Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start:
Location: Europe, Netherlands
GPA: 2.5

Program Overview

Instagramming Amsterdam: Media Unfiltered will examine media ethics and literacy through the lens of visuals in one of the most iconic cities on the planet. Much of what we know about the world comes from mass media depictions, be those of the entertainment or news media. But how accurate are these images that come to mind? Walter Lippmann, a noted media scholar, wrote of profound ability of our mass media to create “pictures in our head,” which contribute to our understanding of reality. Lippmann further argues that these media-created images influence our decision making.

This study abroad experience will include classes in media literacy and media ethics, students will travel all across Amsterdam and the Netherlands to learn to "unsee" what they have only previously "seen" through media representation. One of the premises of Prof. Dahmen’s work is that all media is a construction of reality, so this study abroad experience would be all about what the media "should" do (the ethics piece) and how we as audiences can learn to "deconstruct" what we see in the media (the literacy piece). This will be done through media analysis in Amsterdam with inclusion of the media of our three professional areas: advertising, journalism, and public relations.

On this program students will explore museums such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House, explore neighborhoods such as the historic Jewish Quarter and De Plantage, and leave Amsterdam to visit other locations such as the Hague, the seat of the International Court of Justice, and the Coast.

Scholarships: Applicants to this program have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay.  Individual awards range from $500-$1000. To be considered, the Scholarship Essay must be completed by February 15. Please refer to the Scholarship Essay instructions in the program application or speak with your GEO advisor for more details.

Dates and Deadlines

 
Term Year Program Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Summer 2025 3/15/24 7/27/25 8/16/25

This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.

Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application.  This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement.

Faculty-Led Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants to this program are eligible for program-specific scholarship funds. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$1,500. To be considered, apply to the GEO General Scholarship by the advertised deadline for the term you will be abroad. Students who apply will automatically be considered for all available funding within the General Scholarship, including this program's scholarship funds.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

Students on this program will take two courses for 6 credits.

J 397: Media Ethics (4 credits)

Ethical problems in the media: privacy, violence, pornography, truth-telling, objectivity, media codes, public interest, media accountability. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • Understand the major ethical approaches that have affected moral decision making in the media today, as well as the role of professionals in shaping those decisions.
  • Understand the complex relationship between technological, social, cultural, and economic effects on the media and how those impact moral decision making.
  • Understand how to make complex moral decisions as a media practitioner by considering all affected parties, and especially the difference between functional and moral obligations and how to order your priorities.
  • Apply these concepts to our study of media and icons in Amsterdam.
  • Critique the mass media in regard to ethical imperatives.

J 388: Media Literacy (2 credits)

Understanding the mass media, from funding models to end goals to audiences to critical analysis. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • Critically analyze the messages and points of view employed in different media (e.g., advertising, news programs, websites, video games, blogs, documentaries).
  • Analyze design elements of various kinds of media productions to observe that media messages are constructed for a specific purpose.
  • Analyze media for purpose, message, accuracy, bias, and intended audience and gain understanding that media messages are constructed using a creative language with its own rules.
  • As an individual or in collaboration, create a multimedia work or a piece of digital communication or contribute to an online collaboration for a specific purpose.

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Faculty and Staff

Maxwell Foxman (Ph.D. Communications; Columbia University) is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies and Game Studies at the University of Oregon at the School of Journalism and Communication. His primary research focus is on how games and play interact with non-game context and media professions. This has focused in a number of overlapping realms immersive media (Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality/XR), Game Journalism, Esports and Game Productions award from AEJMC and Scripps Howard. 

For updated information on Foxman's work, see his full CV at https://maxwellfoxman.info/cv/

Housing Description

Students will be housed in hostel rooms with up to 4 separate beds for the students; all with private bathroom. Bed linen and towels included. Laundry facilities available for a small fee. All breakfasts will be provided.