Location:

Florence, Italy

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Academic Year, Year Round

Program Overview

Program Description:

Students master the tools of policy analysis, from agenda setting through program evaluation. They apply their skills through casework on EU policy dossiers. They present original research to diverse, international, public audiences. They partake in project-based teamwork and hone cross-cultural communication skills.

James Madison University’s Master of Arts program in Political Science with a concentration in European Union Policy Studies (EUPS) is a rigorous and exciting one-year graduate program. The program, which is based entirely in Florence, Italy and involves multiple academic trips to Brussels and Strasbourg, develops students’ policy analysis skills and provides them with a comprehensive mastery of the European Union (EU), the EU’s role in contemporary global affairs, and the forces that move policy debates and developments within and beyond Europe. The master’s program culminates in an applied internship experience or a fully articulated research project. EUPS alumni work in positions that demand broad intercultural competence, advanced policy analytic skills, and practical knowledge of the EU and global political and economic trends. They pursue careers in government and politics (including diplomatic service), international business, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, global media outlets, and academia.

Setting Description:

Students in the European Union Policy Studies graduate program live primarily in Florence, Italy (when they are not traveling elsewhere in Europe as part of the program). Florence is the perfect setting for scholarly pursuits. As the birthplace of Humanism and the cradle of the Renaissance, the city has long been associated with great human endeavors in the arts, letters, sciences, and politics. Dante, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo, and others are indelibly linked to the city of Florence. Florence's historical role in culture and commerce--and its contemporary role as an academic hub--draw interest from all over the world and make it an ideal site for studying European politics, history, and society. Although its historical and cultural contributions are immense, Florence retains the charm and atmosphere of a smaller city. It is quite manageable by foot and is serviced by an excellent public transportation system. In minutes, you can find yourself at the famous Ponte V

Cost:

Tuition and Fees The total program cost for the 2013-2014 academic year is $34,000 for Virginia residents and $35,000 for students from outside of Virginia. Tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 academic year will be established in early spring 2014 by JMU's Board of Visitors.