical, and geological properties of the ocean are examined. Students actively deploy oceanographic equipment and learn the methodologies involved in collection, reduction, and analysis of oceanographic data. Data are collected in support of student research projects. In-field experience is supplemented by lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. Staff. 4 cr.
XAS NS 226 Practical Oceanography II
Prereq: CAS NS 221, 222, 223. Coreq: XAS NS 225 aboard the SEA sailing research vessel. Students carry out an original research project designed during the shore component using scientific equipment aboard SEA’s sailing research vessel. They apply their understanding of oceanographic principles to observations of the marine environment collected during the cruise, and are responsible for the analysis and presentation of data collected in support of their research project. Staff. 4 cr.
CAS NS 320 Ocean Science and Policy
Examines the connections among science, culture, and marine-related policy. Through a case study of a single policy issue, students explore the power, use, and limitations of science and the scientist’s voice in determining ocean policy. Staff. 3 cr.
CAS NS 321 Oceans in the Global Carbon Cycle
An examination of the role of oceans in the climate system, addressing topics such as the global carbon cycle, the thermohaline circulation, and aspects of global change including warming and sea-level rise. Staff. 4 cr.
CAS NS 322 Maritime History and Culture
Examines the impact of maritime ventures on the societies they contacted. Focus on the resulting social, political, economic, and cultural changes in the Atlantic and Pacific, and on responses documented in the post-Colonial literature of indigenous people. Staff. 4 cr.
CAS NS 323 Marine Environmental History
Sources and methods of the historian are used to examine the role of human societies in environmental change in the oceans and coastal regions, including overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Staff. 4 cr.
XAS NS 324 Oceanographic Field Methods
Prereq: CAS NS 223, NS 320, and NS 321; Coreq: CAS NS 325. Operating principles of, and deployment techniques for, all major oceanographic instrumentation, as well as laboratory techniques for biological and chemical analyses. Staff. 4 cr.
XAS NS 325 Directed Research in Oceans and Climate
Prereq: CAS NS 223, NS 320, and NS 321. Original oceanographic research conducted at sea using scientific equipment onboard SEA’s sailing research vessel. Staff. 4 cr.
The School for Field Studies
The School for Field Studies (SFS) is the country’s oldest educational institution exclusively dedicated to offering environmental field study programs abroad. All SFS participants receive credit from Boston University, which accredits SFS programs. SFS offers a rigorous, hands-on, interdisciplinary experience that includes lectures, field exercises, research, community service projects, and field trips. Students live at the field stations while working on research to support local communities and stakeholders in achieving sustainable development goals.
SFS has permanent field stations in five countries: The Center for Sustainable Development Studies in Costa Rica, The Center for Marine Resource Studies in the Turks & Caicos Islands, The Center for Wildlife Management Studies in Kenya, The Center for Coastal Studies in Mexico, and The Center for Rainforest Studies in Australia.
Semester programs are four courses of four credits each, averaging 95 days (including a five-day midterm break). Costa Rica and Kenya carry 18 semester credit hours with the addition of a culture and language course. Three discipline courses cover concepts in ecology, natural resource management, and socio-economics relevant to local environment and development issues.
Program information and applications are available from The School for Field Studies Admissions Office, 10 Federal Street, Suite 24, Salem, MA 01970-9935; 800-989-4418; Website: The School for Field Studies.
Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
16 October 2009
Boston University
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