social sciences

Quick Info

By Term

• Fall 2013
• Spring 2013
• Spring 2014
• Academic year 2013-2014

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Program Overview

Come spend a semester or a year exploring Amsterdam, one of the most beautiful, dynamic, and progressive cities on earth.

With CIEE you’ll increase your understanding of social, political, and cultural realities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Europe. Through a challenging and stimulating curriculum in the humanities and social sciences; internship and volunteering opportunities; student interest groups; and Dutch homestay options, you’ll develop fascinating insight into this remarkable country and enjoy a truly unique international experience.

Study abroad in Amsterdam and you will:

• Gain an insider’s perspective on Amsterdam and the Netherlands through the CIEE course and unique field visits focusing on contemporary Dutch social policy
• Take a wide range of courses in the humanities and social sciences
• Study Dutch language and integrate into the community through the International Student Network, interest groups, weekend homestays, and volunteer opportunities
• Live in accessible, lively and multicultural Amsterdam and explore it on your bike
• Experience Dutch society by taking part in the Internship Seminar and intern up to 10 hours a week in a Dutch-based company or organization.

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

In addition to specialized CIEE courses on Dutch culture, and contemporary social policy, you’ll have access to classes on a wide range of subjects through enrolment at the University of Amsterdam. Study gender, sexuality, and society; development and planning; media, communications and film, and more. Dutch as a second language courses are also available.

Excursions

The CIEE Study Center in Amsterdam aims to provide an insider’s perspective that most people, both locals and tourists, never see. We do this through guided site visits relating to contemporary Dutch social policy and unique destinations within and around the Netherlands.

Excursions include a visit to another historical Dutch city; an overnight trip to either Schiermonnikoog Island (a UNESCO world heritage site) or a Dutch or Belgian city such as Rotterdam, Maastricht, Ghent, Bruges, or Brussels; a visit to the site of a typical Dutch product (a cheese farm or the Delta Works that protect the Dutch countryside from the sea); and a visit to a cultural venue to see a ballet or soccer match. You'll also have the option of staying overnight with a host family outside of Amsterdam.

Interest Groups

CIEE study abroad in Amsterdam offers Interest Groups as vehicles for gaining access to a wider range of Dutch locals, and to better engage with the local community. Four-to-six groups are offered per semester and meet regularly to perform volunteer work or as discussion groups supplemented with special events such as theater performances, museum visits, and movie nights.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2013 (18 wks)

Extended to: 05/01/2013

08/19/2013

12/21/2013

$17,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, foreign police registration fee, a museum card, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$12,148

Housing ***

$5,300

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** Breakfast and one other meal per week are included in the homestay option. No meals are included in the dormitory option.

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$2,600

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$125

Books & Supplies

$450

Personal expenses

$2,750

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students in the dormitory; homestay students should budget $1600 per semester for meals not included in fees.

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2013 (18 wks)

11/15/2012

01/30/2013

06/04/2013

$17,850

Program Date Notes

These program dates are tentative. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor prior to purchasing an airline ticket.

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, foreign police registration fee, a museum card, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$12,148

Housing ***

$5,300

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** Breakfast and one other meal per week are included in the homestay option. No meals are included in the dormitory option.

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$2,600

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$125

Books & Supplies

$450

Personal expenses

$2,750

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students in the dormitory; homestay students should budget $1600 per semester for meals not included in fees.

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2014

11/01/2013

to be announced

to be announced

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Academic year 2013-2014

Extended to: 05/01/2013

08/19/2013

to be announced

$34,000

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, foreign police registration fee, a museum card, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$22,998

Housing ***

$10,600

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** Breakfast and one other meal per week are included in the homestay option. No meals are included in the dormitory option.

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$5,200

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$250

Books & Supplies

$900

Personal expenses

$5,500

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students in the dormitory; homestay students should budget $1600 per semester for meals not included in fees.

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 3.0
• Junior status strongly recommended
• Highly qualifed sophomores are accepeted with UvA and CIEE approval

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 15-18 semester/22.5-27 quarter hours. For the academic year, total recommended credit is 30-36 semester/45-54 quarter hours.

CIEE course contact hours are 45 hours and recommended credit is 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.

Program Requirements

Study abroad students typically take either three courses (two worth 12 EC/6 U.S. credits plus one worth 6 EC/3 U.S.) or four courses (three worth 6 EC/3 U.S. plus one worth 12 EC/ 6 U.S.) totaling 30 EC (15 U.S.) chosen from the UvA and CIEE course offerings. Students must enroll in a minimum of the equivalent of 15 U.S. credits and a maximum of 18 U.S. credits. Students must enroll in at least two courses during each block.

About The City

Amsterdam is full of life, day and night, with world-renowned museums, art galleries, music, opera, theater, and dance. It is a truly international and multicultural city. Amsterdammers are easy-going and welcoming to foreigners, and English is the unofficial second language. With over 790,000 inhabitants, Amsterdam offers the advantages of a cosmopolitan center with a small-town feel. Because the city is so compact, bicycles are the most convenient means of transportation; in fact, bicycles outnumber the people in Amsterdam!

Meet The Staff

Hannah Huber

Hannah Huber heads the CIEE Study Center in Amsterdam and Groningen and is responsible for, among other things; program development, the CIEE course curriculum, outreach, hosting site visitors, coordinating customized programs, and overseeing study center activity and staff. Hannah is originally from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and first ventured to the Netherlands as a Rotary exchange student in high school where she learned the language and fell in love with Dutch culture. She received her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Dickinson College, where she also participated in Dickinson’s study abroad programs in Bologna, Italy and Norwich, England. Prior to working for CIEE, Hannah was employed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington, DC before moving to Amsterdam where she received her Master’s degree in American Studies (Thesis: Securing Country or Résumé: The History of Drivers for Study Abroad in the United States) with a minor in Educational Policy and Management. Having studied American culture from an outside perspective, and having been an exchange student to the Netherlands at a young age, Hannah is passionate about helping students adjust to their surroundings and appreciate all that the Netherlands has to offer them, as well as encourage them to give back and develop themselves while abroad.

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"I realized I missed Amsterdam when I held out my right hand to turn right in my car rather than on my bike.”

Statements like these exemplify the lasting impressions students have after spending a semester or year at the CIEE Study Center in Amsterdam. Not only do students miss their bike as part of their Amsterdam lifestyle, but they also miss the multicultural population and the Dutch with their practical and innovative perspective on social issues. They miss the opportunity to live and study in Dutch society where progressive policies, culture, tolerance, and an international focus are key. Furthermore, there’s the abundance of cultural activities as venues across Amsterdam host both the world’s biggest talent from across the globe. Students often comment on the ability of the Dutch to preserve the old charm while making room for the new. Amsterdam is a city that draws students back, whether just for a visit, a master’s program, or a job down the road.

For those wanting to experience a different approach on ideas of migration and integration, housing and urban planning, drug policies, gender and sexuality, and other contemporary social policies, this is the place for you. I hope that Amsterdam will make the same lasting impressions on you as it has me and countless others.

— Hannah Huber, Resident Director

“”

Renee Spruit

Renee Spruit, Student Services Coordinator, has a Master’s from the University of Amsterdam in migration and ethnic studies and a Bachelor’s in communication management from Hogeschool van Utrecht. Renee studied abroad at Seneca College in Toronto, Canada. She brings a wealth of knowledge about Amsterdam and the Netherlands to study abroad students and assists the Resident Director in coordinating student services, housing, course registration. day to day inquiries, and summer programs.

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Annabel Thomas

Activities and Projects Coordinator – Amsterdam

As the Activities and Projects coordinator at the Amsterdam Study Center, Annabel Thomas runs around the Netherlands to look for interesting, special and entertaining activities for CIEE students. Her aim is to find activities and projects that fit the program goals, experiences that add value to studying abroad and locations that are not easy to reach for students on their own. You will find her browsing the internet, reading guidebooks and reviews or leading a group of students to an event.

Annabel strongly believes in volunteering as a way of integrating in another culture. For example, CIEE Amsterdam students have worked in a soup kitchen, taught English to Amsterdam school kids, helped out at a work reintegration project for the homeless and met locals whilst cleaning a local park. CIEE is constantly looking for new ways to reinforce the ‘Dutch experience’. Another project CIEE Amsterdam runs is the ‘Weekend Homestay Project’ where students spend a weekend at the house of a Dutch family somewhere in the Netherlands.

Before she joined CIEE, Annabel received her Bachelor’s in Experience Marketing from the University of Applied Sciences in Haarlem and her Master’s degree in Eastern European Studies from the University of Amsterdam. She has worked with international students as a residence assistant, as an intern at the international office and as the National Representative of the Netherlands in the International Student Network.

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Bonny Wassing

Bonny Wassing has been working as lecturer Dutch for CIEE Amsterdam since 2007. He studied Dutch Studies and Cultural History at The University of Amsterdam and he has studied Linguistics for one semester at Columbia University in New York. After his studies he lectured for two years Dutch language and culture at the University of Bucharest in Romania. Besides working for CIEE, Bonny provides Dutch courses for various businesses as a first and as a second language. “I love to combine working for students and corporate people. I see every day that a good proficiency of the Dutch language and a better understanding of the Dutch culture are so important for all people.”

Bonny currently teaches Dutch Culture on the Business + Culture and Social Sciences programs and Contemporary Dutch Social Policy (CDSP) during the Social Sciences program and all of the summer programs. CDSP is a class that discusses in depth the controversial social topics such as drugs, prostitution, gender and sexuality, abortion and euthanasia; a very popular class. In Dutch Culture we discuss the norms and values of the Dutch on a very pragmatic level as well as on a metalevel.

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Where You'll Study

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) dates from Amsterdam’s heyday in the 17th century when the city was one of the world’s most important ports and trading centers. The Athenaeum Illustre, which later became the University of Amsterdam, was founded in 1632. The University is spread out over various parts of the city center and is situated in old buildings and in modern high rises. UvA has an enrollment of more than 32,000 students and a strong commitment to international education, as reflected in its international student body and curriculum.

Housing & Meals

Housing is included in the program fee. Study abroad students are placed in single rooms in UvA or private residence halls, which have private or shared showers and kitchen facilities. Residence halls are all within a reasonable commute by foot, bike, or bus to the UvA and the center of Amsterdam. Meals are not included in the program fee and are the responsibility of the student. Meals may be taken at cafeterias and UvA restaurants, at restaurants throughout Amsterdam, or prepared in the residence’s kitchen facilities. All residence halls have RAs who take care of minor housing issues and organize activities throughout the semester.

A limited number of homestays with Dutch families are also available. This option provides an excellent opportunity for immersion in the local culture. The student has a furnished room and shares a kitchen, bathroom, and living area with the host family. Housing includes breakfast daily and at least one other meal per week with the family. All other meals are the responsibility of the student.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Amsterdam even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions before leaving home. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. The CIEE goal for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program and site, as well as your goals for the program, so that you arrive at the program well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

Each semester begins with a mandatory orientation session organized by CIEE in Amsterdam. It includes a welcome canal cruise, an academic orientation, an introduction to Amsterdam and Dutch society and culture, a ‘survival’ Dutch lesson, and excursions in and around Amsterdam. During the orientation, CIEE students have the chance to meet each other and learn more about Amsterdam, CIEE, and the University. Ongoing support is provided on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Wireless Internet is availabel at the CIEE Study Center and throughout the UvA Campus. You'll also have access to the UvA computer labs spread across the city for class-related activities, and receive a personal email account upon arrival, free of charge. All residence halls have wired or wireless Internet.

Culture

Cultural Activities and Field Trips

The CIEE Study Center in Amsterdam aims to provide an insider’s perspective that most people, both locals and tourists, never see. We do this through guided site visits relating to contemporary Dutch social policy and unique destinations within and around the Netherlands.

Excursions include a visit to another historical Dutch city; an overnight trip to either Schiermonnikoog Island (a UNESCO world heritage site) or a Dutch or Belgian city such as Rotterdam, Maastricht, Ghent, Bruges, or Brussels; a visit to the site of a typical Dutch product (a cheese farm or the Delta Works that protect the Dutch countryside from the sea); and a visit to a cultural venue to see a ballet or soccer match. Students also have the option of staying overnight with a host family outside of Amsterdam.

Interest Groups

The Social Sciences study abroad program offers Interest Groups as vehicles for gaining access to a wider range of Dutch locals and to better engage with the local community. Four-to-six groups are offered per semester and meet regularly to perform volunteer work or as discussion groups supplemented with special events such as theater performances, museum visits, and movie nights. At the end of the semester, each interest group has a special closing event having to do with their interest group theme. The groups are focused on different themes such as "Education in Amsterdam," where students teach English in primary schools; "Queer Amsterdam," where students gain a better insight of the queer culture in Amsterdam, "News and Media in Amsterdam," where students contribute to their own magazine published twice a semester, and "Culinary Amsterdam," where students explore various Dutch specialities.

Volunteer

You'll have several unique volunteer opportunities allowing you to connect and give back to the community in which you live. Opportunities may include the Missionaries of Charity soup kitchen where you can volunteer to prepare and serve food to those in need. In addition to these semester-long activities, CIEE Amsterdam organizes several one-time volunteer opportunities in which you can contribute to the community by helping out from a couple of hours to a full day.

University Life

You are encouraged to sign up for activities provided by the International Students Network (ISN) of the University of Amsterdam. The ISN develops activities which help students meet other international students and facilitate the adjustment to living in the Netherlands. Following the CIEE orientation, you will attend the ISN orientation. You can then join one of many international student groups, with which you will attend different cultural activities throughout the semester and expand your network of international and Dutch friends.

Academics

The Social Sciences study abroad program at the University of Amsterdam was established in 1993. The CIEE program falls under the College of Social Sciences (CSS) which offers Bachelor’s level programs in English. CIEE students have choices among a number of humanities and social sciences courses. Students also have access to regular UvA courses taught in English if they meet the course prerequisites.

Academic Culture

Most classes offered at the University of Amsterdam are small in size, consisting of 30 students or less. Most meet twice a week—once for a two-hour lecture and once for a two-hour seminar or discussion.

Classes comprised of so many different nationalities offer a wide range of perspectives. This diversity enables students to analyze and discuss issues from multiple viewpoints. Participation in the CIEE Study Center at the University of Amsterdam not only helps students develop a better comprehension of Europe in an international comparative perspective, but also enhances their ability to communicate with people from other countries, important in light of today’s globalization and increasingly international work environments. Approximately 50% of the international students at UvA are from Europe, 25% from the U.S., and 25% from Canada, Australia, and countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.

The University of Amsterdam operates on a semester calendar, with each semester consisting of two consecutive eight-week class periods. The University’s fall semester runs from the end of August to the end of December, and the spring semester runs from the beginning of February to the beginning of June.

The CIEE Study Center office is located on the Roetersstraat on the eastern side of the city centre, within close proximity to the UvA academic buildings.

Nature of Classes

CIEE classes are with other CIEE study abroad participants only. Some UvA classes enroll Dutch and international students, while other classes are for international students only.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

As students gain proficiency in Dutch, resident staff encourage them to use their language skills in everyday settings. The more students participate, the more a community that contributes to Dutch language proficiency and understanding of Dutch society develops.

Grading System

The credit system is based on a student’s overall workload, including lectures, seminars, and independent study. In general, grades are based on a combination of class participation, oral presentations, papers, and/or written or oral examinations. Unlike in the U.S., grades are based on a numerical scale of one to 10, rather than letters. All CIEE participants receive a University of Amsterdam transcript listing course titles,final grades, and credits earned as well as the CIEE Academic Record which converts the grades to a U.S. grading scale.

Language of Instruction

Dutch
English

Faculty

CIEE faculty are associated with Dutch institutions of higher education. University courses are taught by University of Amsterdam faculty.

Course Description

Program Blog

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