Dates
May 27 – June 27, 2026Subjects
Business, Management, Pyschology, Communication, History, Holocaust StudiesDeadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Austria has been a favorite destination for KIIS students since 1975. Located on Lake Constance and at the foot of the Alps, this summer program provides an ideal setting to experience European life. Students live with Austrian families in the picturesque town of Bregenz, offering students a “home in Europe.” Using the youth Eurail Globalpass (included in the program fee) and the extensive European train system, students are only a few hours away from many great European cultural centers such as Zurich, Munich, and Salzburg. From Bregenz students can ride trains to Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Venice, Florence, Prague, and many other cities.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
Program Director
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Courses
All courses are taught in English and are 3 credit hours. You may enroll in 1-2 courses. Courses are divided into 4 time-blocks. You cannot select 2 courses in the same time block.
An introduction to behavioral decision-making theory and research. Topics include the roles of memory and knowledge organization in critical thinking, logic and reasoning in problem-solving, decision-making under uncertainty, heuristics and biases, and multidisciplinary applications.
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practices of risk management. Students will gain a solid understanding of risk identification, assessment, and mitigation techniques. The course will cover a wide range of risk types, including operational, financial, strategic, and reputational risks.
The course explores major historical developments in psychology and related fields over the past 500 years, focusing on human/animal behavior, cognition, and mental functioning. It emphasizes the German-speaking world’s influence on modern psychology, highlighting the impact of time, culture, and location on the evolution of psychological theories and practices.
An overview of international business, including international business law, international business customs, and international business functional operations, examining the effectiveness of U.S. business ventures abroad and in competition with international companies at home.
Graduate credit available.
This course examines the National Socialist movement in Germany, from its origins in the Weimar Republic to its destruction in the ruins of Berlin. It includes investigation of controversies surrounding Adolf Hitler’s background, the sources of his ideology, the nature of his support, his diplomacy and war aims, his role in genocide, and his sway over the German people.
This course explores the social, psychological, and physiological bases of communication in the contexts of dyads and small groups. Specific focus will be given to the influence of culture on developing relationships, as well as theories that help to explain developing relationships.
Examines nonverbal communication codes, including their structures, usages, and interrelationships. Stresses student understanding, analysis, and application of nonverbal communication and culture through lecture, discussion, and experiential activities.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
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Innsbruck
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Munich, Germany & Dachau
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Lindau, Germany
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Feldkirch
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Bregenzerwald
Group Flight
ESTIMATED COST $2,100 – $2,200
The KIIS Austria program offers a group flight option where you can travel to/from your program location with other students and faculty. If you choose this option, KIIS will purchase a round-trip flight ticket for you. The flight cost will be added to your final program fee on April 1. The group flight will depart from Cincinnati or Louisville and land in Zürich, Switzerland. The group then will travel by private bus to Bregenz, Austria. The program ends in Vienna, Austria. The group flight will return to the US from Vienna.
If not selecting the group flight, you are responsible to purchase your individual round trip (multi-city) airfare.
The flight to Zürich, Switzerland is overnight arriving the following morning. On the return, the flight from Austria to the USA departs and arrives on the same day. Visit Flights and Passports & Visas for more information.