International Relations and Public Health students have the opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience through the Geneva Internship Program. During the first six weeks of the program, students take core classes while preparing for an eight-week professional internship at a local organization. Throughout the program, students live in a conveniently located residence hall near Lake Geneva. The internship manager facilitates individualized internship placements in English. Students are placed in one of the many humanitarian, political, public health, or economic organizations headquartered in Geneva.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Due to the highly competitive nature of internship placements in Geneva, candidates are required to have relevant work, internship, or volunteer experience
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Week 1–Week 6 (Core Phase)
During the first part of the program, students take one required core course and one elective course. Students also meet with the program's internship advisors in order to be placed according to ability, professional goals, experience, work habits, and availability of local placements.
Week 7–Week 15 (Internship Phase)
During the final eight weeks, students enroll in an internship. Students work full time, four days per week, while enrolling in one required course, which meets once a week for a full day depending on their track choice.
Students also choose from one of two tracks and must specify their track selection at the time of submitting an application: International Relations or Public Health.
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
International Relations Track
Required Course
All students in the International Relations track enroll in one of the following four-credit courses.
Required Course List
- CAS IR 445/CAS PO 243 Introduction to Public International Law (4 credits)
- Prerequisites: at least two classes in international relations, law, or related social science coursework.
- Public international law governs primarily, though not exclusively, the relations between states. The core areas of this law are its subjects; sources (or means of creation of law); the rules governing responsibility for breaches of international obligations, and those relative to dispute settlement. The decentralized structure of the international legal order means that a particular important question is when, and under what conditions, states can safeguard their rights by recourse to the use of force. The course is taught by lectures, extensive reliance being placed on primary materials (e.g., treaties, resolutions) and on decisions of international courts and tribunals. These can be supplemented by readings, such as those listed below, and drawn mostly from M. Evans (ed.) International Law, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2018.
- Syllabus
- CAS IR 418/CAS PO 247 Politics, Nations and Identity in the New Europe: Switzerland and the European Union (4)
- What is Europe today? What is Europe’s identity? Are the Swiss in or out of it? This course is designed as an introduction to some of the most pressing political, social, and cultural issues in present-day Europe: the place of nations and identities in the context of the European construction and the quest for a common European identity. The course will introduce the fundamental concepts of identity, nations, and citizenship, and provide the historical and political backgrounds essential to understand the challenges faced by Europe today such as the EU economic integration, the EU enlargement, EU citizenship, Brexit, and global migration challenges, where nations and identities play a significant role in shaping related policies. Taking advantage of the unique position of Switzerland, our host country, in the region, this course will set this small independent nation in the context of the European history, discuss its complex relations with European Union and its 27 member states and look at its unique system of semi-direct democracy, which is seen as a solution to the peaceful coexistence of multicultural societies.
- Syllabus
Elective Courses
Students choose one of the following elective courses for the first six weeks of the program.
Elective Course List
- CAS AH 308 "From Caesar to Corbusier:" The History of Switzerland Through its Art and Architecture (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- This course covers the history of Switzerland through its art and architecture, from the Romans to the twentieth century, setting the country’s development in a wider European context and covering the main movements in art and architecture over that period.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS FR 113 Beginning French I (4)
- The beginners’ course is designed to give basic oral and written language skills. In order to facilitate life in Geneva, it focuses on practical and daily communication in French and provides a stepping-stone to interacting in French during an internship in an international organization. The content of the course reflects all aspects of French-speaking cultures (French and Swiss) and gives the necessary speaking, understanding, reading, and writing skills to continue to the intermediate French course.
- Syllabus
- CAS FR 213 Intermediate French I (4)
- This class is for students who have taken one or two semesters of French and are reasonably confident speaking and reading the language. It will focus on gaining fluency and accuracy in speech and at establishing grammatical rules, especially the use of tenses and modes up to and including the subjunctive and the conditional. Classes will concentrate on aural comprehension and speech, with grammatical exercises as homework and several written assignments increasing in complexity over the six weeks of the course.
- Syllabus
- CAS FR 313 Advanced French 1 (4)
- This class is for students who have taken three or four semesters of French. The course is designed to give advanced oral and written language skills in French. It focuses on communicating easily in French as preparation for the internship in an international organization. The content of the course reflects all aspects of French-speaking culture (French and Swiss).
- Syllabus
- CAS IR 418/CAS PO 247 Politics, Nations and Identity in the New Europe: Switzerland and the European Union (4)
- What is Europe today? What is Europe’s identity? Are the Swiss in or out of it? This course is designed as an introduction to some of the most pressing political, social, and cultural issues in present-day Europe: the place of nations and identities in the context of the European construction and the quest for a common European identity. The course will introduce the fundamental concepts of identity, nations, and citizenship, and provide the historical and political backgrounds essential to understand the challenges faced by Europe today such as the EU economic integration, the EU enlargement, EU citizenship, Brexit, and global migration challenges, where nations and identities play a significant role in shaping related policies. Taking advantage of the unique position of Switzerland, our host country, in the region, this course will set this small independent nation in the context of the European history, discuss its complex relations with European Union and its 27 member states and look at its unique system of semi-direct democracy, which is seen as a solution to the peaceful coexistence of multicultural societies.
- Syllabus
Internship Phase
During the second half of the semester, students will be placed in full-time internships. Students will be engaged in their internship for approximately 8 hours per day, four days per week. Accompanying course meetings will be arranged for one full day each week. Interns will be placed in local IGO’s or NGO’s. Although the common language of these workplaces is English, fluency in other languages will always be an asset. Due to the competitive nature of internship placements in Geneva, students will be interviewed and will need to prepare thoroughly for the internship, which will be academically graded.
Academic credit for the internships is assessed through a collection of weekly assignments and a series short essays on reflective questions which starts on arrival and ends at the conclusion of the semester, requiring at least one submission per week during the length of the program.
Internship Phase Course & Placement
- CAS PO 242/CAS IR 444 The Activities of International Organizations (4 credits)
- Prerequisite: CAS IR 445
- The proliferation of both the number and types of international institutional arrangements has been accompanied by the development of specialized areas of international law: international criminal law, environmental law, and trade law, to name a few. Several types of institutional arrangements, both within and outside the UN system, are examined, as well as their normative, operational, and enforcement activities. Introductory lectures provide an overview of the substantive law relevant to the institution considered, thus building on the Introduction to International Law course. The role of non-state actors in their relations with international institutional arrangements is also considered. Teaching is by a combination of lectures, talks by specialists drawn from the various international institutions located in Geneva and to the greatest extent possible, visits to those institutions.
- Syllabus
- CAS PO 405/CAS IR 455 Internship in International Organizations (International Relations)
- Students work with an NGO, humanitarian organization, or inter-governmental organization. Past internship placements have included DCAF Democratic Control of Armed Forces, Graduate Women International, CHS Alliance, The Gold Standard, UPR Info. Students must submit as series of written assignments regarding their internship experience and professional development.
- Syllabus
Please note these are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Public Health Track
Required Course
All students in the Public Health track take this course during the first six weeks.
Required Course
- SPH PH 506 Principles of International Health (4 credits)
- Principles of International Health is designed for students with an interest in the theory and practice of health management in developing countries. There are no prerequisites: students with a background in international relations, politics, and economics will all find that the course touches on issues relevant to their main field of study. The course is divided into six topics, including nutrition, maternal and child health, and infectious diseases. Policy issues involving research into the causes of illness and the treatment of disease in the developing world will also be discussed. There will also be many specialized guest lectures by international experts from the World Health Organization or other health care organizations based in Geneva and field trips to some of these organizations.
- Syllabus
Elective Course
Students choose one of the following elective courses for the first six weeks of the program.
Elective Course List
- CAS AH 308 "From Caesar to Corbusier:" The History of Switzerland Through its Art and Architecture (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- This course covers the history of Switzerland through its art and architecture, from the Romans to the twentieth century, setting the country’s development in a wider European context and covering the main movements in art and architecture over that period.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS FR 113 Beginning French I (4)
- The beginners’ course is designed to give basic oral and written language skills. In order to facilitate life in Geneva, it focuses on practical and daily communication in French and provides a stepping-stone to interacting in French during an internship in an international organization. The content of the course reflects all aspects of French-speaking cultures (French and Swiss) and gives the necessary speaking, understanding, reading, and writing skills to continue to the intermediate French course.
- Syllabus
- CAS FR 213 Intermediate French I (4)
- This class is for students who have taken one or two semesters of French and are reasonably confident speaking and reading the language. It will focus on gaining fluency and accuracy in speech and at establishing grammatical rules, especially the use of tenses and modes up to and including the subjunctive and the conditional. Classes will concentrate on aural comprehension and speech, with grammatical exercises as homework and several written assignments increasing in complexity over the six weeks of the course.
- Syllabus
- CAS FR 313 Advanced French 1 (4)
- This class is for students who have taken three or four semesters of French. The course is designed to give advanced oral and written language skills in French. It focuses on communicating easily in French as preparation for the internship in an international organization. The content of the course reflects all aspects of French–speaking culture (French and Swiss).
- Syllabus
Internship Phase
During the second half of the semester, students will be placed in full-time internships. Students will be engaged in their internship for approximately 8 hours per day, four days per week. Accompanying course meetings will be arranged for one full day each week. Interns will be placed in local IGO’s or NGO’s. Although the common language of these workplaces is English, fluency in other languages will always be an asset. Due to the competitive nature of internship placements in Geneva, students will be interviewed and will need to prepare thoroughly for the internship, which will be academically graded.
Academic credit for the internships is assessed through a collection of weekly assignments and a series short essays on reflective questions which starts on arrival and ends at the conclusion of the semester, requiring at least one submission per week during the length of the program.
Internship Course & Placement
- SPH PH 507 Controversies in International Health (4 credits)
- This course introduces students to the international organizations active in the field of public health by examining the international character of health—particularly with the emergence of HIV/AIDS, multinational droughts and famine, humanitarian crises, and the threat of infectious pandemics like coronaviruses and avian flu. This course will place an emphasis on issues involved in best coordinating the efforts of agencies involved to achieve the greatest benefit for afflicted people. Through a series of lectures with international health specialists and structured visits to international aid institutions, students will learn about the social development goals, administration of international health organizations, the international difficulties arising from third party relief work, social determinants of health, health care and gender issues, and global pharmaceutical trade.
- Syllabus
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health and Human Services
- Students might work in health governance, advocacy departments and health activism. Past internship placements have included International AIDS Society, ICMHD - International Center for Migrations, Health and Development, and the International Union Against Cancer. Students must submit as series of written assignments regarding their internship experience and professional development.
- Syllabus
Please note these are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Housing & Student Services
- Double or triple rooms with shared bathrooms
- Shared, fully equipped kitchen
- No dining hall
- Laundry in BU residence
- Common study and recreational space at BU residence
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: early September to mid-December
- Spring Semester: mid-January to late April
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: March 15
- Spring Semester: September 15
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2023/2024 Tuition and Fees: $38,179
Cost includes tuition, housing, airfare from designated US cities, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available
