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Vienna – Psychology & Social Sciences
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
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.
| 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, Spring | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN/ED 395 - Supervised Teaching Field Experience | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| 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 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB/GR 333 - Wirtschaftsdeutsch / Let's Talk Business | Spring | German | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC 215 - Intercultural Communication | Spring | English | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO/PS 320 - Political Psychology | Fall, Spring | English | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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, Spring | 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 will participate in a 3-credit seminar, which complements the practical experience gained during the internship helping you better understand 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
We have four tracks for our part-time semester internships, each with its own specialized internship seminar. 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 with Austrian cultural institutions (including museums and theaters), businesses, and service organizations working in arts, culture, and entertainment in Austria. The internship includes 8-12 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
- Business — Business internships are arranged with multinational corporations and Austrian firms. Past assignments have covered a range of training areas including marketing, accounting, sales, public relations, research, consulting, computer programming, investment banking, and international banking. The internship includes 8-12 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar. Proficiency in German may be required for certain placements.
- Teaching Field Experience — A supervised teaching internship involves 4-5 hours weekly spent teaching in an Austrian school, supervised by an Austrian professor, in addition to time spent preparing for lessons. Placement schools include kindergarten and elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as a few specialised institutions. Students attend a seminar 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 — A Public Service Internship gives you the opportunity to gain practical experience with the work of civil society and non-profit organizations in the social, environmental, humanitarian or development field. You will develop your lobbying and advocacy skills, gain an understanding of the functioning of the European Union and its institutions, and learn about Austrian life and culture. The internship includes 8-10 hours per week at your internship placement and a weekly internship seminar. 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.
Single Studio Apartments - You have the option to live on your own in a single studio apartment.
Shared Apartments – You have the option to live in an apartment that houses up to six students. Some apartments may be set aside for students interested in taking a language pledge and speaking only in German while at home.
Premium Studio Apartments - You have the option to live on your own in a single studio apartment with a kitchenette, that includes access to many in-building communal spaces and other amenities. This option carries an additional fee.
Premium Plus Apartments – You have the option to live in a shared apartment that houses up to three students per unit based in the heart of Vienna. This option carries an additional fee and placements are very limited.
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.
Scholarships & Aid
Featured Scholarships
Clarence & Alberta Giese Endowed Scholarship
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.
Jean Shanks, Vienna 70-71 Endowed Scholarship
Like so many IES Abroad alumni, study abroad was a life changing experience for Jean Shanks, Vienna 70-71. Jean graduated from Simmons University in Boston where she majored in English. A Vienna classmate introduced her to her future husband and they raised their family in Birmingham, Alabama, where Jean worked at the Birmingham Public Library. Jean's class is particularly close and she has enjoyed reconnecting with her Vienna classmates and attending class reunions.
IES Vienna Class of 68-69 Endowed Scholarship
Many lifelong friendships were formed during the 1968-69 academic year among members of the IES Vienna class. Following their 50th anniversary class reunion in Vienna, class member Charles Taylor, created and endowed scholarship fund recognizing these friendships and the many accomplishments of the class of 68-69 over there past 50 years.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
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.
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!
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!
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