Courses

This course explores the cultures and societies of contemporary Europe. A critical reading of recent ethnography will be used to examine themes such as the formation of national identities, ethnicity and migration, rural life and traditionalism, family and kinship, popular religion, urban development, and the problem of European unity. Particular attention will be given to ethnographic research methods in urban and applied contexts.    

This course explores the European economic environment.  European economic integration, including the introduction of the euro, is examined.  Topics include inflation, unemployment, economic growth, and national fiscal policies.  Special focus is placed on the economic implications of European Union corporate sustainability regulation. 

In this course, students will learn about issues of migration in Europe through a variety of literary genres and media such as the novel, poetry, drama, graphic novel, and creative nonfiction. The course will focus on how literatures of migration explore problems of gender, racism, climate change, language, and identity in postcolonial Europe. Students will also learn about the figurations of the migrant in European literature and media, and how globalization and decolonization reshape national and continental identities and cultural expressions.

This course explores the intertwined histories of association football (soccer), on the one hand, and the formation and shoring up of national and regional identities via sport, on the other, from the late 19th century to the present. Soccer is both a "global lingua franca" and a powerful tool and symbol for both popular aspirations and elite machinations. It props up dictators, foments war, and contains labor and political movements, but it simultaneously fosters unparalleled international cooperation, boundary-crossing, and community organizing. Drawing on several classic texts, class lectures and in-class activities will guide students from the company teams of the industrial revolution through the great Jewish clubs of interwar Vienna and Budapest, past the rise of the UEFA Cup (Champions League) alongside the broader project of European economic and political integration (i.e., the EU); and finally to the present-day game played on the highest level, and for the most money ever, by players from every corner of the globe on the European stage.

This course will cover the entire Empire from Oetzi to Rudolf I acquiring Habsburg lands, to the end of the Empire in World War I.

Sports Tourism explores the growing field of sports tourism, emphasizing winter and mountain sports in alpine regions like Innsbruck. Students will analyze the economic, cultural, and environmental impacts of sports tourism, understand event management, and examine destination marketing. Field visits will provide hands-on learning with local sports venues and tourism organizations.

This course will explore patterns of international communication formation including its historical, theoretical, and practical implications. Students will analyze international communication processes in the global context and in the context of Central Europe through both theoretical and practical perspectives. Emphasis would also be given to the impact of culture on international communication and on globalization.    

This is an introductory class to the field and careers in the area of Travel Writing.  The course is focused on writing and photography. Students leave with a portfolio for beginning their journey as travel writers. An emphasis on cultural depth and historical understanding in addition to skill development is an integral part of the course. This is a reading and writing intensive class.

This course is designed to introduce the role of marketing in society.  Particular emphasis is placed on those market-related variables that are subject to control by the firm.  The viewpoint taken is that of the marketing manager, whose role is to make decisions relating to marketing strategy.  Special attention will be paid to complexities of marketing practices when a firm is engaged in global trade and it may include guest lectures and local field trips as appropriate for our study environment.

This course is an overview of the history of music. Students will learn the basic elements of music and acquire knowledge of the periods of music history, including major composers, styles, and selected works. Special emphasis will be placed on the music of Austria. No musical background necessary.

Based on an International Relations approach (ie social sciences), the course presents and examines legal, empirical, theoretical approaches to understand international politics and international organizations.

Exploring the history of EEG and the evolution of scientific thought regarding bioelectricity, how to measure it, and its ultimate translation to a clinical setting through the lives and theories of influential figures who lived and worked in Austria, Germany and Italy. Class discussions will be paired with site visits that contextualize historical figures, the rationale for creating neuroimaging that evaluates bioelectricity, and the influence of animal research models.   

This course offers a survey of money, commercial banking, financial institutions, the Federal Reserve System, and the formulation and execution of monetary and economic stabilization policy.        

The course will provide an understanding of the structure and evolution of the Alps. No prior knowledge of geology is required for this course. The first part of the course will provide the basic knowledge of geological concepts and processes necessary to understand the geologic evolution of the Alps (e.g., rock cycle, plate tectonics, glaciers, etc.). During the second we will discuss how the geomorphology and natural resources of the Alpine mountain belt impacted societies of Central Europe though time. Finally, we will discuss climate change and we will draw extensively from the setting of the Alps. The first evidence for past ice ages were described in the European Alps, and for geologists the Alpine region is an open book for understanding the driving factors for climate change. In this third part of the course students will learn how to read this book and will learn how the understanding of past climates of the European Alps is critical for shaping the future of this region and beyond. 

In this course, students will study adaptations of great books of the European literature into film. Students will learn about the main theories of film adaptation, reflecting on the interplay between literature and film and media within different European linguistic contexts. Students are expected to analyze critically each piece, distinguishing cultural layers and formal techniques specific to each medium. Some questions that shape this class are: What role does European literature play in film history and industry? How is the written word adapted to the screen? How cultural context and narrative techniques are translated from one medium to the other? How does the meaning of a literary work change when adapted into film?           

This is a studio course designed to introduce to the student various methods and materials traditionally used in drawing and early painting. Emphasis is placed on the learning of correct observation and on the translation of that observation accurately on to a flat surface by means of the non-verbal language of line and value (lightness and darkness). Because correct observation requires so much contact with actual objects, the course addresses a rich variety of actual objects and environments for utilization in drawings, paintings and mixed-media work. The class also focuses heavily on color theory and the application of it during creative exploration. Each drawing session may be followed by brief discussion of the work.

This course is designed for students who do not have any knowledge of German, who have not had any prior exposure to the language, and who wish to acquire basic reading knowledge, comprehension and conversational skills. The course places students at the center of the learning experience, aiming to equip them with practical language skills and real communication strategies, with special emphasis on pronunciation. Topics covered include likes/dislikes, hobbies, studies, families and friends. 

The course’s focus is on experiential learning that goes beyond classroom instruction. It emphasizes “learning by doing”—students will actively engage with real-life situations, reflect on them, and integrate that experience into their developing language skills. In language learning, this means not just practicing grammar in exercises, but living the language by ordering food in cafés, shopping at local venues, and interviewing native speakers.   

The course will cover the History of Austria from the end of WWI to the present time.

This course explores the overlapping histories of Europe and the U.S. in the so-called "American Century," when the great European empires crumbled amidst the two World Wars and the U.S. emerged as the "leader of the free world." The class analyzes diverging models of political economy--the ways in which governments influence markets as well as the contested relationships between business, labor, social movements, and the State--bringing the two sides of the Atlantic into conversation across five moments: 
- Late European and Early American Empires, 1870s to World War I
- Between Fascism and Communism, Interwar Period & Great Depression, 1920s and 1930s
- From “Arsenals of Democracy” to United Nations - World War II Corporatism and Postwar Reconstruction
- The Cold War / ""Fordism"" in the U.S. and European Social Democracies
- Decolonization, Neoliberalism, and the Rise of the Far Right    
 

This course will explore myth and memory, identity, commemorations, museums and selected historic sites that shape our public memory, as well as focusing on several monuments and historic sites of memory in Europe and America, representing victors and vanquished memorials to national memory.

The course is an examination of what has become the central conflict in journalism: how to sustain credible practice in a time of wrenching change. This class will be taught from the perspective that understanding the changes offers the best chance of resolving the conflict in favor of credible practice. Students will learn about the current state of media trust and credibility, as well as trust in institutions in general, and their sources and consequences from both theoretical and practical perspectives.      

Students will learn first-hand how today’s journalists cover politics in America and Europe amid growing authoritarianism. Points of discussion will include the rise of authoritarian parties/candidates in today’s democracies, the challenges this has presented to journalists in the U.S. and European democracies, and the changing media landscape.

This course introduces students to the principles and practice of purpose-driven leadership, with a particular emphasis on leading in service to others. Rooted in the belief that effective leadership begins with a deep sense of purpose and commitment to the common good, the course invites students to explore how leadership can be a catalyst for meaningful social, civic, and community impact.

Through the development of core leadership competencies—including emotional intelligence, inclusive communication, ethical decision-making, and vision setting—students will examine how to lead with integrity and compassion in a rapidly changing and interconnected world. Key topics include cultivating a leadership identity, fostering belonging and collaboration, navigating conflict, and translating values into action.

Designed for emerging leaders who aspire to make a difference, the course combines self-reflection, experiential learning, and group-based problem-solving to enhance each student’s capacity to lead in service-oriented roles. Whether in local communities or global arenas, students will be prepared to lead with empathy, courage, and clarity—ready to address complex public and social challenges with purpose, humility, and resilience. 

NOTE: Students who complete PADM 4224 and PPEL 3200 are eligible for the Sullivan Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Leadership.            

An introduction to the foundations of social psychology and the analysis of the relationship between human behavior and social context, emphasizing the impact of social forces on social action and cognition. The course focuses on five themes: the social self, groups, helping others, attraction and close relationships, and the neurobiology of attraction.

This course offers a cross-cultural comparative examination of religion through an anthropological approach that emphasizes holism and cultural relativity. Students will study myth, ritual, witchcraft, shamanism, and spirit possession, with attention to how religions function within the total cultural systems of which they form a part. This class provides a broad introduction to religions across the world, with particular emphasis on European and especially Central European traditions.

This course introduces you to a broad spectrum of basic scientific concepts (geological, zoological, ecological, and climatological) by studying dinosaurs and their close relatives. In particular, this course traces the evolutionary history of extinct animals with an emphasis on Mesozoic dinosaurs. However, this course is not just a “dinosaur” course. This course will offer an introduction on how geoscientists use the fossil record and scientific techniques to trace the history of life on earth and answer questions about the causes and consequences of major extinction as well as radiations of different dinosaur groups through time. The course will introduce scientific concepts that can be used to evaluate hypotheses about catastrophic events such as impacts from space, volcanic eruptions, and climate change and their impact on global biodiversity and the trajectory of animal life on Earth.

An introduction to art in which the visual elements and principles are examined through a study of the key monuments in the history of art from cave paintings to the present. Important styles of painting, sculpture, architecture, and twentieth century media are explored with attention to the personalities of the artists and the cultures in which they lived. This class will explore local art museums in order to provide a real world experience in relation to the material covered in class.

This course is designed for students who do not have any knowledge of German, who have not had any prior exposure to the language, and who wish to acquire basic reading knowledge, comprehension and conversational skills. The course places students at the center of the learning experience, aiming to equip them with practical language skills and real communication strategies, with special emphasis on pronunciation. Topics covered include likes/dislikes, hobbies, studies, families and friends. 

The course’s focus is on experiential learning that goes beyond classroom instruction. It emphasizes “learning by doing”—students will actively engage with real-life situations, reflect on them, and integrate that experience into their developing language skills. In language learning, this means not just practicing grammar in exercises, but living the language by ordering food in cafés, shopping at local venues, and interviewing native speakers.    
 

Students in this course will understand the war through the lens of the American experience but A look at World War II from a global perspective: the intricate international diplomacy and strategic planning of the principal combatants; the war’s major military campaigns and battles, its impact on the involved societies and economies, its brutal effect on victims, its difficult choices of appeasement/collaboration or resistance, as well as the postwar “mastering” of the war’s harsh memories.    

This course offers students a comprehensive overview of domestic and international tourism practices and operations. The course will examine tourism not only as a powerful economic force, but also as a complex socio-cultural and environmental phenomenon that shapes communities, identities, and ecosystems around the globe.

This class introduces students to the field of International Communication (hereafter, IC). IC developed as an intersectional field of study, combining media/ cultural studies, international relations and intercultural communication. Students are exposed to the various threads of theoretical and empirical research of the field, with an emphasis on a close reading of comparative media texts, with a focus on film and video. Methodologically, students learn a variety of textual analysis tools and then apply them to a sample of European media texts.

This course is designed to introduce the role of marketing in society.  Particular emphasis is placed on those market-related variables that are subject to control by the firm.  The viewpoint taken is that of the marketing manager, whose role is to make decisions relating to marketing strategy.  Special attention will be paid to complexities of marketing practices when a firm is engaged in global trade and it may include guest lectures and local field trips as appropriate for our study environment.

This course examines how local practices adapt global forms to regional sensibilities, highlighting the interplay of tradition, innovation, and global circulation. In particular, the course takes a sustained look at the brass band music of New Orleans and Austria, tracing not only their historical connections but also the contemporary developments that position brass as both a vehicle of tradition and a driver of innovation in today’s musical cultures. By mapping both convergences and divergences, students will see how brass bands function not only as musical ensembles but also as cultural laboratories where tradition, modernity, and global popular culture intersect in ways that illuminate the tensions between continuity and change.

This course will offer an examination of the current issues and problems of national and international politics, and will cover current "hot topics" in American and European politics.

Entrepreneurship for Good is designed to help students understand and harness the power of social entrepreneurship as both a mindset and a practice—within Austria, across Europe, and in a globally connected world. The course is structured into four key phases: Awakening, Exploring, Planning, and Sharing. Each phase invites you to engage deeply through hands-on activities, reflective exercises, and interactive discussions that extend beyond the classroom and into the community.

Through site visits, collaboration with local and regional changemakers, and interdisciplinary learning experiences, you’ll explore the foundational principles and real-world applications of life and social entrepreneurship in the European context. Austria’s strong civic infrastructure, innovative social sector, and commitment to sustainability offer a dynamic environment in which to practice these ideas.

Students should be prepared to step boldly beyond their comfort zones—into spaces where creativity, courage, and action come together to meet the needs of society. This course is not only about learning; it’s about doing. It’s about discovering how your unique contributions can make a meaningful difference in Austria, throughout Europe, and beyond.

NOTE: Students who complete PADM 4224 and PPEL 3200 are eligible for the Sullivan Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
 

• ANTH 2052 - Cultural Anthropology
  ANTH 3090 - Anthropology of the Roma (Gypsy) Peoples
  ECON 2221 - Money and Banking
  ECON 3999 - Special Topics in Economics - Contemporary European Economic Issues
  ENGL 2090 - Frankenstein in the Alps
  ENGL 2311 - American Film in Austria
  FA 1001 - CORE STUDIO I - Surface / Process / Practice
  FA 1010 - Art Appreciation
  HUMS 2090.1- International Mass Communication
  HUMS 2090.2 - International Communication
  FTA 3090 - Cinematic Storytelling with your Smartphone or Photo Camera
  GER 1001 - Basic German
  HIST 2000 - Environmental History
  HIST 2991.1 - Genocide and the Holocaust
  HIST 2991.2- Medieval Christianity
  HIST 2991.3 - Nazi Germany and World War II
  HIST 2991.4 - Europe in the Middle Ages
  HIST 4346 - Postwar Europe, 1945-Present
  HRT 2050 - Principles of Travel/Tourism
  JOUR 2790.1 - Travel Writing
  JOUR 2790.2 - Misinformation, Propaganda, and "Fake News": How to Navigate Information Disorder
  MANG 3401 - Introduction to Management and Organizational Behavior
  MANG 4497.1 - Healthcare Leadership & Improvement: Global Perspectives
  MANG 4497.2 - International Management Leadership for Cross-Cultural Settings
  MKT 3501 - Principles of Marketing
  MUS 1000 - Music Appreciation
  MUS 2001 - Music in Austrian Culture and History
  POLI 2993 - Introduction to International Relations
  PSYC 2091 - History of EEG
  PSYC 2400 - Foundations of Social Psychology
   

• ANTH 1020: Fad, Fallacies, & Human Origins 
• ANTH 3090: Anthropology of the Roma (Gypsy) People 
• ANTH 3340: People and Cultures of the World 
• ANTH 4440: Religion Magic and Witchcraft
• BA 3010: The Legal Environment of Business
• BA 3021: Business Law 
• ECON 2221: Money & Banking 
• ECON 3000: Managerial Economics 
• EES 1006: Dinosaurs 
• EES 2096: Alpine/Glacial Geology and Climate Change
• ENGL 2090: From Battlefront to Homefront: The Legacy of World War II in Literature
• ENGL 2091: Literature of the Holocaust 
• ENGL 2238: Reading Fiction: European Horror Fiction
• ENGL 2312: International Film as Literary Art 
• FA 1010: Art Appreciation 
• FA 100: Core Studio I – Surfaces/Process/Practice 
• FIN 3300: Financial Management 
• FIN 4306: International Finance
• FTA 2090: International Communication 
• GER 1001: Beginning German 
• HIST 2991.1: Nazi Germany and World War II 
• HIST 2991.2: Holocaust and Genocide 
• HIST 2991.3: Human Rights 
• HUMS 2090: Contemporary Art and Popular Music in Austria
• JOUR 2790: Travel Writing 
• MANG 3401.1: Introduction to Management & Organizational Behavior 
• MANG 4446: International Management
• MANG 4750: Business Intelligence and Analytics
• MATH 2785: Elementary Statistics for Business and Economics
• MUS 1000: Music Appreciation 
• POLI 2993: Introduction to International Relations
• PSYC 1000: General Psychology 
• PSYC 2091: Cultural Psychology 

• ANTH 1010: Peoples of the World 
• ANTH 1020: Fads, Fallacies, and Human Origins 
• ANTH 2052: Cultural Anthropology w/ Service Learning
• ANTH 4440: Religion, Magic and Witchcraft 
• BA 3010: The Legal Environment of Business 
• BA 3021: Business Law 
• ECON 3000: Managerial Economics 
• EES 1006: Dinosaurs
• EES 2096: Alpine/Glacial Geology and Climate Change
• ENGL 2090: The Legacy of World War II in Literature 
• ENGL 2312: International Film as Literary Art 
• FA 1010: Art Appreciation 
• FTA 2090-92: International Communications 
• FA 1001: Core Studio I - Surface, Process, Practice 
• FTA 3090: Cinematic Storytelling with your Smartphone or DSLR Camera 
• GER 1001: Basic German I 
• HIST 2000: Environmental History 
• HIST 2991.1: Nazi Germany and World War II 
• HIST 2991.2: Genocide and Holocaust 
• HIST 3992: Imperial Europe: Austria & Germany 
• HIST 4003: Modern Military History 
• HUMS 2090: Interculturalism and Gender Equality 
• ITAL 1001: Basic Italian I 
• JOUR 2790: Travel Writing 
• MANG 3401: Introduction to Management & Org. Behavior 
• MANG 4446: International Management 
• MKT 3501: Principles of Marketing 
• POLI 2993: Introduction to International Relations
• PSYC 2091: Culture, Drugs, and Behavior 
• PSYC 1000: General Psychology