A History of Math and Science in Europe

The History of Science and Math in Europe study abroad program, part of the BYU General Education curriculum, offers students an immersive six-week experience based in Vienna, Austria—one of Europe’s great intellectual and cultural capitals. Through site visits, museum tours, and local excursions, students will explore the development of scientific and mathematical thought from the Renaissance to the modern age. The program includes guided trips to key historical centers such as Florence, Padua, and Venice in Italy; Berlin, Germany; and Prague, Czech Republic—each rich in scientific heritage and innovation. The experience culminates with a tour of CERN, the world-renowned center for particle physics, where students will witness firsthand the cutting edge of modern science. This program offers a unique blend of history, culture, and scientific discovery in some of Europe’s most iconic locations.

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Courses

Students will enroll in 6 credit hours from the following 2 courses while on this program:

PHIL 211—Science and Civilization 2 (3 credit hours; in the GE Arts, Letters, and Sciences requirements, this course fills either Civilization 2 OR Letters)
UNIV 218R—Crisis of Ideas in Vienna (3 credit hours; in the GE Arts, Letters, and Sciences requirements, this course fills Social Science)

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

Cost

$8,400-8,900

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non–Latter-day Saint students), housing, group transportation on field trips, some meals, and international health insurance.

Does not include airfare, prep course tuition, or personal expenses.

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.

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

Preparation

Accepted students are required to participate in an international, cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201R, 1 credit hour). This class will be held during the second block of the winter 2026 semester.

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

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.

Housing

The AAIE in Vienna arranges housing with non–Latter-day Saint Viennese hosts for pairs of students. This provides students insight into Austrian culture. The host provides breakfast daily and one evening meal each week.

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: 30 November 2025

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

Nathan Priddis (director) is a professor in the Mathematics Department. He has lived and worked in Germany for several years, including serving a mission the Germany Frankfurt mission and doing a postdoc at the Leibniz University of Hannover. This is his first time directing a study abroad program. He will be accompanied by wife Amy and their five children.

222 TMCB
(801) 422-2516
priddis@mathematics.byu.edu

Glen Cooper (co-director) teaches history of science in the Philosophy Department and philosophy of science in the Biology Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics (Einstein’s General Relativity) and a Ph.D. in the history of Arabic astronomy and medicine. He has also taught in the History and Physics departments, and was a research fellow in Berlin (2019–2020) in the history of medicine.

glen_cooper@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.

A History of Math and Science in Europe

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More Information

Courses

Cost

Funding Sources

Preparation

Housing

Travel

Application Process

Program Adjustments

Faculty

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ISP Student Handbook

Payment Schedule