Experiential Learning

Dialogue of Civilizations The Dialogue of Civilizations program started here in International Affairs over 20 years ago. It is a faculty-led program with the goal of enhancing academic studies by learning on location, to connect students in different national, cultural, political, and social environments, providing a global experience through global exchanges. The Dialogue in each country involves meetings and discussions between students and local government leaders, community organizations, and their peers on various topics, such as politics, the arts, literature, popular culture, human rights and the refugee crisis, women and gender dynamics across cultures, etc. It occurs within the context of two courses taught on location, which have specific themes including language immersion, economics, environmental studies, conflict negotiation, communication. Dialogues also involve lectures, site visits, and cultural events. Join Northeastern faculty and students on 4-6 week programs abroad, take 2 classes and earn 8-credit hours while on Dialogue with students from around the globe. Open to students of all majors. Click here to view International Affairs opportunities.     

International Cooperative Education Globalization creates an imperative for colleges and universities to prepare students to be citizens of the world. At Northeastern, international cooperative education is a great way for students to develop the knowledge, awareness, perspective, and confidence to feel at home anywhere in the world. And because experiential learning is Northeastern’s particular strength, the connections you will make through international co-op are broader and deeper than what is usually the case with standard foreign study programs. Northeastern students can pursue a six-month international experiential learning opportunity in over a dozen countries with a broad range of international organizations. Opportunities exist in a broad range of industries including business, health care, engineering, education, computer technology, policing, biomedical, and communications. For more information, visit the CSSH Co-op page, University Co-op page, or examples of international affairs student co-ops on the CSSH Poster site.

Study Abroad The International Affairs Program encourages students to spend as much time abroad as possible during their undergraduate career. One of the best ways to get extensive international experience is by participating in a “traditional” study abroad program for a semester or a year. Northeastern University offers semester study abroad programs in several countries including Argentina,  the Czech Republic, South Africa, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Cuba, Italy and France, among many others. Foreign language requirements apply to some programs, and students must meet the GPA requirement of the program to which they are applying. Because of the GPA requirements of some programs, international affairs students are encouraged to maintain a 3.0 GPA until the beginning of their international semester. Students interested in spending a semester abroad studying full-time at a foreign university should visit the website of the Global Experience Office for more information about what programs are available and how to apply.

Internships Internships are short-term and/or part-time experiences through which students have the opportunity to earn academic credit. Typically, international affairs students find part-time internships for the fall or spring semesters to serve as their fourth academic course, or they will find a part-time or full-time internship during the summer. In order to receive academic credit, students complete written assignments related to the experience and submit them to a Northeastern faculty member. Students interested in completing an internship for academic credit through the International Affairs Program should contact Professor Youly Diamanti-Karanou (p.diamantikaranou@northeastern.edu) and Professor Ioannis Livanis (I.Livanis@northeastern.edu) at least one month prior to the beginning of the internship. Please view our Internship page for more information and a list of current opportunities.

Service Learning Through courses and programs that utilize service-learning, this form of experiential education serves as an educational tool that supports Northeastern’s academic and civic mission. During this process, students work in partnerships with our community representatives to positively contribute to our local and global communities by addressing community interests and needs through the creation and translation of course- or program-specific skills and knowledge. Several of our international Dialogue of Civilizations programs incorporate service-learning projects into the program. Whether tutoring refugees in Cairo or organizing projects to address local issues in Thailand, our faculty and students share a commitment to making a difference in the world. And beyond the outcomes of a given semester, each member of a service-learning partnership not only receives certain immediate benefits, but more importantly, each is open to the new possibilities for how they and their partners are able to continue contributing positively to our communities throughout one’s lifetime.