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Undergraduate Academic Programs
College of Arts and Sciences
African American & Diaspora Studies- Majors: African American & Diaspora Studies
- At least 6 hours of the concentration must focus on the Americas (outside of the United States) and/or Africa.
- Specific study abroad opportunities: African American and Diaspora Studies – Univ. of Capetown, South Africa (administered through CIEE); and at Stellenbosch University in South Africa
- AADS sponsors the “France Noire/Black France” Film Festival, focusing on the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African descent in French society.
- Majors: American Studies
- “The program particularly emphasizes the intersections between local and global contexts in the study of the U.S. and hence encourages comparative, cross-cultural, and international perspectives.”
- Major requirement (3 hours) - International coursework including one of the following: A) A semester abroad in a Vanderbilt-approved study abroad program and an additional 3-hour elective B) American Studies 202, Global Perspectives on the U.S. (3 hours) C) One course of a selected list.
- Majors: Anthropology
- Faculty are internationally prominent for their research and publications on the ancient and modern native cultures of the New World, especially Mesoamerica, the Andes, and Amazonia. The department maintains research interests and active field programs in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, and Chile.
- Archaeological Field School at Hualcayan – Peru (Undergraduate, non-GEO program through PIARA program - http://www.piaraperu.org/hualcayanfieldschool.php )
- Major: Art
- Faculty have an ongoing research collaboration with the University of São Paulo (Brazil) which may include undergraduate exchange opportunities in the near future.
- Majors: Asian Studies
- Major requirements: 1. Language coursework must accomplish proficiency through the first semester of third year in at least one Asian language; 2. Two Asian Studies-approved courses that emphasizes Asia as a region; 3. Two courses selected from the list of Asian Studies Program Approved Courses
- Specific study abroad opportunities: CHINA: Maymester in Chinese Business, language and culture (Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai); CET programs in Beijing (Chinese Language Immersion Program and a Chinese Studies Program), Harbin, Kunming, Shanghai; JAPAN: Rikkyo exchange program
- Hindu-Urdu summer program at Columbia University
- Majors: Biological Sciences (BioSci); Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB); Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB)
- Majors: Chemistry
- Majors: Classical Languages; Classics; Classical Civilization
- Majors are encouraged to spend a semester at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome or a Maymester session in Greece.
- GEO Programs (Rome); Faculty lead summer programs, including the Kenchreai Excavations, a long-term archaeological project in southern Greece.
- Scholarship: The Davis Prize for Travel with ICCS, Rome supports travel expenses for undergraduates attending the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome.
- Majors: Communication Studies; Communication of Science and Technology
- Majors: Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Opportunities for field work, including class and departmental field trips, undergraduate research, and credit for summer field courses in the western U.S., South America, Europe, Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand
- Summer research projects include: Geo-archeological investigations at Mawchu Llacta, Colca Valley, Peru
- Majors: Economics; Economics and History
- International coursework: ECON 222-Latin American Economic Development; ECON 260W-Seminar: Globalization; ECON 316-International Trade Theory; ECON 317-International Monetary Economics; ECON 264-International Finance; ECON 271-Economic History of Europe; ECON 355a-355b-Seminar in Research on Economic Development; ECON 357-International Trade and Economic Development; ECON 358a-358b-Policy Issues in Developing Economies
- ½ of majors study abroad most frequently in the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Majors: Literary Studies; Creative Writing; Specialized Critical Studies
- Majors: European Studies; joint majors in French and European Studies; German and European Studies; Italian and European Studies; Russian and European Studies; Spanish and European Studies; and Spanish, Portuguese, and European Studies.
- Requirements: core courses (21 hrs); 6 hr foreign language (can include VU intensive language program abroad); (15 electives)
- Program aims to broaden students’ awareness of the European experience and to prepare for international careers or advanced study. Most EUS majors also participate in study abroad programs in Europe and/or reside in the International House on campus.
- Specific study abroad opportunities: Vanderbilt in Germany or other GEO approved programs
- Major: Film Studies
- Program combines the practice of filmmaking with the study of film theory and global film history. A core curriculum in film theory, history and filmmaking is supplemented with classes in the related arts, disciplines, and cultural minority and non-U.S. cinemas. (FILM 211: History of World Cinema, Italian 294a Space and Identity in Contemporary Italian Film)
- Requirement includes 1 course in cultural minority and non-U.S. cinemas (interdisciplinary coursework)
- Majors: French; French and European Studies; Italian and European Studies
- Many students choose to study at Vanderbilt-in-France in Aix-en-Provence, or in Italy at the program in Sienna or at Vanderbilt-in-Italy in Florence.
- A semester of study at Vanderbilt in France or at an affiliated program in Paris is required for the French and European Studies major, and a semester of study abroad in Italy is recommended for the Italian and European Studies major.
- French Scholarships: Jane L. Drushal Memorial Scholarship and The Franklin Brooks Memorial Award, both given annually for study at Vanderbilt-in-France; The Claude and Vincenette Pichois Scholarship, awarded to French major studying for a year in Vanderbilt-in-France.
- Majors: German; Russian; Russian and European Studies
- Vanderbilt-in-Germany program in Regensburg
- Summer program in Berlin offers a 7 week/7 credit program
- Vienna Maymester includes trips to Budapest and to the nearby Alps
- CIEE semester and summer programs at St. Petersburg University
- St. Petersburg Maymester (2010)
- Majors: History; Economics and History
- Direct credit opportunities for study abroad, both at Vanderbilt-in programs and at Vanderbilt-approved programs sponsored by other institutions.
- Scholarships: Gertrude Casebier Grants for Student Travel, support undergraduate student travel for research
- Majors: History of Art
- Scholarships: Frances and John Downing Undergraduate Research Travel Award, supports travel to museums, galleries, and other sites, offering students in their junior and senior years an opportunity to learn research skills and to visit potential future places of employment; History of Art Undergraduate Advancement Award, supports developing skills in foreign language, museum work, and site-specific fieldwork
- Specific study abroad opportunities: Maymester in Perugia, Urbino, Florence and Rome; History of Art and Italian Studies (Florence, Sienna – CET)
- Major: Jewish Studies
- Requirements: Foundation course (Intro to Jewish Studies); 6 hours language in modern Hebrew or biblical Hebrew
- Specific study abroad opportunities: Jewish Studies (Prague, Czech Republic); “MASA,” which enables young Jews (18 to 30) from around the world to build a lasting relationship with Israel, strengthen their Jewish identity, and gain meaningful and beneficial experiences by participating in a long-term program in Israel; The Israel University Consortium (IUC) brings together five major Israeli universities in a partnership to support students studying abroad at Israeli universities each year and to collaborate with study-abroad professionals at universities throughout North America.
- Majors: Latin American Studies
- Partners: University of Sao Pãulo (USP)
- Opportunities to research, study, volunteer: Andes; Brazil (example: Portuguese Language and Brazilian Culture Summer Program in São Paulo); Guatemala (example: Intensive Summer K’iche’ Maya Program in Nahualá, Guatemala)
- CLAS VISAGE course: year-long VISAGE (Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement) course during which students spend 4 weeks in Guatemala (with MHS)
- Alternative Spring Break: program going to Primeros Pasos clinic in Guatemala every year since 2005, organized through the Office of Active Citizenship (OAC).
- Majors: none (minors in Corporate Strategy, Financial Economics, Leadership and Organization)
- Majors: Mathematics
- International Opportunities 1. DIMACS- students travel to DIMATIA, at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and participate in the Midsummer Combinatorial Workshop 2. Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics-Eight US students selected for program in Hong Kong.
- Majors: Medicine, Health, and Society degree
- Global health courses: MHS 202, Global Public Health; MHS 236, HIV/AIDS in the Global Community; MHS 290-04, Special Topic: Global Public Health
- CMHS / CLAS VISAGE course: year-long VISAGE (Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement) course during which students spend 4 weeks in Guatemala.
- Major: Neuroscience
- Majors: Philosophy
- Majors: Physics
- Majors: Political Science (International and Comparative Politics concentration available)
- LAPOP Undergraduate Research Fellows Program : students can become involved with LAPOP and work with the AmericasBarometer survey data.
- Majors: Psychology
- Major: Public Policy Studies
- Majors: Religious Studies
- Major offers courses that explore religion in cultures around the world and courses that train students in the intellectual skills relevant to such inquiry.
- Study abroad in Asia, the Middle East, or Europe
- Faculty-led Maymester courses/trips: May 2012–RLST 294.01. SpTp: Religion and Culture of Morocco.
- Minor in Islamic Studies: Students complete a required minimum of 20 hours which must include Arabic 210b, Elementary Arabic; Religious Studies 113, Introduction to Islam; and Religious Studies 254, The Qur’an and Its Interpreters.
- Majors: Sociology
- Majors: Spanish; Spanish and Portuguese; Spanish and European Studies; Spanish, Portuguese and European Studies
- Specific study abroad opportunities: Vanderbilt-in-Spain; Vanderbilt Programs in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Argentina, Chile, Dominican Republic; Brazil; VISAGE-Costa Rica; Maymester courses/trips: São Paulo Brazil 2011; Alicante, Spain; Spanish 296
- Majors: Theater
- Major: Women’s and Gender Studies (6 thematic concentrations, including Feminisms: Global and Local)
School of Engineering
- Disciplines/Majors: Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering; Computer Science; Engineering Science
- The School of Engineering is committed to increasing international collaborations leading to opportunities for students practice engineering in a global context and allow for faculty to establish international research collaborations and scholarship.
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Direct credit Engineering programs
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Engineering Exchange Programs
- BME Service-learning course (faculty led); students work on medical equipment at Moore Surgery Center and other hospitals in Guatemala; collaboration with engineering students from the Universidad del Valle.
- CLAS VISAGE course: year-long VISAGE (Vanderbilt Initiative for Scholarship and Global Engagement) course during which students spend 4 weeks at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Peabody College
Human and Organizational Development (HOD)- Major tracks:
- Community leadership and development track
- Education policy track
- Health and human services track
- International Leadership and Development (ILD) track provides participants an empirical and theoretical basis for understanding and addressing issues of human and organizational development in the international arena. The track encompasses multilateral development institutions, international development policies, and community development processes in international perspective.
- Leadership and organizational effectiveness track
- Majors: Child Development, Cognitive Studies, Child Studies
- Majors: Special Education (interdisciplinary with emphasis in one of three specialty areas: Mild and moderate disabilities; Multiple and severe disabilities; Visual impairment
- Majors: Early childhood education; Elementary education; Secondary education
Blair School of Music
Disciplines/Majors: Performance; Composition/Theory; Musical ArtsDirect credit programs:
- IES program in Vienna, Austria
- IFSA/Butler program at The University of Sydney and Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia.
- Conservatory at Victoria University, New Zealand
- IES Conservatory of Amsterdam
- Milhaud Conservatory, through Vanderbilt in France
Student Ensembles (course):
- Sankofa – West African drumming and dance class and performing ensemble.
- Steel Band - focus on musical styles such as Calypso and Soca from the Caribbean, with emphasis on music and history from the island of Trinidad, birthplace of the Steel Pan
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