Global Faith, Belonging and the Media

Students will explore issues of belonging and diversity within the contexts of world religions, gender, race, and class, against the backdrop of the beauty and history of France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Students will also learn of the media’s role in cultivating perceptions, creating identities, and communicating information about these diverse groups. The experience will include case studies, interactive discussions, expert lecturers, and site visits. Tentative anchor cities for the program include Paris, London, Florence, and Rome. This program is sponsored by the BYU School of Communications.

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Courses

Students will enroll in 6 credit hours from the following courses while on this program:

COMMS 481—Race, Gender, Class, and Media (3 credit hours)
COMMS 482—World Religions and Media (3 credit hours)
COMMS 498R—Projects in Communications (for students who have already taken either COMMS 481 or 482; 3 credit hours)

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.

Cost

$6,500–6,900

Includes Latter-day Saint, undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), housing, sponsored excursions, admission to cultural sites and events, in-country transportation, and international health insurance coverage.

Does not include airfare, personal expenses, or most meals.

Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad 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.

Accepted majors or minors in the School of Communications may qualify to receive a scholarship of up to $1000.

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).

Preparation

While the program is designed for Communications Studies emphasis students in the School of Communications, students from all majors are welcome. Non-communication majors should meet with the program directors prior to ensure that they have completed equivalent courses that would give them the appropriate skill proficiencies for the program.

Accepted students are required to participate in an international, cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201R, 1 credit hour).

This course will be held during the second block of winter semester 2024. Part-time and non-BYU students will need to pay an additional tuition fee for enrolling in the prep class.

Students should plan to be in Paris on 25 June. The program will end on 3 August in Rome. Students should refrain from scheduling late arrivals or early departures.

Students must meet all country- and program-specific COVID and health requirements for travel.

Housing

Students will stay in a variety of housing accommodations that may include hotels, hostels, and university dorms.

Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu

Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

Complete the online application here. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Application Deadline: 27 November 2023

Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.

Faculty

Dr. Mark Callister is the current director of the School of Communications at Brigham Young University. Prior to joining the BYU faculty in 2005, he taught at Western Illinois University. His general research interests include adolescents and the media, visual imagery in advertising, and the role of persuasion in nonprofit fundraising and storytelling. He teaches courses in research methods, persuasion, and world religions and the media.

360B BRMB
(801) 422-6143
mark_callister@byu.edu

Joel Campbell has been an associate teaching professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Communications since 2002. He holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University. He teaches communications studies, media ethics, and media and world religions courses. He has wide experience working in interfaith matters, including hosting a Latter-day Saints and Muslims conference in Nauvoo, Illinois; observing faiths in Myanmar; receiving a Religious Freedom Certificate from the Newseum; and working with the Salt Lake Interfaith Roundtable. He and his wife, Jolene, have four children.

314 BRMB
(801) 422-2125
joel_campbell@byu.edu

Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu

ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.

Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.

Global Faith, Belonging and the Media

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More Information

Courses

Cost

Funding Sources

Preparation

Housing

Travel

Application Process

Program Adjustments

Faculty

Contact Us

ISP Student Handbook

Payment Schedule