Study Abroad Opportunities
for Students Interested in
HISTORY
BOSTON COLLEGE
When Can I Study Abroad?
History majors and minors are eligible to study abroad
during either the fall or spring semester of their junior year.
For students who plan ahead, it is entirely possible to
combine a full year of study abroad with the completion of a
history major. Various BC summer programs are also
offered every year in which students may participate as
early as the summer after the freshman year.
Should I Study In A Foreign Language Destination?
Yes! Even if students have already met the BC language
requirement, they are strongly encouraged to study abroad
in a foreign language destination. Students who already
have strong language skills can select a program where
they will take all courses in the local language, such as
Paris VII in France or the University of Parma in Italy.
For students who do not have foreign language skills, there
are several prestigious BC programs in non-English
speaking countries that offer excellent courses in English.
For example, students who have beginning or intermediate
language skills can select a program that combines regular
courses in English with language courses, such as Waseda
University or Sophia University in Japan.
What Classes Should I Take Before Studying Abroad?
Early planning is essential to make sure that students will
meet all BC requirements, and to ensure that they will have
a strong history background for study abroad. It is rarely
possible to find good U.S. History survey courses in a
foreign study program, and the department always expects
you to take HS 300: The Study and Writing of History, at
Boston College. If possible, it is best to complete these
requirements before studying abroad:

HS 181: US History I
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HS 182: US History II

HS 300: The Study and Writing of History
It is even better if a student can also take one upperdivision history elective or a non-Western history elective
before study abroad, and students who study abroad only in
the spring term of their junior year will be well advised to do
at least that.
What Classes Should I Plan To Take Abroad?
The ideal type of course is one that fits into the history
major but is not available at BC. Courses that focus on the
region in which students are studying and those that reflect
the academic strengths of the host university department
are highly recommended.
As many as four foreign studies courses (worth 12 credits)
can be accepted toward major requirements, as long as six
of the ten courses required for the major (worth at least 18
credits) are taken at Boston College during the regular
academic year. Courses on the pre-approval list do not
need department signatures as they are already approved
for credit. The relevant paperwork will have to be filed upon
your return for most courses. Depending on the region
where you are studying, it is often easy to find courses that
will fulfill one or both of the non-Western requirements for the
major (e.g. courses in Latin American, African, or Asian
history). (Note that Cultural Diversity credit is approved by the
University Core Director, not by the History Department.)
The precise allocation of foreign study courses to major or
minor requirements is normally accomplished after you return
to BC. It is possible to seek upper-division major or minor
credit for foreign study courses at that point. You should be
prepared to present the course syllabus and any paper(s) you
wrote for the course. The normal standard for upper-division
credit is at least 100 pages of reading per week and a
significant writing assignment, which might take the form of a
longer paper (ten or more pages) or a series of shorter
papers.
What If I Am Planning To Do An Honors Thesis?
In recent years, many students have used their experiences
abroad to help generate or supplement a compelling honors
thesis. For students who already have a topic in mind,
studying abroad provides an excellent opportunity to conduct
on-site research and establish contact with faculty at the host
institution. All students are strongly encouraged to think about
how their semester or year abroad can be integrated into an
honors thesis.
Students who are planning to do an honors thesis are strongly
urged to plan ahead. Students are advised to establish a
thesis topic and identify a BC faculty member willing to
supervise their work before departing, and to maintain e-mail
contact with their thesis advisor while abroad. They should be
aware that the deadline for submission of applications is April
1 of their junior year. For additional information, they should
consult with the director of the History Honors Program early
in the semester prior to their departure for study abroad.
How Can I Find Out More Information?
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Visit OIP in Hovey House during business hours
(Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm)
Go to the OIP website : www.bc.edu/international
For specific information about foreign study for History
majors, go to:
http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/cas/history/undergrad/
major/foreign_study.html
For specific information about foreign study for History
minors, go to:
http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/cas/history/undergrad/
minor.html
For specific information about fulfilling the history core
requirement while abroad, go to:
http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/offices/international/academics
/courseapproval/core/corehistory.html
Attend an OIP “Discovery Night” to learn about study abroad
opportunities, or visit OIP “Resource Room” at Hovey House
to speak with an Advising Assistant about study abroad
Set up an appointment with an International Study Advisor to
discuss specific programs
University Partnerships with Programs
for Students Interested in History
University
Terms of Study
ARGENTINA
Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, Buenos Aires
Fall, Spring, Full Year
AUSTRALIA
Monash University
University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Western Australia
Notre Dame University
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
BRAZIL
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Portuguese track)
Fall, Spring, Full Year
CHILE
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Universidad Alberto Hurtado
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
CHINA
China Studies Institute, Beijing (Peking U)
Fall, Spring, Full Year
ECUADOR
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Fall, Spring, Full Year
FRANCE
BC in Paris: University of Paris -Denis Diderot
BC in Paris: Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP)
BC in Paris: University of Paris - Sorbonne
BC in Strasbourg:Universite de Strasbourg
BC in Strasbourg: Institue d’Etudes Politiques (IEP)
Sciences Po
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Full Year
GERMANY
Catholic University Eichstätt
Fall, Spring, Full Year
GREAT BRITAIN
Durham University
King’s College
Lancaster University
London School of Economics
Queen Mary
School of Oriental and African Studies
University College London
University of Glasgow
University of Liverpool
Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Spring, Full Year
GREECE
American College of Thessaloniki
Fall, Spring, Full Year
IRELAND
National University of Ireland Maynooth
Trinity College-Dublin
University College Cork
University College Dublin
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
ITALY
University of Parma
Venice International University
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
JAPAN
Sophia University
Waseda University (SILS)
Spring, Full Year
Full Year
MEXICO
Iberoamericana University, Puebla
Fall, Spring, Full Year
MOROCCO
AlAkhawayn University, Ifrane
Fall, Spring, Full Year
SOUTH AFRICA
Rhodes University
University of Cape Town
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
SPAIN
BC in Madrid: Pontifica Comillas
BC in Madrid: Compultense
Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
Fall, Spring, Full Year
updated 1-17-13
Summer Seminars 2014 for Students Interested in History
Seminar Title
City
IRELAND
Business, History & Politics of Sport (3 credits)
Dublin
updated 12-9-13