Programs by Region

IRISH SCHOOL OF ECUMENICS

Program Provider: Trinity College Dublin's Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE)

Program Site: ISE Belfast Campus in Northern Ireland

Duration: Spring only; early January to early May.

Eligibility: 3.3 cumulative USC GPA; must have completed two years of college/university before start of program.

Description: Belfast is a city rich in culture and history. Once a location travelers were told to avoid during the Troubles, Belfast is an ideal and dynamic context in which to learn about conflict transformation. The city of Belfast is constantly abuzz with happenings; there is never a shortage of things to do.

The semester abroad program at ISE Belfast is interdisciplinary and suitable for students with a variety of majors and minors, including Political Science, International Relations, Religion, Sociology, and Anthropology. At ISE Belfast, students are immersed in a cutting-edge program of study that examines the causes and consequences of war and armed conflict, with a view to understanding how to achieve sustainable peace. Courses draw on perspectives from politics and political science, international relations, ethics and conflict resolution, allowing students to engage critically with the social, political and economic issues associated with peace and violence.

Course load and Credit: Students take three courses for a total of 15 USC units:

Conflict & Conflict Resolution
Social & Political Reconciliation
Lessons from the Peace Process in Northern Ireland

Accommodations: Students live in fully catered dormitories at Stranmillis University College. Students have access to all facilities and clubs at Stranmillis College as well as some faciities at nearby Queen's University Belfast.

Activities and Other Program Features: The program includes several field trips and conflict resolution workshops in Ireland as well as a field trip to either the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands or the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Fees for trips are paid for in part by USC.

Estimated Semester Cost (subject to change):

Tuition..............................$21,081
Additional Expenses*............$8,840
Total.................................$29,921

Cost Updated: 12/12/11
Text Updated: 11/29/11

*Additional expenses include estimated costs for airfare, room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and personal expenses (which can vary greatly from student to student). USC financial aid, scholarships, and tuition remission may be applied to program costs. Please visit the Office of Overseas Studies for more detailed cost information.