Program Overview
COMM 402 is a capstone class for serious journalists interested in International Reporting. Journalism students will research the history, culture, economy, society, current events and issues in Istanbul, Turkey, and choose a story or stories to develop. On an embedded trip to Istanbul, they will continue to research and report and conduct interviews with their sources, publishing blogs and social media pieces and gathering material for long-form projects. When they return, they will produce print, multimedia, and broadcast pieces that: explore Turkey's geopolitical importance in the global community; illuminate the problems, challenges, and successes of modern Turkey; and reveal cultural similarities and differences between the the United States and Turkey.
Dates
Any pre-requisite courses are established by the faculty leader or department hosting the course. The following have been listed as pre-requisites for consideration to enroll in this course and travel on the embedded education abroad program:
- This course is open to advanced juniors and seniors in the Bellisario College of Communications from the University Park Campus only.
- The program is open to Communications majors with a preference for journalism students.
- Admission in the course and permission to travel with the group are at the discretion of the program leader and/or academic department hosting the course. Academic standing and disciplinary or conduct issues may impact eligibility.
Housing and Meals
During the embedded travel component, housing will consist of hotel/hostel accommodations.
Program Costs
Students pay regular Penn State tuition (either in-state or out-of-state) for the credits associated with the embedded course. Travel costs, lodging, meals, excursions, and other fees are determined by the program budget which is set by the program leader. Please consult the program leader for additional information.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through Penn State Global Education Abroad for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs. There is no application required to be considered for this scholarship. The Education Abroad scholarship selection team will utilize course rosters submitted by the embedded course leaders and will determine eligible scholarship recipients based on financial need.
Because of the volume of eligible candidates, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid. Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior Penn State education abroad experience.
For More Information
For more information about this course, please contact the program leader: Kathleen O'Toole by emailing kxo1@psu.edu.
How to Apply
The process for enrolling in an embedded course varies according to the instructor and/or department. The program leader has indicated that in order to enroll in the course and travel component, they were to have submitted a resume, a faculty reference, and were interviewed by the faculty leader. Students were notified of acceptance or rejection.
Studying Abroad with a Disability
Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.
