International Summer Programs
The University of Southern California is again offering several programs abroad during Summer Session 2014. The purpose is to create opportunities for USC students to learn in an international environment. Each program features intensive courses from two to 10 weeks in duration, and many programs visit more than one country.
Experienced USC faculty serve as instructors, tour guides and coordinators, sharing with students the unique excitement of learning at an overseas location. Excursions to important cultural and historical sites supplement classroom lectures. Housing is prearranged for students in university dorms, hostels, inexpensive hotels or with local families.
These special programs offer travel and study opportunities at reasonable cost; programs planned for International Summer Session 2014 are listed below. Interested students should call the contact person indicated for further information about a specific program.
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Journalism – Graduate Internship in the United Kingdom, China or South Africa
Journalism master’s degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai or Cape Town during the summer following their first year of graduate study at USC. Students apply to Annenberg International Programs in the fall semester of their first year. From mid-May to late July, they enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I and JOUR 545 International Internships in the Media while working full-time at internships with prominent media organizations. For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276, email ascintl@usc.edu and refer to annenberg.usc.edu/international.
Program dates: May 19 – July 27 (for all locations)
Total number of units: 4
Enroll in one section in each of the following courses:
| JOUR 540 | International Journalism Seminar I | 3 |
| London | 226-21105D | |
| Cape Town | 138-21106D | |
| Hong Kong | 166-21108D | |
| Shanghai | 420-21107D | |
| JOUR 545 | International Internships in the Media | 1 |
| London | 226-21101D | |
| Cape Town | 138-21102D | |
| Hong Kong | 166-21104D | |
| Shanghai | 420-21103D |
Strategic Public Relations – Graduate Internship in the United Kingdom, China or South Africa
Strategic Public Relations master’s degree students may spend eight weeks at internships in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai or Cape Town during the summer following their first year of graduate study at USC. Students apply in the fall semester of their first year. From mid-May to late July, they enroll in JOUR 540 International Journalism Seminar I and JOUR 545 International Internships in the Media while working full-time at internships with prominent public relations organizations. For more information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276, email ascintl@usc.edu and refer to annenberg.usc.edu/international.
Program dates: May 19 – July 27 (for all locations)
Total number of units: 4
Enroll in one section in each of the following courses:
| JOUR 540 | International Journalism Seminar I | 3 |
| London | 226-21105D | |
| Cape Town | 138-21106D | |
| Hong Kong | 166-21108D | |
| Shanghai | 420-21107D | |
| JOUR 545 | International Internships in the Media | 1 |
| London | 226-21101D | |
| Cape Town | 138-21102D | |
| Hong Kong | 166-21104D | |
| Shanghai | 420-21103D |
Communication, Public Relations and Journalism – Undergraduate Summer Study in London, Paris, Rome and Prague
The International Communication Studies (ICS) program provides undergraduate students an opportunity to study a range of approaches to public communication and media across Europe.
Students divide the five-week course into stays in Los Angeles, London, Paris, Rome and Prague. In addition to regular class meetings, students discuss the interplay of current world issues and international media practices with communication practitioners from international news and public relations media, government institutions, private industry and global organizations.
Students enroll in JOUR 482 Comparative Media in Europe. For further information, contact Annenberg International Programs at (213) 821-1276, email ascintl@usc.edu and refer to annenberg.usc.edu/international.
Program dates: June 9 – July 12
Total number of units: 4
All students enroll in:
| JOUR 482 | Comparative Media in Europe | 4 | 099-21050D |
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Chinese — Beijing, China
The East Asian Languages and Culture Department operates the USC Chinese Summer Program in Beijing. This program gives students the opportunity to improve their language skills, learn about China’s culture and history, and gain valuable international experience by living in one of the world’s most rapidly progressing cities. Students complete one level of Mandarin during the four-week program or two levels of Mandarin during the eight-week program. All students receive USC course credit and can seamlessly transition to the next level of Chinese upon their return to USC. Smaller class sizes provide greater personal attention and enable students to improve their Mandarin ability even more quickly. In addition to daily classes, the curriculum includes one-on-one speaking sessions with trained local teaching assistants. Homework consists of useful assignments like interviews with locals to improve speaking skills.
Each week students will go on one or two excursions to see China’s most famous attractions, including the Great Wall, Peking Opera and Olympic sites. Excursion fees are included in the program tuition. The co-curricular activities also include language exchange, Tai-Chi class, singing at a karaoke club and more.
The USC Chinese Summer Program in Beijing immerses students in the Chinese language and culture, allowing them to experience a new lifestyle in a completely different part of the world and significantly improve their Mandarin ability.
For further information, contact Dr. Nansong Huang, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Taper Hall 356, at nansongh@usc.edu or visit dornsife.usc.edu/beijingsummer.
Program dates: May 26 – June 20 (four-week program)
Total number of units: 4
Enroll in one of the following courses:
| EALC 204 | Chinese III | 4 | 764-25350D |
| EALC 304 | Advanced Modern Chinese I | 4 | 764-25354D |
Program dates: June 25 – July 22 (four-week program)
Total number of units: 4
Enroll in one of the following courses:
| EALC 206 | Chinese IV | 4 | 765-25369D |
| EALC 306 | Advanced Modern Chinese II | 4 | 765-25370D |
Program dates: May 26 – July 22 (eight-week program)
Total number of units: 8
Enroll in two of the following courses:
| EALC 106 | Chinese II | 4 | 764-25372D |
| EALC 204 | Chinese III | 4 | 764-25350D |
| EALC 304 | Advanced Modern Chinese I | 4 | 764-25354D |
| EALC 204 | Chinese III | 4 | 765-25374D |
| EALC 206 | Chinese IV | 4 | 765-25369D |
| EALC 306 | Advanced Modern Chinese II | 4 | 765-25370D |
Chinese — Taipei, Taiwan
The Taiwan summer study aboard program provides students with the unique opportunity to experience the vibrant city of Taipei while joining a four-week Chinese language program at the top-ranked academic institution, National Taiwan University (NTU), in Taiwan.
The course curriculum includes an array of courses for students with various levels of Chinese. The program offers intermediate courses for students to enhance communicative skills. For advanced students, the film class is a great way to learn idiomatic expressions and deepen the understand of the culture. The program also offers business-oriented advanced courses that focus on experiential learning and co-curriculum activities, through which they can acquire practical skills as well as various professional opportunities. Students who are business majors and minors are particularly encouraged to apply, since meeting with Chinese businesses is a key element of the Business Chinese summer courses. The program will offer unique courses for students who have family ties and interest in furthering their understanding of the cultural heritage of Taiwan. The smaller class sizes in this immersion program provide greater personal attention and enable students to improve their Mandarin ability. In addition, there are special scholarship opportunities available for students who want to pursue their overseas study in Taipei.
In addition to regular classroom activities, each week the program will have one or two excursions that allow students to experience the exciting city of Taipei, including visits to the the National Palace Museum, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, and Shilin Night Market. There will also be longer field trips to other parts of the island.
For more information, contact John Chang, the program director, at johnwcha@usc.edu.
East Asian Studies Center – Global East Asia Program in China, Japan and Korea
The East Asian Studies Center’s “Global East Asia” summer international program offers USC undergraduate students an opportunity to study abroad in China, Japan or Korea for a 4-week summer course. Students must successfully complete two language and/or area studies courses related to the country of study prior to being accepted into the program.
Application to the program is required. The summer study abroad course offers students 4 units of upper-division USC credit, an opportunity to study with USC faculty members in an East Asian country and a platform to share their experiences through an outreach activity.
This program is designed to expand undergraduate interest in East Asian studies, and if accepted into the program, students will have all major expenses associated with the travel abroad portion of the course covered, including roundtrip international airfare, basic lodging and meals, local transportation and entrance fees related to the study abroad course. Students are responsible for the tuition.
Program dates: China May 23 – June 22 (four-week program); Japan June 13 – July 13 (four-week program); Korea June 22 – July 22 (four-week program)
Total number of units: 4
| EASC 360 | Global East Asia | 4 |
| China | 099-25801 | |
| Japan | 099-25803 | |
| Korea | 099-25805 |
For more information, please contact the East Asian Studies Center at (213) 740-2991 or by email easc@usc.edu.
French — Dijon, France
The Department of French and Italian offers a summer program in the city of Dijon, France, where students have the opportunity to study the French language and culture in a beautiful, culturally rich setting. Dijon is the ancient capital of the former Duchy of Burgundy and is renowned for its lovely old streets, monuments, churches and fine cuisine. The program will be held from May 26 to June 27 and will be centered at the University of Bourgogne.
During the program, students live with families near the city center, which effectively immerses them in the French culture and language. Classes are taught both by French instructors from Dijon and USC faculty. The latter will lead small-group sessions designed to help students achieve even greater fluency in French.
Cultural visits and excursions are arranged to further enhance awareness and understanding of French history and culture. Opportunities for daily interaction with townspeople and students from other countries will be plentiful. The 6-unit program is offered at the undergraduate level. The cost of field trips is included in tuition fees.
Program dates: May 26 – June 27 (five-week program)
Total number of units: 6
Application deadline: 12 p.m., March 3. Applications and other materials may be picked up in the Department of French and Italian, Taper Hall 155. For further information, contact Dr. Colin Keaveney, Department of French and Italian, Taper Hall 155-G, keaveney@usc.edu.
All students will take FREN 236x plus one other class from the list for a total of 6 units. All of the following courses are offered in Dijon:
| FREN 236x | Professional Communication in French |
2 | 099-34353D |
| FREN 150 | French II | 4 | 099-34350D |
| FREN 220 | French III | 4 | 099-34352D |
| FREN 250 | French IV | 4 | 099-34354D |
| FREN 300 | French Grammar and Composition | 4 | 099-34355D |
| FREN 310 | French Pronunciation and Conversation | 4 | 099-34356D |
| FREN 330 | Writing about Literature | 4 | 099-34357D |
| FREN 490x | Directed Research | 4 | 099-34359D |
International Relations — Brussels, Belgium
The School of International Relations offers students the opportunity to study and intern for five weeks in Brussels, Belgium. Students take a course on the contemporary issues in European foreign and security policy while interning at an international organization. Students enroll in IR 491x Field Study (4 units), which can be used to fulfill an IR major or IR minor requirement. Students intern full-time for the first week, after which their schedule will consist of class in the morning and internship in the afternoon.
This program is open to IR and IR-related majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applications for this program are available in VKC 301 and the School of International Relations Website.
Program dates: June 2 – July 4
Italian — Rome, Italy
The Department of French and Italian offers students the opportunity to study Italian while living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, Rome. No previous knowledge of Italian is required. Students take one intensive Italian language class and enroll in ITAL 335, a two-unit class that will explore the representation of Rome through some of Italian cinema’s most emblematic films. Italian majors and minors have the option to register for an additional 2-4 units of Directed Research. Excursions to nearby cities, visits to local museums and sites, and many cultural and social events are planned and included in the cost of tuition.
Students live with an Italian family. The seven-week program is offered at the undergraduate level. For additional information, contact Dr. James M. Fortney, Department of French and Italian, Taper Hall 155H, fortney@usc.edu.
Program dates: May 22 – July 11, 2014
Total number of units: 6-8
Students enroll in one of the following language courses:
| ITAL 120 | Italian I | 4 | 099-34450D |
| ITAL 150 | Italian II | 4 | 099-34452D |
| ITAL 220 | Italian III | 4 | 099-34453D |
| ITAL 224 | Italian Composition and Conversation | 4 | 099-34455D |
| ITAL 320 | Writing about Italian Literature | 4 | 099-34457D |
Students also enroll in:
| ITAL 335 | Cinematic Rome and the Cultural Imagination | 4 | 099-34458D |
| ITAL 490x | Directed Research | 2-4 | 099-34459D |
Spanish and International Relations — Valencia, Spain
The Departments of Spanish and Portuguese and the School of International Relations offer an interdisciplinary course in the city of Valencia, Spain, where students will be able to improve their Spanish and increase their knowledge of the history, current challenges of immigration, and legal and social shifts toward immigrants. Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and renowned for its medieval streets, Moorish monuments, numerous churches, and Santiago Calatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences. The program will be held at the University of Valencia and will also include either one or two trips to other parts of Spain.
Students will live in a student residence (the Colegio Mayor) within walking distance of the university. Classes will be taught by Spanish instructors from the University of Valencia. In addition, a USC in-residence director will help to monitor the course and assist the students.
Visits to non-governmental organizations that help immigrants (ONGs) and refugee centers as well as other cultural events in Valencia will be arranged to provide students with firsthand experience with immigrants in Spain as well as native residents.
The program is open to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who meet the prerequisites of SPAN 260 or SPAN 261, or by permission of the director of the program. Major and minor credit is available.
Program dates: June 14 – July 12 (four-week program)
Total number of units: 4
Review of applications started on February 1. Applications and other materials may be picked up in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Taper Hall 156. For additional information, contact the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at (213) 740-1258 or Dr. Marianna Chodorowska-Pilch by email at chodorow@usc.edu.
Spanish — Madrid, Spain
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese hosts a seven-week program in Madrid. Students improve their knowledge of Spanish language and culture and earn 8 units of credit while living in one of Europe’s most exciting cities. They take two courses, live with a Spanish family, attend lectures in Madrid’s museums, visit the Basque Country and take day trips to the monastery of El Escorial and the historical cities of Córdoba, Segovia and Toledo.
Courses are held Monday through Thursday.
The program is open to qualified undergraduate students who meet the prerequisites. Major and minor credit is available. For additional information, contact the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, (213) 740-1258.
Program dates: May 26 – July 11
Total number of units: 8
Enroll in two of the following courses:
| SPAN 260 | Advanced Spanish: Arts and Sciences | 4 | 099-62208D |
| SPAN 261 | Advanced Spanish: Society and the Media | 4 | 099-62204D |
| SPAN 311 | Advanced Spanish Through Contemporary Issues: Oral Emphasis | 4 | 099-62218D |
| SPAN 341 | Advanced Conversation and Culture | 4 | 099-62232D |
| SPAN 465 | Cultural Perspectives of the Iberian Peninsula | 4 | 099-62360D |
| SPAN 490x | Directed Research | 4 | 099-62368R |
Spanish — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese hosts a summer course, PORT 250g Cultures of Brazil and Lusophone Africa, at USC and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Students take one course, attend lectures, take a four-day study trip to Salvador and a day trip to Petropolis, and visit Corcovado and Santa Teresa, Casa Rui Barbosa, Fundação Casa Jorge Amado, Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Rio’s Municipal Theater and Santa Marta. While in Rio, students live with a Brazilian host family.
This course is a comparative study of Brazil in the context of the Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) world, especially Portugal’s former colonies in Africa. Course materials will draw from literature, visual culture, music and cultural theory.
The program is open to undergraduate and graduate students and there is no language requirement.
Program dates: May 19 – June 13 (four-week program)
Total number of units: 4
For additional information, contact the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, (213) 740-1258 or Dr. Ellen Oliveira by email at eoliveir@usc.edu.