Vienna – Psychology & Social Sciences | IES Abroad

Vienna – Psychology & Social Sciences

We plan to run this program for Fall 2021. The Program Evaluation Date has passed for this program, and we will continue to review on-the-ground conditions and travel regulations as the start date approaches. Learn more about program details for this term on the Fall 2021 tab.

Tips for Navigating This Page

As you explore the details of this program across the Overview, Field Trips, Daily Life tabs and more, know that these tabs are reflective of our future programming once COVID regulations allow us to resume. If you’re considering studying abroad in the nearer future, look for term-specific tabs like Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 to see how we’ve adjusted program details to give you that IES Abroad experience you’re looking for, while keeping you safe and healthy.

Why Vienna?

Vienna is teeming with people from around the world who have made this city their home.

Situated at the center of Europe and rich in culture, this is a place where people from all walks of life thrive. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is also a city where the study of society has a long history and where modern psychology claims its birthplace. Many prominent thinkers made Vienna their home—Alfred Adler, Max Wertheimer, Helene Deutsch, Erwin Ringel, Viktor Frankl (who taught at IES Abroad), and, of course, Sigmund Freud.

What You'll Study

Experience life in Vienna as a student of Psychology and Social Sciences. Our courses give you the opportunity to explore youth cultures, childhood development, virtual identity on the web, the immigrant experience, and the social and psychological dimensions of discrimination. Deepen your learning experience with a program-related trip to destinations throughout Austria, Hungary, and Germany to explore these issues in a broader cultural and geographical context.

You can also enroll in an internship or field experience in public service organizations, NGOs, or teaching English to kindergarten, primary, or secondary students. This hands-on experience includes time spent at your placement and an academic seminar that helps you contextualize what you’re learning.

Taking German is required, but no background in the language is necessary. If you have sufficient German language skills, you can also enroll in courses at the prestigious Universität Wien. There, you will experience the Austrian education system, be able to participate in University student activities, and make Austrian friends.

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Daily Life

We want you to feel at home in Vienna, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From our centrally located housing to cultural events like bike tours and cooking classes, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.

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$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

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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 Psychology & Social Sciences and many other topics through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors, as well as course options at the prestigious Universität Wien, enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives both in and out of class.

You take 16–19 credits per semester and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. Language courses are taught in German, and all other courses are taught in English unless otherwise noted. Academic programming is scheduled five days a week.

If you have taken fewer than 4 semesters of college-level German or the equivalent, you enroll in IES Abroad courses in English. If you have advanced German language proficiency, you may enroll in IES Abroad courses in German and English. Students with advanced language skills can also enroll in partner university courses.

You create your academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:

IES Abroad German language course (required, 4 credits)
IES Abroad area studies courses* (3-4 credits) are offered at the IES Abroad Center in English and German in a wide range of disciplines.
- Please see the European Society & Culture Program page for additional course options
German-taught courses at local university (advanced German required, credits vary)
IES Abroad Internship (includes internship and seminar, 3 credits)

*In addition to your program’s specified coursework, you can take any of the area studies courses offered through our European Society & Culture Program.

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.

In addition to your program’s specified coursework, you can take any of the area studies courses offered through our European Society & Culture Program.

To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.

Anthropology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN/SO 328 - The Culture of Immigration	Fall, Spring	English	3
AN/SO 345 - Comparative Austrian and European Youth Cultures: Theories and Practices	Fall	English	3

Education
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN/ED 395 - Supervised Teaching Field Experience	Fall, Spring	English	3

German Language
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
GR 101 - German Language in Context: Novice Abroad I	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 201 - German Language in Context: Novice Abroad III	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 301 - German Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 351 - German Language in Context: Independent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 401 - German Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 403 - German Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad III	Fall, Spring	German	4
GR 451 - German Language in Context: Competent Abroad	Fall, Spring	German	4
IB/GR 333 - Wirtschaftsdeutsch / Let's Talk Business	Spring	German	3

International Business
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IB/GR 333 - Wirtschaftsdeutsch / Let's Talk Business	Spring	German	3

Intercultural Communication
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IC 215 - Intercultural Communication	Spring	English	3

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN/ED 395 - Supervised Teaching Field Experience	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/IN 395 - Supervised Public Service Internship Seminar	Fall, Spring	English	3

Literature
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT 281 - Vienna 1900: Literature in the Modern Metropolis	Fall, Spring	English	3
LT 382 - Responses to the Holocaust in Literature	Spring	English	3

Political Science
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO/PS 320 - Political Psychology	Fall, Spring	English	3

Psychology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO/PS 320 - Political Psychology	Fall, Spring	English	3
PS 214 - Cyberpsychology	Fall	English	3
PS 235 - Cross-Cultural Psychology	Fall	English	3
PS 321 - Personality Theories and Psychopathology	Fall	English	3
PS 330 - Psychology of Language	Fall	English	3
PS 346 - Psychoanalysis, Psychodynamic Therapy and Humanistic Psychology in Contemporary Culture	Spring	English	3
PS 350 - Vienna Project on Child Development: Culture and Developmental Psychology	Spring	English	3
PS 354 - Health Psychology and Communication Skills Training	Spring	English	3
SO/PS 340 - The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination	Fall, Spring	English	3

Sociology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN/SO 328 - The Culture of Immigration	Fall, Spring	English	3
AN/SO 345 - Comparative Austrian and European Youth Cultures: Theories and Practices	Fall	English	3
SO/IN 395 - Supervised Public Service Internship Seminar	Fall, Spring	English	3
SO/PS 340 - The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination	Fall, Spring	English	3

Partner Institution(s)

Universität Wien
www.univie.ac.at
Enrolling approximately 90,000 students, the Universität Wien offers a wide variety of courses in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The University boasts recognized academic strengths in Germanic Studies, Political Science, and Theology.

Founded in 1365, the Universität Wien is one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Courses
Listed below is the broad range of disciplines available at the University. Universität Wien does not offer any undergraduate courses taught in English, and the language of the administration of the university is German. As such, only students with advanced German are encouraged to consider enrollment at this institution. For specific course offerings, visit the Universität Wien website, and click “Blättern” to browse options. Please note that course offerings vary from semester to semester.

Business & Economics
Chemistry
Computer Sciences
Earth Sciences, Geography & Astronomy
History & Culture Studies
Law
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Molecular Biology
Musicology
Philology & Culture Studies
Philosophy & Pedagogy
Physics
Psychology
Social Sciences
Sports Science & Sports
Theology
Translation

Internships

Did you know that, while in Vienna, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:

Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support.
Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process.
Experience what working in Vienna is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness.
Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers.

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country. Proficiency in German language is not generally required, but can be helpful in securing certain Arts & Culture and Business internship placements.

Personalized Job Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal placement that satisfies your interests and goals. We’ve placed student with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently offer placements in your field of interest, we will look for one that’s right for you.

Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always looking for new internship opportunities for our students.

Arts & Culture — The arts and culture internship offers first-hand experience and involvement in Austrian cultural institutions (including museums and theaters), businesses, and service organizations engaged in the fields of arts, culture, and entertainment in Austria. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
Business — Apply foreign language skills while building an international résumé. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
Education Field Experience — Supervised teaching involves 30 hours of teaching English in selected Viennese secondary schools. Students attend lectures once a week on the structure and function of the Austrian school system and comparative teaching methods. Proficiency in German is not required.
Public Service — Supervised public service internships involve 30 hours of work with environmental, social, medical, and charitable organizations. Proficiency in German is not required.

Field Trips & Events

Although your adventure begins in Vienna, our field trips take you to other great cities in Austria and beyond to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Vienna. These trips are partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Past destinations are listed below.

Austrian Alps
3 days | Fall & Spring
Enjoy the skiing and the breathtaking scenery!

Wachau
1 day | Fall & Spring
Visit the famous Melk Abbey.

Styria Tour
2 days | Fall & Spring
Tour this Austrian region known for its delicious wines and vineyards.

Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.

Program-Related Trip

Psychology Study Tour of Austria and Germany
4 days | Fall & Spring (Required)
As an enhancement to your coursework, you will spend four days studying Psychology and Sociology in Austria, as well as Leipzig and Dresden, Germany. Examine the impact of the Iron Curtain along the Austrian border, the collective trauma of Nazism and Communism, and the early development of Psychology in Germany.

Course-Related Trips

IES Abroad Vienna also organizes course-related trips that complement IES Abroad courses and help you build your general knowledge of Austrian culture and society. Past trips have included visits to:

Political and economic institutions such as the Austrian Parliament and the United Nations office in the Vienna International Centre “UNO City”
Historical sites
Theater performances
Classical concerts

Daily Life

Part of making you feel at home in Vienna 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

Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad Vienna staff, your fellow students, and the city of Vienna. Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins at home with our virtual orientation to help you prepare for your IES Abroad experience. Orientation continues throughout the throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

During the weeks following orientation, you spend half of each day in intensive German language instruction. The rest of your time is spent in academic advising, lectures on contemporary Europe, Austria, and Vienna, and tours of Vienna and the surrounding area.

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 students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Vienna, it will feel like home.

Shared Apartments – You have the option to live in an apartment that houses between three and six students. Some apartments may be set aside for students interested in taking a language pledge and speaking only in German while at home.

Single Studio Apartments - You have the option to live on your own in a single studio apartment. This option carries an additional cost.

Housing with Local Residents – You have the opportunity to live with one or more IES Abroad students and an Austrian landlady/landlord or Resident Assistant.

Residence Halls – Allowing you to live among Austrian and international students, residence halls feature double rooms with a shared bath. This option carries an additional cost.

In all options, you have full access to kitchen facilities for preparing meals, which are not included in the program fee. All housing options include free Internet access.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Vienna through our cultural events, such as:

City tours
Museum visits
Theater events
Extracurricular sporting activities through the Universitätssportinstitut (for a minimal fee)

IES Abroad Vienna participates in a “buddy system” for language learning with native German speakers. The program lets you practice German and meet local students.

Get to Know Your New City

Experience an Opera at the Wiener Staatsoper

Students have the incredible opportunity to see world-class opera performances for only a few euros.

Relax Along the Danube Canal

Enjoy the late afternoon sun while you take in the tranquility of this waterway.

Visit a Museum or Two on a Rainy Day

Whether you’re into classic or modern art, history, science, architecture, or nearly anything else, at least one of the 100+ museums of Vienna will interest you.

Ride the Praterturm at Prater Park

The “Prater Tower” is the highest swing ride in the world, providing both thrills and spectacular views of the city!

Sip Wine at an Authentic Heuriger

These Viennese wine taverns serve locally-produced wines and snacks to thirsty and hungry patrons who sit at long picnic tables.

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: Fall 2021
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Fall 2021 Academic Year	$17,035 $30,645	$4,002 $8,005	$230 $455	$21,267 $39,105

Term: Spring 2020
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Spring 2020	$16,630	$3,900	$230	$20,760

Scholarships & Aid

Featured Scholarships

Clarence & Alberta Giese Endowed Scholarship

Up to $2,000; awarded to 4-6 students each year

In September 1950, 23 American students boarded the SS Volendam to begin their journey to Vienna where they would spend the next year living and studying in the Austrian capital. Paul Koutny, an idealistic Austrian student who envisioned the project together with Clarence and Alberta Giese, who were two of the original 23 students, launched the Institute for European Studies -- now IES Abroad -- from these humble beginnings. “The Clarence and Alberta Giese Endowed Scholarship” honors the Gieses and was established in recognition of the 60th anniversary of IES Abroad in 2010.

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

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$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

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Our Center

While in Vienna, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Vienna Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Vienna experience.

Also known as the Palais Corbelli, the IES Abroad Vienna Center is an elegant, early 18th-century palace in the heart of the city and is just minutes from many of the museums, theaters, and other cultural attractions that have bestowed international fame on Vienna.

Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.

Take your IES Abroad classes in the Center’s classrooms
Relax in the lovely student lounge
Music students can take advantage of the practice rooms, recording studio, and instrument storage
Enjoy a student concert (or perform in one!) in the rococo concert hall, featuring a Steinway D

Other features include WiFi, printer access, computer lab, and a small library.

Our Staff

Morten Solvik, Ph.D.

Center Director

An international scholar, Dr. Solvik holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Music and Intellectual History from Cornell University. Born in Norway, he speaks Norwegian, German, and English fluently, and uses French as a research language.

Dr. Solvik was instrumental in setting up the IES Abroad Vienna Music Program, which he has coordinated since 1999, and has also designed and taught numerous courses in Music History. In addition to his work with IES Abroad Vienna, Dr. Solvik has served as lecturer at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst (The University for Music and Performing Arts). His teaching and administrative experience is augmented by his active and productive scholarly career as an expert on Gustav Mahler.

IES Abroad Vienna Staff

Ginte Stankeviciute, M. Sc.
Academics Manager

Katherine Mawdsley
Special Programs Manager

Meral Kölblinger
Living in Vienna Coordinator

Mathias Schmerbach
Accounting and Business Operations

Tobias Sigmund
Student Services Manager

Kaja Ciupinska
Events & Trips Coordinator

Kaja Seruga
Summer Internship Assistant

Matt Schreiber
Program Assistant

Ben Wyatt
Program Assistant

Marija Milosavljevic
Program Assistant

Dieter Strobl
Facilities and IT Manager

Gavin Lord
Health and Safety Coordinator

Health & Safety

With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.

In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.

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student in denim jacket looking over shoulder and smiling

How We Support You

We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.

Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:

International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
And more!

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Health & Safety Resources

You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.

Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:

IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
And more!

BROWSE RESOURCES

Fall 2021

We all know that Fall 2021 is going to look a bit different from other study abroad terms, but that doesn’t mean it still won’t be the most incredible semester of your life!

We’re working hard to keep you safe and well, so you can focus on what you came to do—live and learn abroad (and have some fun along the way!). Below is a summary of the main tweaks to the program this semester, which may be updated as more details become known. You can learn even more about our measures for all programs on our Fall 2021 Health & Safety page.