SEMESTER PROGRAM

Dates: March 1 - June 1 (may vary slightly based on the calendar)

Applications Opens: September 25

(Any college student, a student taking a gap semester or recent college graduate may apply. Fully transferable college credit available.)

This interdisciplinary program allows students to better understand nature of peace and violence. Through fields like political science, international relations, sociology, history, literature, philosophy and peace and conflict studies, the program explores questions such as: why do individuals, communities and political entities resort to violence and war? What is the nature of peace and what is the role of conflict in peace? How can we respond to violence in order to build peaceful and just communities?

Through travel and immersive living in local communities, the program introduces students to the broader region of the Balkans. Built on its historic border position between east and west, Christianity and Islam, the Balkans suffered from numerous wars—most recently in the 90s—as the rest of the Europe was opening up and uniting. The area can teach us a lot about the nature of conflict and the challenges of reconciliation in our increasingly divided world. Ultimately, through living with and hearing from those who have experienced and worked to overcome division, we can learn how to make real and lasting peace.  

Courses:

(Each semester offers 4 to 6 of the courses below plus a crash course in Croatian and a competitive internship. For more information on offerings, credits and syllabi, fill in the interested student application or contact us at admin@ecswp.org)

Introduction to the Balkans: History, Politics, Religion and Culture

War and Peace through Literature

War and Peace: Philosophical and Theological Perspectives

Peacemaking: Personal, Social, Global

Mediation

Religion, Violence and Identity

Internship Seminar 

Elective courses (varying each semester)

Location:

The program has two main locations: Zagreb where we spend about 8 weeks and the island of Vis where we spend 3-4 weeks. The program also spends time in Bosnia and Herzegovina (mostly Sarajevo) and in Eastern Croatia and Serbia (mostly Belgrade). A specific itinerary for each semester will be provided with a program application. 

Living:

Students live in their own fully equipped, downtown apartments. Student apartments are steps away from all that a Central European city can offer: cafes, restaurants, farmer’s markets, parks, festivals, shopping and more. All apartments are also walking distance, or a short tram ride, to our ECSWP campus where classes and our community lunches take place. 

Food:

On all class days, all students, faculty and staff eat lunch together at the Center. For other meals, students can use their apartment kitchens to cook or can eat in numerous, affordable and delicious food establishments. 

Travel:
This program combines immersive living in a location and travel through the region. Through this combined approach, students are able to gain better insight into diverse perspectives of local religious and ethnic communities. 

Students are also welcome to travel on their own. Classes generally take place Monday through Thursday, leaving long weekends open for travel to nearby European destinations. There is also one five day, mid-semester break. Many students choose to visit Budapest, Vienna or Venice, each of which is about 4 hours driving from Zagreb. 

For more information, please fill in interested student application form and/or write to us at admin@ecswp.org.

SUMMER PROGRAM

Summer programs last for five weeks and and take place in two blocks. Each block offers two courses that deal with the topics of war and peace, violence and reconciliation. Programs spend roughly two weeks in Zagreb, two weeks on Vis and one week on the road in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

For more information, please fill in interested student application form and/or write to us at admin@ecswp.org.  

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN CROATIA!