Location:

Galway, Ireland

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

Georgia State offers many summer and maymester programs led and taught by Georgia State professors. These programs tend to be focused on a particular topic or theme and range from 10 to 20 participants, though some are larger. Students participate in lectures, site visits, excursions, and tours as part of the program. These programs usually last between two and six weeks. Students find these programs a great way to really get to know their professors and other GSU students while earning GSU credits and grades. Students do not have to study on a program related to their major, but they certainly can. Financial aid and scholarships are available.

You will have the unique opportunity to learn about the causes and consequences of terrorism, in a place where terrorism's legacy is still highly visible and relevant, yet where you are not in any danger from that legacy (indeed, there is less per capita violence in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry than in Atlanta). There is a long history of sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, dating from 1608 when British settlers supplanted native Irish families in Northern Ireland, carrying through Ireland's civil war over Northern Ireland, and culminating in a period known as "The Troubles." The Troubles started in the 1960s and were characterized by terrorist acts by both Protestants and Catholics, including regular attacks and counter-attacks, riots and killings. The Troubles were finally concluded with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, creating a formal cease fire. Although it has been over a decade, the legacy of terrorism is still quite salient. Living in Ireland you will be exposed to people and places that still bear the scars of terrorism and regular news stories about the practical reality of creating a lasting peace. We will spend roughly two weeks in Northern Ireland visiting places of historical importance and talking to people about how the Troubles affected them. We will then go to Galway, where we will live for the remainder of the program. You will continue to attend class and class activities and will begin volunteering in Irish community service organizations where you will have the opportunity to learn about what Irish life is really like, rather than having a shallow tourist-only experience. Students will also have a number of free days to explore Ireland and Northern Ireland throughout the trip.

Setting Description:

At all locations, students will stay in group housing or apartments. Each location will have access to a kitchen, laundry, and wireless internet.

Cost:

Please contact for program costs