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Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Architecture, History, and Metropolitan Studies, and other topics through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
Listed below are the course options for the IES Abroad Berlin Summer Metropolitan and Urban Studies Program. You are required to take two courses (6 credits), but may enroll in a third course (9 credits) for an additional fee.
German language is not a required course and is offered at the beginning and intermediate levels.
Courses
This is a list of planned course offerings. After you are accepted, you will see a list of final course offerings in your MyIESabroad account.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 330 - 20th Century German Art and Architecture | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| US/ES/AT 315 - Global Challenges to the 21st Century City: Design and the Promise of Sustainability | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| US/ES/AT 315 - Global Challenges to the 21st Century City: Design and the Promise of Sustainability | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS/FS 343 - From Lenin to Lola: Contemporary German Film | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GR 101 - Novice Abroad I | Summer | German | 3 |
| GR 301 - Emerging Independent Abroad I | Summer | German | 3 |
| GR 351 - Emerging Independent Abroad II | Summer | German | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS/FS 343 - From Lenin to Lola: Contemporary German Film | Summer | English | 3 |
| US/HS 320 - Politics of Remembrance: Berlin - Memory, Identity, and Modernity | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 450 - Berlin in Literature - Literature in Berlin | Summer | German | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO 358 - Germany and European Unification | Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| US/ES/AT 315 - Global Challenges to the 21st Century City: Design and the Promise of Sustainability | Summer | English | 3 |
| US/HS 320 - Politics of Remembrance: Berlin - Memory, Identity, and Modernity | Summer | English | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Berlin, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. These optional trips are subsidized by IES Abroad, though extra costs may apply. Here are a few possible destinations:
Potsdam
1 day | Summer
Visit the capital and crown jewel of the state of Brandenburg, and admire Sanssouci’s fabulous palaces and surrounding gardens.
Baltic Sea
3 days | Summer
Visit one of the nicest and most charming areas of Germany. Whether you are looking for nice white beaches, wanting to explore history and culture of Hanseatic cities like Stralsund or simply enjoy undisturbed nature and breathtaking scenery, you will find it all on the Baltic Sea.
Course-Related Trips
We offer day trips that complement your IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of German culture and society. Past activities have included:
- Tours of Berlin’s multicultural neighborhoods to examine topics of religion, migration, youth culture, and demographics
- Tours of art and advertising found on Berlin’s public transportation
- Attendance at a soccer game
- Walking tours of the Stolpersteine Holocaust Memorial and Jewish Cemetery
- Architectural tours of Potsdamer Platz and former East Berlin
- Lectures at the American Chamber of Commerce
- Meetings with Berlin-based ambassadors of foreign countries
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Berlin is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
Orientation
You will spend your first 2 days in Berlin participating in the mandatory, comprehensive IES Abroad Berlin Summer program orientation. IES Abroad staff will guide you through the following activities during this time:
- An introduction to the IES Abroad Berlin Center staff, and your fellow students
- A guided tour of Berlin
- A presentation on student life in the city
- Course registration
- A welcome reception
- Workshops on housing, health and safety, and intercultural issues
- Registration with the city
Additionally, CORE, IES Abroad's Comprehensive Orientation and Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focused on goal achievement, cultural adjustment, and preparing for the return home.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local residents are living. Our goal is that when you leave Berlin, it will feel like home.
Living with Locals - Live with local residents throughout the city. Hosts may be single adults, single parents, families, or German university students. No meals are provided.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Redefine the way you live and learn in Berlin through our cultural events, which may include:
- German history museum visit
- German Parliament visit
- Berlin city tour
- Potsdam day trip
Get to Know Your New City
Although the city is known for its vibrant arts and culture, Berlin has more than 2,500 parks and gardens to stroll, cycle, swim, picnic, or just unwind in.
From the fantastic art and fabulous nightlight of Kreuzberg to the trendy shopping of Charlottenberg to the hub of sites, attractions, and cafes that make up Mitte, the city's neighborhoods give Berlin its unique character.
Whether you are into art and design, ancient or modern history, or even currywurst, Berlin is a city full of excellent museums.
Though it was nearly destroyed during World War II, Berlin has rebuilt, with restored historic buildings juxtaposed with some of the world's most breathtaking modern structures.
The longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall is now an outdoor art exhibition, featuring the work of more than 100 artists.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
| Term | Tuition | Housing | Insurance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2019 | $4,540 | $1,375 | $135 |
$6,050 |
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$5 Million in Financial Aid
Our Center
The IES Abroad Berlin Center is located in Mitte, the central district of Berlin with its vibrant cafés, restaurants, and galleries. It is within walking distance from Humboldt University, the Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, and the governmental district.
Features include:
- Classrooms, student lounge, and study space
- Small library
- Outdoor terrace
- WiFi and printer access
Our Staff
Barbara Finke
Center Director
Barbara holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. degree in political science from the University of Mannheim in Germany. She also studied for a year at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore with a fellowship from the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD. Barbara conducted her Ph.D. research on the legitimacy of non-governmental organizations in global governance with a case study on women’s NGOs in the United Nations system. She has taught and published on civil society in global and European politics and on international relations theory. From 2007 to 2017, Barbara was Program Head at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin, a distinguished international graduate school that focuses on public policy and international affairs.
IES Abroad Staff
IES Abroad Staff
Katrin Arendt
Academics
Rolf Staudt
Student Visa & Residence Permits
Britta Tonak
Housing & Customized Programs
Nadine Birner
Internships & CORE
Gosia Piechowiak
Student Services & Housing
Sabine Berking
Academics
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