Have you ever wanted to go to school in the heart of Paris or visit the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey in London? Do you want to experience international politics and culture firsthand? Here is your chance! Ohio State students have the opportunity to take part in over 350 study abroad programs in more than 70 different countries. Some programs even offer students internships. For a taste of the exciting experiences awaiting you, visit the Office of International Affairs. Below is a selection of the most popular study abroad programs for Political Science students.
I. Paris, France - Sciences Po Exchange
II. Germany - University of Mannheim Exchange
III. Netherlands - Leiden University Exchange
IV. England - Oxford University Pre-Law Program
V. Malawi - Learn to Conduct Research
VI Third Party Providers
France - Sciences Po Exchange
Sciences Po is a highly competitive and diverse French university that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Located in the heart of historic Paris, the campus is nestled just a short walking distance from the Seine River and major attractions such as Notre Dame de Paris, the Grand Palais, the Panthéon, and the Assemblée Nationale. Sciences Po offers courses in political science, economics, history, sociology, law, finance, business, communication, social and urban policy, management and journalism. Sciences Po’s undergraduate program encourages intellectual courage and the ability to cope with complexity.
If you would like to learn more about Sciences Po please visit the Sciences Po website and the Office of International Affairs program website.
"SciencesPo proved to be the most rigorous and remarkable academic adventure of my life. Interacting with students from around the globe and with students who call France home reframed my perception of politics. Communicating with professors, in English and French, caused me to rethink my aspirations, and volunteering with the Academie Diplomatique Internationale was indescribably awesome. I can say with certainty that SciencesPo and the city of Paris prepared me for the next stage. And I can't adequately express my high degree of delight and thankfulness except to say that my experience was absolutely magnifique." - Steven Mahr (Political Science and Economics student)
"Arriving in Paris was a leap away from my comfort zone; it was challenging, required independence, and left me with unforgettable friendships and adventures. I was surrounded by students from over 150 nations who shared my interests and major. Sciences Po made me a more driven student and opened up my eyes to what a career in international relations would mean outside the classroom." - Marta Kosmyna (Political Science student)
Germany - University of Mannheim Exchange
This program is a bilateral exchange between the University of Mannheim and Ohio State University. The University of Mannheim is one of Germany's preeminent institutions for business and the social sciences, and it prides itself on its international influences and focus. The university is located primarily within the baroque Mannheim Palace and is home to approximately 12,000 full-time students.
Mannheim is a multicultural city in southwestern Germany with a population of nearly 320,000. During the 18th century, Mannheim was a cultural and intellectual center of Europe and home to a territorial prince of the Holy Roman Empire, giving the city a rich historical, architectural, and cultural legacy. Today, Mannheim is a vibrant capital of trade and industry, filled with cafes, museums, beautiful parks, and cultural events. With a central location and direct connection to Germany's excellent public transportation system, students in Mannheim can easily explore Germany's cosmopolitan cities and charming small towns.
More information about this program can be found on the Office of International Affairs program webpage.
Netherlands - Leiden University Exchange
Leiden University, founded in 1575 and located in the center of the Netherlands near Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague, is one of Europe's premier international research universities. With a long history dating back to the 12th century, Leiden is now a city of approximately 115,000 inhabitants, and is home to such international corporations as Olivetti and the National Flower Center. The city is only 15 minutes away from the Schiphol Airport and is also easily accessible by other means of public transport.
Leiden University was founded in 1574 and is a fully accredited university with a population of 14,000 students. Ohio State students are able to participate in an international exchange program with Leiden University for a semester or an academic year. While the exchange program is open to students of all majors, Political Science, Public Policy and History students are preferred, as participants must take courses in at least one of these areas.
For more information about the Leiden University exchange, visit the Office of International Affairs program website.
England - Oxford University Pre-Law Program
Under the direction of the Department of External Studies of the University of Oxford, participants study a variety of subjects in the British tradition of lectures and tutorials. The program course is organized under two general areas: Law and Society (Britain and America) and Introduction to the Anglo-American Legal System. These subjects are taught by members of the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies at Wolfson College, University of Oxford, and a senior professor of The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law. Following the English university tutorial system, a significant paper is required of each participant. The program provides an ideal introduction to American law studies. The subjects emphasize the heritage of English culture and legal institutions fundamental to the American legal system.
Integrated into the program are numerous special field visits to places of legal, historical and cultural interest, such as London and Stratford-upon-Avon. Sites of particular interest include the Houses of Parliament, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey, local courts, Royal Albert Hall, Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle.
More information can be found on the Office of International Affairs program website.
Malawi - Learn to Conduct Research
Study abroad in Malawi – the Warm Heart of Africa – and learn how to conduct high quality research in a developing world context. This four-week, faculty-led summer study abroad experience will introduce you to major challenges in politics and development, the research methodologies designed to study them, and practical research skills that are in-demand among employers. Students receive three credits for PS 3798.
Who is this course designed for?
This course is designed for students who want to conduct high-quality social science research in developing countries. Your acquired skills may be used on an undergraduate research thesis, a graduate degree in the social sciences, a post-graduate foreign posting (e.g., Fulbright, Peace Corps), or a job in international development (e.g., USAID, Global Health Corps, World Bank).
What will you learn about?
- Major challenges affecting politics and development, including foreign aid and development, ethnic politics, gender and politics, corruption, decentralization, and others.
- Social science research methods to study those challenges, including interviews and focus groups, surveys, experiments, impact evaluations, and the ethics of field research.
- Concrete, in-demand research skills, such as calculating power and sample size, survey questionnaire design, programming electronic surveys, and basic data analysis.
What will we do?
In addition to class-based discussions and lectures by Malawian scholars, we will take educational excursions throughout southern Malawi: local government offices, chiefs’ headquarters, local NGOs and research firms, the University of Malawi, the National Statistics Office, and a Millennium Village. You will also have cultural experiences including learning Chichewa greetings, seeing a traditional Nyau dance, spending a day in a rural village, hiking, visiting the local market, going on safari, and spending a night along beautiful Lake Malawi.
For more information please email Dr. Amanda Robinson at robinson.1012@osu.edu. More information can be found on the Office of International Affairs program website.
Third-Party Providers
Ohio State maintains partnerships with a number of approved third-party study abroad program providers. In these programs, students pay a program fee rather than paying OSU tuition. Fees vary by program, but often include tuition and housing.
The following study abroad programs may be of particular interest to political science students: