In an age of new international tensions and shifting global alliances, the need for Americans to understand international affairs, to recognize cultural values other than their own, and to view world events from a variety of perspectives, has become increasingly critical.

This week-long study abroad program allows students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for a better understanding of the international political order, the global economy, and worldwide social developments.

The academic format of each GCP session for undergraduates is based on:

Plenary Lectures
Understanding the Contemporary World. Faculty members will deliver these lectures to the entire student group. Lectures will generally last for about 45 minutes, followed by a half-hour coffee break, after which a discussion of the lecture will resume. The discussion portion will be a mix of questions and answers, student or faculty panels, and group exercises.
Click here to see sample lecture topics

Small Group Work
Throughout the course of the week, students will break into small groups to explore a specific topic related to globalization and global citizenship in depth. The groups will meet several times during the course of the week. They will be expected to use resources in the Salzburg Global Seminar library and on the internet to research and understand their topics. At the end of the week, each group will report their findings in oral and written format. Salzburg Global Seminar staff and the Faculty for the week will be discussing the specific focus of the group work and students can expect further elaboration on this aspect of the program once they are in Salzburg.

Cultural Exchange
This section of activities will seek to expose students to diverse international views about American politics and culture by introducing them to other opinions, cultural values and historical legacies. Activities may include, organized discussions and informal exchanges with local students, a concert of classical music, film viewings, and guided, off-site visits to Salzburg and other local historical sites, including the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial near Munich.

It is intended that this program will make students more aware of global issues and of what it means to be a ‘global citizen’, more discerning in their assessment of information pertaining to world affairs, and more understanding of America’s place in the world as well as of non-Americans’ perception of the U.S.

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