degree program • policy

Foreign Study
Participation in foreign study programs is optional though highly encouraged. The curriculum is designed so that students wishing to spend a semester abroad may do so in the spring semester of 4th year where the academic focus is on urban issues. Typically students participating in a semester program will enroll in a design studio, a theory course and two elective courses.

Semester Programs
WSU London Program
The London Program is the principal WSU faculty-lead study abroad program and has been in operation since 1974 typically taking place biannually. In spring 2002 twenty students participated. The program is based in London utilizing home-stay families for accommodation. The program is lead and designed by WSU faculty but involves collaboration with architectural professionals and educators practicing in the UK. The program offers strong continuity with the WSU curriculum goals and emphasizes urban infrastructure and context, historical development, urban open space, density, society and the city. While London is the classroom base for the program and is thoroughly explored as part of the program, there are many trips to locations of architectural merit outside the city including Hampton Court, Greenwich, Albany, Rochester, Canterbury, Salisbury, Avebury, Stonehenge, Wells, Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, Norwich, Ely, Leicester, Lincoln, Durham, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Chester, Ironbridge, Coventry, Stratford.

DIS Copenhagen (www.disp.dk)
The School has a long-standing relationship with DIS (Denmark’s International Study) Program in the center of Copenhagen, Denmark, affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. DIS has over forty-five years of experience in offering programs to international students. All courses are taught in English by Danish professors and architectural professionals. Students may live with a Danish host family, live in student housing (kollegium) or independently find accommodation. DIS offers challenging options for academic, cross-cultural, and personal growth. In recent years approximately eight WSU architecture students have participated each spring semester. Visit the DIS web page at (www.disp.dk) for more information.

Individual Options
Students may also choose to participate in other programs of individual interest and choice. WSU has a very active Education Abroad office,(LINK TO WSU EDUCATION ABROAD) which in conjunction with the School will assist students in identifying locations and suitable programs. Recently our students have participated in the following programs;
• Syracuse Program in Florence (affiliated with Syracuse University)
• CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad) (www.G0WithCEA.com) Program in Florence (affiliated with Roger Williams University), Italy
• The University of Sydney
• Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia (www.deakin.edu.au)
• ISIS (Institute for Social and International Studies) Program in Barcelona, Spain (affiliated with Portland State University). (isis.pdx.edu)

SHORT FOREIGN STUDY PROGRAMS
There are also a growing number of opportunities for shorter study programs typically offered on a rotating basis during the summer session to satisfy student demand.

London – Paris Summer Program
As an outgrowth of the London semester-long program there is a condensed, intensive six-week study program focusing on London, the United Kingdom and Paris, France. The program is lead and designed by WSU faculty. The program emphasizes urban infrastructure and context, historical development, urban open space, density, society and the city.

As presently designed this programs includes two components. Component 1, 5-weeks, takes place in the UK with intensive focus on London and extensive travel throughout the UK including Hampton Court, Greenwich, Albany, Rochester, Canterbury, Salisbury, Avebury, Stonehenge, Wells, Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, Norwich, Ely, Leicester, Lincoln, Durham, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Chester, Ironbridge, Coventry, Stratford. Component 2, 1-week, takes place in Paris, France with intensive focus on the architecture and urban development of Paris and tours outside Paris to the Palace and Gardens of Versailles. In London, students stay with host families and for the portion of the program in Paris and all overnight travel in the UK the program utilizes hotels and good quality Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

China Study Program
As presently designed in collaboration with the Honors College this program has two components. Component 1 involves an 8-session spring term series introducing philosophical and social elements of Chinese culture, particularly as these affect issues related to community relations, built environments, and attitudes towards nature. Component 2 includes a 2-week trip to China immediately after the spring term. The trip will involve 1 week in Beijing, the current capital of China, and 1 week in Xi’an, the longest standing historical capital of China. During the week in Xi’an, a trip will be made to tour the yaodong cave dwellings in north central China. Sites to be visited usually include: Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Hutong Housing, Summer Palace, Beijing Opera, Terra Cotta Warriors, Xi'an Old City, Wild Goose Pagoda, Bei Ling Calligraphy Garden, Yaodong Cave Dwellings.

The principal goals and expected outcomes are; to understand some of the philosophical and social elements, both historical and contemporary, of Chinese culture; to explore how these elements affect community relations, the built environment, and attitudes toward nature, to understand, synthesize, and apply relevant verbal and visual texts, both primary and secondary; to experience first hand, in China, how built forms and designed environments reflect Chinese philosophy and society by examining imperial, civic, religious, and domestic sites; to develop critical thinking skills through oral presentation, analytical and reflective writing, and research.

Policy regarding Student Conduct on study tours