All students concentrating in International Relations are very strongly urged to study abroad sometime during their academic career. Most programs of study abroad are best done for an entire year, since in most countries other than the United States courses run on a year-long basis. Therefore, with a few exceptions, students studying abroad for one semester will find themselves forced to choose among programs designed specifically for American students. This often reduces the value of the experience, especially for students whose concentration is in the field of international studies.
Study abroad is recommended during the junior year for several reasons.
First, earlier study abroad often finds students unprepared for the foreign course work, which generally begins at a higher level in foreign universities. Second, except for students who come to Brown with strong preparation in a foreign language, at least two years of university study of a language are required to cope in a university where the language of instruction is other than English. Third, most students prefer to spend their senior year at Brown to finish concentration requirements, to take advantage of senior seminars, as well as for the social experience of spending their last year in college in a familiar setting. As noted above, study abroad is strongly recommended for all IR concentrators, though it is not formally required. Exceptions to the general desirability of study abroad may apply to international students, for whom study in the U.S. is itself study abroad, or for American students who have lived or studied abroad extensively before coming to Brown.