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Grand Place in Brussels Belgium

Belgium: Political Communication

This faculty led, Spring Break program is designed to give students an opportunity to witness and experience international political communication first hand, with trips to the European Commission and NATO headquarters.

  • Snapshot
  • Academics
  • Location
  • Housing
  • Cost and Dates
  • Program Contacts

Snapshot

Homes in Bruges Belgium

Program Details

Eligibility

  • Participants must meet the standard eligibility and program specific requirements
  • Open to all majors and minors
    • Preference given to Communication majors and minors
  • Open undergraduate & graduate students
  • ISU cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (undergraduate) and 3.0 (graduate)

Included Excursions

  • Program includes visits to the European Commission & NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the College of Europe in Bruges, and an excursion to Luxembourg.

Research Your Country

Academics

Students have the option of earning one or three credit hours during the program which includes tours of NATO Headquarters and the European Commission.

Students will enroll in one of the following courses:

Track 1 

COM 371: Political Communication for 3 credit hours 

  • Course will be taught through a combination of on-site visits and tours, as well as on campus instruction prior to departure and upon return.
  • This course will be a regular on-campus spring semester course with a travel component during spring break.

OR

Track 2 - only for students that have already taken COM 371

COM 287 (undergraduates) or COM 400 (graduates): Special Topics Course for 1 credit hour

  • Course will be taught through a combination of on-site visits and tours, as well as on campus instruction prior to departure and upon return.
  • This course will have some pre-departure and post-program instruction on-campus, but the majority of the program instruction will occur during spring break. 

 

Location

The Cities

Brussels

  • Capital of Belgium and headquarters to the European Union & NATO
  • Has a population of over 1.2 million people
  • Brussels is known for its local waffle, its chocolate, and its "French" fries 
  • It's one of the greenest cities in Europe with many parks and green spaces

Bruges

  • Located in the northwest of Belgium within the Flemish Region (Dutch-Speaking)
  • The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO
  • Bruges has many canals running through the city, giving it the nickname "The Venice of the North"
  • One of the most well-preserved medieval towns in Europe

Tentative Program Itinerary* 

*The following itinerary is tentative and subject to change.  Final itinerary will be given upon acceptance to program.

Political Communication in Belgium Spring Break 2019 Itinerary:

DAY 1: Overnight flight from BMI to Brussels.

DAY 2: BRUSSELS - arrival in Brussels, meet your program director and transfer to hotel. Orientation walking tour. Dinner.

DAY 3: BRUSSELS - morning visit the European Commission to learn about its role as the political executive of the European Union. In the afternoon visit the European Parliament Hemicycle.

DAY 4: BRUSSELS - full day excursion to Luxembourg. Dinner in Brussels.

DAY 5: BRUSSELS - morning visit to the Parliamentarium. (request to participate in the Role Play Game). In the afternoon visit a local media outlet (tbc). Visit to BELvue Museum. Dinner

DAY 6: BRUGES - drive to Brussels. En route stop in Mons to visit the headquarters of Nato. Dinner and overnight in Brussels.

DAY 7: BRUGES - morning visit of the  the winding canals, ornate houses and medieval cobbled streets of the city that is often called the “Venice of the North”. In the afternoon enjoy a canal boat cruise. Dinner

DAY 8: BRUSSELS - morning free in Bruges before returning to Brussels for dinner and overnight. (possible faculty organized visit to the College of Europe).

DAY 9: Transfer to airport for return flight to the United States.

 

 

Housing

  • Students will reside in hotel accommodations for the duration of the program.

Budgets and Dates

Academic Calendar

  • Spring Break: Mid March

Official program dates are listed on each semester’s Estimated Budget

Estimated Budget

To see how this program compares, view the Illinois State budget.

Program Contacts

Faculty Director

Dr. Joseph Zompetti
jpzompe@ilstu.edu
(309) 438-7876

Study Abroad Advisor

Alex Ratcliff
Contact my Advisor

2018-11-28T14:11:21.388-06:00 2018