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Political Science

Political Science on EAP

Summary

By immersing yourself in another culture and acquiring firsthand experience with another political system, you will develop a deeper understanding of the relations among peoples and nations. Discover how foreign and American political systems differ, reflect on the role of the US in the world from a non-American perspective, and gain exposure to new approaches on shared political issues. In an increasingly interdependent world, global awareness and cross-cultural competency are essential.

Imagine the possibilities when the world is your campus...

  • Analyze international peace and security issues in Japan
  • Consider the political tension between economic development and environmental preservation in Brazil or Costa Rica
  • Discuss US-China foreign policy and trade relationships with Chinese students and professors
  • Examine Middle East politics and international relations in Egypt or Turkey
  • Explore the national identity politics of Spain’s autonomous communities
  • Investigate the democratization of Hungary or Vietnam
  • Study the European Union from within a member state

These are only a few of the opportunities available to you on EAP!

“Political science students on EAP will be amazed to learn how differently governments operate in other countries, how citizens elsewhere view their political leaders, and the ways in which young people can make their opinions on politics felt in other places. They will return with a much deeper knowledge of how various governments work and will be prepared to go on to exciting, internationally relevant careers with far more interesting résumés than if they stayed at home.”

—Professor Dorothy J. Solinger
Department of Political Science
UC Irvine

 

Program Options

Political science courses are available at many of EAP’s partner universities worldwide. You can choose from a wide variety of short-term and year programs taught in English or in a foreign language. In addition, EAP offers special-focus programs designed specifically for students of political science, international studies, and related fields in China, France, Japan, and Korea.

Use the following resources to find the right programs for you:

  • Review information provided by Your Department about study abroad.
  • View a chart of which EAP programs offer political science courses.
  • Browse the EAP Course Catalog for political science courses previously taken by EAP students. Additional courses may be available and not all courses may still be offered.
  • For additional course information, check the Academic Focus section found on all the program summary pages for each country.

Related Pages: International & Global Studies

Your Department

Many departments provide information specifically for their students interested in study abroad. Where available, these resources are linked below.

Berkeley

Davis

Irvine

Los Angeles

Riverside

San Diego

Santa Barbara

Santa Cruz

 

Internships & Research

While on EAP, you can extend your education beyond the classroom through an internship or research project focused on your specific interests. Below are some examples. Check the main Internships, Research, & Independent Study page for EAP's policies governing academic credit for such activities.

Sample Internships

Internship opportunities vary term to term and placements CANNOT be guaranteed or arranged prior to arrival at your program site. The following are past examples only and do not indicate future availability.
  • The Federal Parliament of Australia. Duties included researching emissions trading schemes as part of a national and global response to climate change, and evaluating the potential outcomes, impacts, costs, and benefits to the economy, various industries, environment, and society. (Australia)
  • Amnesty International, which campaigns for internationally recognized human rights. Duties included developing a brief on economic human rights, and helping to organize and execute public awareness campaigns. (Chile)
  • The Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, which helps U.S. firms export goods and services to China. Duties included writing market-research reports on new banking technologies and pharmaceuticals, focusing in particular on countries which are competitors to the U.S. (China)
  • The Hungarian Ministry of Informatics and Communications. Duties included identifying opportunities for the Hungarian government at the World Summit on the Information Society, and assisting in the development of Hungary's policy on information and Internet governance. (Hungary)
  • The Human Rights department of Sin Fronteras, a Mexican NGO that offers services to migrants and refugees. Duties included conducting interviews with clients, investigating migration law, and studying international law in relation to specific human rights violations. (Mexico)

Sample Research or Independent Study Projects

  • Chilean disability laws in comparison to those of the United States. Research topics included the components of disability laws in both countries, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Personal experiences living in both places were also included. (Chile)
  • The effects of international development policy on Ghana. Research topics included the impact of international development policies on Ghana's water privatization battle, and the role of USAID and Western nations in funding local water development projects. (Ghana)
  • Japan’s alliance with the United States. Research topics included post-World War II treaties between the two countries, U.S. influence on policies pertaining to Japan's Self-Defense Forces, Japan's “checkbook diplomacy,” and Japan’s protection under the “nuclear umbrella” of the U.S. (Japan)
  • The youth vote in the Yucatán Peninsula. Research topics included historical and current political situations, relevant issues to political activist groups, and connections between younger voters and the influential political parties of Mexico. (Mexico)
  • The relationship between Spain’s autonomous communities and the European Union. Research focused on the representation and participation of these communities in the activities of the EU. (Spain)

 

Student Comments

"I interned for the Institute of Political Ecology, which is committed to finding political solutions to environmental problems and implementing green energy policies in Chile. I also took a course on International Law of Armed Conflicts, which looked at the rules and regulations that govern the cross-border use of armed force. EAP helped me gain a truly international and invaluable perspective on the multifaceted and complex field that is politics and law."
—Samuel Reed, Chile

"While in France, I took many classes about the European Union. The variety of international students and perspectives in the classrooms greatly enhanced my understanding of international relations and political science. My EAP experience allowed me to get an internship with the US Mission to the European Union in Brussels the following summer."
—Rachel Smith, France

"While on EAP, I worked on a special Irish politics project, which allowed me to visit Irish Parliament and to write papers regarding peace issues in Northern Ireland. Now that I have studied abroad I feel like I better understand American politics and political theories in general. I think it is practically impossible to get a full grasp of political science without seeing how politics differs individually and institutionally abroad."
—Alicia Williams, Ireland

"Having the opportunity to study political science from a South African perspective within a small and vocal classroom increased my appreciation for my major and gave me a more thorough understanding of its importance within the international community. I can now say, ‘I know what I want to do and what I want to accomplish upon graduation!’ This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there's no excuse not to do it!"
—Karli Bobus, South Africa

"My courses at UC gave me a broad understanding of international relations, but studying abroad in Thailand really gave me the chance to grasp the concepts. After returning home I decided to write my senior honors thesis on Thailand’s democratization process. EAP is the best experience you can
have during college. You get to make friends with people you never thought you would know, go places you never thought you would see, and do things you never thought you would do."
—Supattra Lerknant, Thailand

"I had the honor of taking courses on Turkish politics and foreign policy from esteemed faculty and a former ambassador. I gained new perspectives on Middle Eastern politics and was able to better comprehend the strategically important relationship between Turkey and the US."
—Beril Unver, Turkey

 

 

 
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