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Program Dates: July 29 to August 18, 2008
Internal (UT) Application Deadline: March 1, 2008
Program Type: Non-UT program
Language of Instruction: English
The Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change is a unique three-week study abroad program in Salzburg, Austria. Sixty students and a dozen faculty attend from all five continents to literally create a dynamic, online Global Media Literacy curriculum. In debates and workshops, through lectures and small group sessions the students decide how universities should teach about how media cover the world. In 2007, the students, ranging in age from 19 to 33, wrestled with how media set the global agenda on climate change and terrorism. The curriculum those students created is already in use in a dozen universities around the world.
To hear the students talk about what they created and experienced visit the Salzburg Academy's web site.
The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is an initiative of the Salzburg Global Seminar and the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. The Salzburg Global Seminar is an independent, non-governmental organization that for 60 years has convened imaginative thinkers from different cultures and institutions to solve issues of global concern.
The Salzburg program consists of two three-credit courses, and is designed to address the curricular needs of both upper-level undergraduates and graduate students.
Global Media Literacy (Transfer Credit: RTF365 or RTF384).This course will explore how distinctive media shape views of global events and global issues within nations, across regions and internationally. The course will analyze the information, values and underlying messages conveyed via television, newspapers, the Internet, magazines, radio and film using global media literacy principles derived from multiple disciplines.
Global Change, Global Cooperation, Global News (Transfer credit: J349T/J395). A journalism and public policy-oriented course built around global issues and/or events of contemporary importance. The class will use the media literacy readings, lectures, discussions and work of the morning course to develop analytic frameworks for examining and evaluating how national and international media outlets have covered major global issues. Each year those issues are expected to change; in 2007 the two topics explored were climate change and terrorism. In 2008, the projected topics are climate change and religion.
Faculty for the Academy program are from global partner institutions. UT Journalism professor Steve Reese will be teaching in the 2008 program along with nine other international professors. Breakout sections of 12 students each will be supervised by two faculty members.
Professor Reese teaches a mix of courses in the School of Journalism, including a general introductory “Critical Issues in Journalism” course, and more research-oriented graduate seminars. His interests include the ideological critique of news media, debates over news “bias,” framing of public issues (particularly war and terrorism), the place of faith in the public arena, and changes in professional journalistic norms--including in the emerging “blogosphere.” His ongoing research interests involve how globalization affects journalism and its contribution to a “globalized public sphere.”
Credit for two courses (6 credit hours) is granted by the University of Maryland, and will be considered transfer credit at The University of Texas at Austin. Credit will be considered in-residence for most requirements within the College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin. Please note that some UT Austin programs limit transfer credit in the major, so it is imperative that students consult their academic advisor early on, in order to make an informed decision regarding the impact of their participation in the program. All UT participants are required to obtain approval from their academic advisor prior to participation in order to determine how the course credits will apply toward their UT degree.
Upon return, students will submit the University of Maryland transcript to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions in order to have course work credited at The University of Texas at Austin.
The students and faculty study and live in the world-renowned Schlossleopoldskron, an 18th century Rococo palace built by the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, owned by the King Ludvig I of Bavaria, renovated by Max Reinhart, the co-founder of the Salzburg Music Festival, and used for the von Trapp family home in “The Sound of Music.”
Fees for the 2008 program are $5,688. Fees include tuition for 6 credits, shared, double occupancy accommodations for 20 nights in the newly renovated 17th century Meierhof building next door to the Schloss; full board, including buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as coffee/tea breaks; all student academic fees including field trips and group activities; and general administrative costs of the Salzburg Seminar and the University of Maryland. Other estimated costs include airfare ($1,300), personal expenses ($400), passport ($100) and ISIC card ($25).
The program is open to all UT-Austin undergraduate and graduate students who are in good academic standing. Undergraduate students should have a minimum overall UT-Austin GPA of 3.0, and at least 60 credit hours by the summer of participation. Priority will be given to applicants from the College of Communication. There are no course prerequisites, but some communication course work is recommended.
In 2008, participation will be capped at 60 students, with a maximum of 20 coming from Maryland and other American Universities. Five seats are reserved for students of The University of Texas at Austin. All remaining seats will be offered to students from a wide range of countries around the world.
Three College of Communication scholarships of $1,500 each are available for UT students participating in the Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change in 2008. Apply for a scholarship award online through the Global Assist system. The Salzburg Academy program code is: 300999. Submit by the UT deadline of March 1, 2008.
Students may also apply for the UT International Education Fee (IEF) scholarship on the Global Assist System. The deadline to apply for the IEF scholarship is March 1, 2008.
Because the Salzburg Academy is considered a “non-UT program,” students receiving financial aid through the UT Office of Student Financial Services will not be able to use their financial aid toward this program.
Check the external funding resources information available on the College of Communication International Programs funding section of this site for other grants and scholarships that may apply to your participation in this program.
The internal (UT) deadline for program is March 1, 2008. Students are encouraged to complete their application as early as possible. All applications must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs, CMA 4.140, by March 1, 2008. A complete application includes:
1. Completed Application Form (available online, print once you complete the information): http://www.international.umd.edu/sparkplug/common/images/studyabroad/Fillable NonUM Summer app-revised.pdf
2. Résumé
3. 300-400 word personal statement (see application for instructions)
4. Official transcript from each college or university attended
5. A signed, sealed letter of recommendation from a university faculty member, teaching assistant or staff member. Also include the contact information of your reference on a separate sheet of paper with the name, email address and telephone number.
Once UT students are selected for participation, their applications will be forwarded to the University of Maryland, and students will be prompted to send a (deposit) check or money order for $300, made payable to the University of Maryland, by the program deadline of March 31, 2008.
For more information on this program, please contact contact Elizabeth MacLean in the College of Communication Office of Student Affairs (CMA 4.140).
For assistance with advising/course/degree planning, see your academic advisor.
For all other questions about this program, please contact professor Paul Mihailidis at the University of Maryland.