Riga is the capital city of Latvia and a thriving metropolis situated on the Baltic Sea. Owing partly to its history as a republic of the former Soviet Union, Latvia is home to a sizable Russian-speaking population. This concentration of Russian speakers in a city in Russia’s near abroad makes for an excellent location for students to carry out Russian- and Latvian-speaking internships and take in a beautiful slice of Europe.
Latvia belongs to the Eurozone and as such offers visa-free travel. Its proximity to other major European capitals likewise makes for an attractive hub.
Foreign language students attend classes twice a week at the Baltic Center that focus on developing advanced language proficiency and carry out internships in the target language that correspond with their various disciplines and professional interests. English language students can earn credit that counts towards their respective major.
DATES
Winter 2019: 19-20 January – 13-17 April
Sp/Su 2019: 18-19 May – 10-14 August
Fall 2019: 7-8 Sept. – 30 Nov.-4 December
HOUSING
Students will live in a dormitory/hostel and are responsible for providing their own meals. Accommodations include a refrigerator and cooking facilities.
COURSES
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (this means 6 credit hours per term of spring-summer combined). Interns may choose from the following courses according to language skills:
RUSS 321 Third-year Grammar and Composition, Part 1 (3 credit hours)
RUSS 322 Third-year Grammar and Composition, Part 2 (3 credit hours)
RUSS 399R Academic Internship (variable credit hours)
RUSS 421 Fourth-year, Part 1 (3 credit hours)
RUSS 422 Fourth-year, Part 2 (3 credit hours)
RUSS 490R Special Studies (variable credit hours)
LATVI 305R Language Skills Development (4 variable credit hours)
LATVI 321R Advanced Grammar (3 credit hours)
LATVI 330 Cultural History of Latvia (3 credit hours)
LATVI 350R Advanced Language Study for Career Purposes (3 credit hours)
LATVI 490R Special Studies in Second Language Acquisition (3 variable credit hours)
*In addition, students may choose from the following courses that count towards completing the European Studies Minor.
EUROP 336R: European Studies. (.5-6 credits)
EUROP 490R: Senior Seminar in European Studies. (3 credits)
IAS 399R: Academic Internship: International. (.5-9 credits)
Participants may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
COST
$4,900–5,400
Includes: LDS undergraduate tuition (increased cost for graduate and non-LDS students), Baltic Center tuition, housing, internship placement, and international health insurance coverage
Does not include: airfare, personal expenses, meals
Cost for Accompanying spouses: $1,300-1,800
Includes: LDS undergraduate tuition for 3 credits, internship placement, international health insurance coverage, housing, and visa support
PREPARATION
Students are required to participate in the prep course, IAS 369R, during the second block of fall semester for the winter program, and during the second block of winter semester for the sp-su and fall programs. Part-time BYU students and non-BYU students pay an additional $250 (approximately) tuition fee for enrolling in the required pre-departure class.
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the end of the program and have at least two blank pages. Accompanying spouses need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course.
FUNDING SOURCES
Regular BYU tuition scholarships and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to international programs. Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship. Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants. Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships). The College of Humanities provides a $2,000 program discount to students majoring in the humanities and participating in international internships. Contact Dr. Brown for details.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the online application at kennedy.byu.edu/apply. The application requires a $35 fee. Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. Applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.
Deadlines: Winter: 19 October 2018; Sp-Su, Fall: 1 February 2019
FACULTY
Tony Brown, Professor of Russian, is the faculty mentor of the internship program.
3093 JFSB
(801) 422-7012
tony_brown@byu.edu
INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT
International Study Programs
101 HRCB
isp@byu.edu
kennedy.byu.edu/isp
PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
ISP reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost estimates due to conditions beyond its control.
