Dates
May 26 - June 26, 2027Subjects
Business, Finance, Psychology, Germanic Culture, Film Studies, 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
Jordan Gabbard teaches German language and culture courses at the University of Louisville, where he also serves as German Program Coordinator. He has enjoyed amazing and life-changing study abroad experiences as a student, faculty member, and program director on KIIS programs in Germany and Austria.Prof. Jordan Gabbard
Photo Gallery
-
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
;
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.
This course, taught in English, focuses on the cultures of the German-speaking world. Specially designed for the Kentucky Institute for International Studies, the course will combine traditional coursework with carefully planned excursions and Place as Text exploration of sites in Austria and Germany.
This course will explore prominent attempts in literature and film to grapple with the Holocaust. We will work with a variety of genres, such as poetry, memoir, fiction, drama and documentary. We will also explore an array of perspectives, such as those of survivors, their descendants, and the descendants of perpetrators. Guiding questions include: How do you depict a subject that defies imagination? What can the arts teach us that historians cannot?
The Holocaust was one of the great tragedies of the modern era. One question that is still asked today is: “How could people commit such atrocities?” This class seeks to answer that very question and explore how normal people can do terrible things. We will talk about the effect of authority and the forces that drive us to obey, the urge to conform, the power of out-groups, the dehumanization of others, and examine the core themes of human goodness.
This course examines how development across the lifespan is shaped not only by the cultural context but also the historical context in which we live. In addition to broader conversations about developmental psychology as a field, you will explore how trauma and major economic and political upheavals, such as the Great Depression and World War II as well as current events, transform everyday developmental experiences.
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.
Financial decision-making processes of multinational corporations; flow of funds; exchange rate determination and forecasting; currency futures and options; international arbitrage; measurement and management of exchange rate exposure; multinational capital budgeting; analysis of country risk.
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
-
Innsbruck
-
Munich, Germany & Dachau
-
Lindau, Germany
-
Feldkirch
-
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.