Signature Experiences: Political Science Vols Travel to England and Italy
Signature Experiences: Political Science Vols Travel to England and Italy
The Department of Political Science offers students a multi-faceted exposure to American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public policy, and political philosophy and theory. We see thousands of students in our introductory classes. Many fulfill their requirements and move on. For others the introductory classes whet their appetites, and they return for more.
We have more than 800 majors and minors. It is the goal of the department to provide students with a broadly based, critical examination of politics near and far. The bulk of that instruction comes in a traditional on-campus classroom setting. Occasionally, though, students can extend the classroom, or more precisely, they can step out of it.
The department seeks to create Signature Experiences for as many students as possible. We hope that they have memorable experiences in the classroom and become inspired. But we want to extend their education beyond the classroom as well. Summer 2023 saw the second full strength, post-pandemic study abroad programs. The department supports two programs in western and southern Europe that enable students to immerse themselves in the vibrant cultures, rich histories, and vivid politics of the United Kingdom and Italy.
London Calling
Summer 2023 saw the largest group of students undertake the London Program. Twenty students undertook the five-week academic program during May and June. Six of the twenty stayed on to undertake five-week internship placements in a variety of settings—a barrister’s chambers, a law firm, two NGOs, and a college.
Amongst other places, students visited the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Windsor Castle, Bath, and Hampton Court Palace. The post-pandemic surge in London tourism that we observed in 2022 showed no sign of abating in 2023. London remains the most cosmopolitan and diverse of cities, something students got to appreciate in their free time exploring the city.
As in previous programs, students were able to meet with a number of Members of Parliament, a representative of the Church of England, a public affairs firm director, and others. Students met with Hywel Williams, MP, Plaid Cymru (the Party of Wales), Mike Wood (Conservative Party), Sara Olney (Liberal Democrats), and Francie Molloy and Mickey Brady (Sinn Fein).
Vive Italia
The Political Science in Florence Program returned to Italy in May 2023 with eleven students and a new faculty leader. Assistant Professor Kirsten Widner took the mantle from Professor Rich Pacelle, who founded the program and came along to ensure a smooth transition.
With a new leader came a new course option: summer 2023 students took POLS 461, a course comparing the governments and public policies of the US and Italy. Students also continued the previous tradition of diving deeply into political philosophy in the land of Machiavelli, taking either POLS 200 or POLS 475. Together, these courses helped students to understand the history and current context of this beautiful country.
In addition to coursework, program enrollees explored the museums and churches of Florence, the agriculture of Tuscany, and the beautiful cities of San Gimignano, Sienna, Orvieto, and Pisa. They climbed hills and towers, dined on pasta and gelato, and learned from experts about the great Italian art masters. Several students have called it “the best experience of my life.”
The program will return to Rome in 2024 for an excursion for the first time since before the pandemic. This will give students the opportunity to see the institutions of the Italian national government, as well as historical sites like the Colosseum and the Forum. We plan to continue to incorporate these experiences moving forward. If you are interested in joining this signature program next year, visit the Vols Abroad Office for more information: volsabroad.utk.edu.
