Study Off-Campus with POIR

Spend four immersive weeks in the heart of Washington, D.C., exploring how economics, politics, and international relations shape the landscape of global public policy. USC Dornsife’s Maymester Cluster in Federal Government and Policy, offered at USC’s Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., brings together students from across disciplines to study, analyze, and experience policymaking firsthand, through seminars, site visits, and conversations with government leaders, think tanks, and NGOs. This program offers a unique opportunity for Dornsife undergraduates to earn USC credit while living and learning in the nation’s capital.

Program Dates: May 17 to June 11, 2017

As in the US, European governance is modeled on capitalism, rights, and democracy. European nations and the European Union, however, approach these topics distinctly. This course, with a focus on the European Union and France in comparative perspective to the US, explores contemporary challenges across three foundational policy fields: governance and citizenship; the environment; and business. Faculty experts and guest lecturers work closely with students to understand the contradictory mechanisms at work in these three policy spheres, querying which political strategies are best adapted for the successful future consolidation of Europe. The aim of the course is to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of European policy modeling and contemporary challenges to the European Union.

Program Dates: July 6 to July 30, 2027

The Brussels study abroad program focuses on European governance and security issues in the seat of the European Union and NATO. Students will explore how the European Union is adapting to its new role as a security provider beyond its borders in places such as the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Asia. Students will earn credit for one IR upper-division course towards their major/minor requirements.

Students will also be assigned an internship in an IR-related organization (ex. Institute for European Studies, Egmont Institute, Carnegie, The Security and Defense Agenda, New Europe, etc.) to complement their coursework. This program is open to IR and IR-Related majors and all class standings.

Program Dates: May 17 to June 18, 2027

This course offers students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience conducting human rights research in the heart of Central Asia, a region at the crossroads of China, Russia, Turkey, and India. Set in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, students will interact with human rights workers, diplomats, activists, and government officials while examining international law, geopolitics, and society. Students will gain exposure to a range of issues, including freedom of expression, torture prevention, media and religious freedom, domestic violence, and LGBT and other rights. Toward the end of the course, students will form teams and jointly draft detailed policy memoranda with specific recommendations for addressing key human rights issues in Central Asia.

Program Dates: May 17 to June 11, 2027

In this “Problems without Passports” course, students explore how cities in developing countries face the challenge of providing essential public services like water, transport, and infrastructure. The course highlights urban policy solutions from Mexico City and other Latin American cities, offering real-world examples of urban policy in action. Students will engage in site visits, such as exploring the metro cables in Ecatepec and visiting water treatment plants, and hear from guest speakers, including local government officials. Students will also have an opportunity to interact with faculty and students from El Colegio de México.