Global Education
Share This

Balkans Semester

  • Dubrovnik
  • Ramparts
  • Dubrovnik
  • Zagreb

The Balkans Semester for the Study of War and Peace is an interdisciplinary, humanities based program centered around the themes of war and peace, conflict and reconciliation. The program will provide students a unique opportunity to study these themes while learning first-hand from people on both sides of recent wars and genocides who are grappling daily with problems of justice and forgiveness and with navigating a path toward sustainable peace.

Croatia, along with Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina will serve as the backdrop for the exploration of these issues and for asking questions such as: What is the essence of peace? What events and attitudes lead to war? How can a society recovering from war hope to establish lasting peace? What is a Christian response to war? And how might we formulate a distinctively Christian understanding of reconciliation?

QUALIFICATIONS

The Balkans Semester accepts applications from any student who:

  • Makes the statement of Christian faith expected of students at Gordon College
  • Agrees to abide by the College's behavioral standards
  • Satisfies criteria set by the Global Education Office
  • Has sophomore standing or above
  • Has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher

Non-Gordon students are welcome to apply.

ANTICIPATED CREDIT OFFERINGS (TOTAL CREDITS: 16)

Peace and Conflict Studies (16 Credits)
ENG 148 Literature and Human Rights
BAL/PHI War and Peace: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives
SWK/PCS 250 Peacemaking: Personal, Social, Global
SOC/PCS 371 Religion, Identity and Conflict
PCS 425 Internship

Sociology (8–12 Credits)
BAL Introduction to the Balkans: Religion, History, Culture, Politics
SOC 371/PCS 371 Religion, Identity and Conflict
SOC 425 Social Service Internship

Political Science (8–12 Credits)
BAL/PHI War and Peace: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives
POL Elective (Alternating Offerings)
POL 425 Internship in Government and Politics

Philosophy (8 Credits)
BAL/PHI War and Peace: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives
PHI/SOC 371 Religion, Identity and Conflict

English (8 Credits)
ENG 148 Literature and Human Rights
ENG 484 Figures in World Literature (with emphasis on authors
dealing with the theme of war)

Thematic Core Offerings
Global Understanding (see below)
Civic Responsibility
Core Literature

Global Understanding core credit can be fulfilled by the Balkans Semester when students participate in the pre- and post-departure New Perspectives course. Lab fees apply as of Fall 2013. Contact the Global Education Office for details.

DEADLINES

Spring Semester: Gordon students must submit their online seat applications for the Balkans Semester by September 30. All other supporting materials due by October 15. Non-Gordon applicants must submit their online application and all supporting materials by October 15. Learn more and apply >>

COST

Students pay normal Gordon costs per semester including:

  • Tuition
  • Fees
  • Room and board (equivalent to double room and meal plan 1)
  • Round-trip airfare (up to $1,000) is included in the cost of the semester

CONTACT
The Global Education Office
p: 978.867.4399
Email: