Early August

Romania plays an increasingly important military, strategic and humanitarian role as a member of both the EU and NATO. While in Romania you will learn about the country’s geo-strategic positioning and explore the Black Sea and Danubian region as a gateway to “the Other Europe.” Stepping back in history, you will also learn about the country’s ties with the former Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires as well as the USSR that still cast a long shadow over the nations of Central and Eastern Europe. Students will also participate in academic visits to Ceausescu’s People’s Palace, Dracula’s Castle in the Carpathians, Transylvanian Castles, and more!

Late May

Democracies Old and New: European Politics, Culture, and Environmental Policy

This immersive course explores the historical, cultural, and political landscape of Europe, with a special focus on Strasbourg, Mainz, Frankfurt, and the broader Central European region. Students will engage firsthand with Europe’s rich heritage and contemporary challenges through guided walking tours, museum visits, and discussions with European Union representatives, environmental officials, and leading academics. Key topics include Germany’s pioneering environmental policies, the evolution of trade and printing, and Europe’s response to the war in Ukraine. Students will also examine the complexities of EU and NATO expansion, the shifting dynamics between established and emerging democracies, and regional security challenges. Insights from Romanian and Central European professors and policy experts will deepen their understanding of governance, cross-border cooperation, and geopolitical developments. Interactive learning experiences that allow students to explore Europe’s living history include a scenic boat ride through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley and a hands-on urban gardening workshop. Each experience connects Europe’s past with its present, equipping students with a nuanced perspective on how historical legacies continue to shape modern policies and global responsibilities.

Early June

This program explores the ageless historical figure of Vlad Tepes, the Impaler, also known as Draculea/Dracula, who inspired Bram Stoker’s character Dracula, and his legacy. In addition to tracing Vlad’s footsteps at archeological sites, museums, and churches in Bucharest, we also visit Vlad the Impaler’s birthplace in Sighisoara and the Bran Castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Alongside Dracula, we will encounter vampires, ogres, ghosts, and creatures from another imaginary realm haunting the world of the living. Throughout the program, we will learn about the customs and experience cultural interactions within the national and linguistic borders of the still mysterious Romania and vampire-haunted Transylvania. In addition to examining the historical Dracula, this program also offers an overview of the communist era (1945-1989), migration, and ethnic tensions in today’s EU and beyond.