- Number of major requirements students can fulfill abroad: 3 courses. These must be credited at USC as 12 IR upper division units. (Course(s) would have to be at least 4 units in order to fulfill one IR upper division requirement, so students can combine courses as needed to meet the required number of units.)
- Major requirements that can be fulfilled abroad: Students can get credit for any IR upper division requirement (with departmental approval) except the IR 400-level requirement.
Availability of specified field of study does NOT indicate that major/minor credit will be granted. Students must consult with major/minor advisor regarding coursework for major/minor credit.
Asia
Europe
Elizabeth Farkas on studying abroad at the London School of Economics and Political Science (IRGB major)
I wanted to fully immerse myself in British Culture and the Education System. I opted to spend an entire year abroad to really understand what it feels like to live abroad, and LSE has been a dream of mine since I began college. The community the General Course offers to bring together study abroad students is absolutely unprecedented and I had a great opportunity to build relationships with full-time LSE students as well!
I think that students who are truly open to taking risks should study on the General Course. This course is about self-discovery and exposure beyond our university walls abroad. One must work extremely hard, but it is so rewarding in the end.
Janelle Janolo on studying abroad at Maastricht University (Global Health major)
At Maastricht University I was enrolled in the Politics, Law, & International Relations in Europe program to complete the IR requirements for the Global Health major. The discussion-based format of PBL provided an enriching experience where I was able to learn about topics such as globalization and inequality with European students. This exposed me to robust viewpoints as I was the only American in some of my courses. The smaller classroom size allowed me to interact with faculty and facilitated questions/engagement.
(Janelle took courses to satisfy her IR requirement for GLBH.)
Bryant Cong on studying abroad at the Australian National University — ANU Internship Program (IR/ECMA)
I’m Bryant, and I’m a double major in International Relations and Economics/Math. Studying both from an Australian perspective at the Australian National University was absolutely amazing! My favorite IR class was a class examining the politics of Pacific Island countries—Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, etc. Learning from regional Australian experts on the topic and thinking about a region that had never crossed my mind before studying IR at USC was a mind-opening experience. I couldn’t believe that I got the chance to study at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU (considered one of the world’s best IR schools) and to be in Canberra—a world capital where movers and shakers in Asian foreign policy make decisions.
I also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to take a math class at ANU’s College of Business & Economics that is not normally offered at USC! The ANU has an incredible selection of courses across all majors, stemming from its reputation in Australia as a place where experts choose to research and teach.
Beyond my classes, I got the incredible chance to participate in the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP), through which I researched humanitarian assistance & disaster relief policy for the Royal Australian Navy. Through ANIP, I got the chance to interview senior figures in the Australian Navy and Department of Defense, and made lasting connections with my mentors and my Australian cohort.