Program Overview
COMM 491A International Telecommunications Policy, Spring 2024
The special theme of this telecommunications policy course is “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in E-sports and Videogaming in Croatia .” Croatia, a European nation of less than 4 million, is emerging as a global leader in e-sports and videogaming. But how? The class focuses on how Croatia’s cultural and political environment shapes the development and impact of its information and communication technologies (ICTs) and industries – e-sports and gaming in particular -- and how those industries in turn influence the nation's or region's cultural and political trajectory. Students will use what they learn about forces in four spheres – geo-political, economic, innovation and socio-cultural -- to ideate, research and prototype their own original concepts for new ventures and innovations in e-sports and gaming. Ultimately, students will come away with a better understanding of how ICTs influence society and how the adoption and use of ICTs is grounded within a particular political and cultural context.
The course includes one week of travel to Croatia, roughly February 29 – March 10, 2024. Destinations include Croatia’s capitol Zagreb, Varazdin, and may include Split and other areas of the country. Students will meet with experts and entrepreneurs in the media, e-sports and videogaming realms. Collaboration with University of Zagreb students is a strong possibility.
Required: A valid passport (plus valid visa to Croatia for non-US citizens) and an additional $1800 mandatory fee to cover airfare and some travel expenses. Passports must show they are valid through at least October, 2024.
Dates
February 29 - March 10, 2024
Any pre-requisite courses are established by the faculty leader or department hosting the course. The following have been listed as pre-requisites for consideration to enroll in this course and travel on the embedded education abroad program:
- Pre-requisites: COMM 180 or another satisfactory public policy course.
- This course is open to Journalism, Telecommunications, Media Studies, Advertising/Public Relations, Film/Video Production and COMM pre-majors in the Bellisario College of Communications at University Park.
- Admission in the course and permission to travel with the group are at the discretion of the faculty leader and/or academic department hosting the course. Academic standing and disciplinary or conduct issues may impact eligibility.
- The education abroad program may involve boating that is part of the official program itinerary or an optional activity during free time.?Students must complete a Water Safety Acknowledge of Risk form in order to participate on the program.
Housing and Meals
During the embedded travel component, housing will consist of hotel/hostel accommodations.
Program Costs
Students pay regular Penn State tuition (either in-state or out-of-state) for the credits associated with the embedded course. Travel costs, lodging, meals, excursions, and other fees are determined by the program budget which is set by the program leader. Please consult the program leader for additional information.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through Penn State Global Education Abroad for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs. There is no application required to be considered for this scholarship. The Education Abroad scholarship selection team will utilize course rosters submitted by the embedded course leaders and will determine eligible scholarship recipients based on financial need.
Because of the volume of eligible candidates, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid. Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior Penn State education abroad experience.
For More Information
For more information about this course, please contact the program leader: Anna Hoag by emailing amh13@psu.edu.
How to Apply
The process for enrolling in an embedded course varies according to the instructor and/or department. The program leader has indicated that in order to enroll in the course, applications must be submitted in the Fall semester.
Studying Abroad with a Disability
Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.
