Today, youth in the United Kingdom debate issues in Parliament, conduct independent political campaigns, and leave school to protest their government’s inadequate response to climate change. Soon, 16 and 17 year olds will be able to vote in national elections. How did young people in the UK come to be so empowered? This transition is especially striking when considering children suffered high rates of mortality in the early 1800s, that they were widely employed in dangerous factory work during the industrial revolution, and that there was little effort at a system of compulsory public education until 1870. Our course will consider this transition as its central question and employ a political development approach to explore and analyze key developments in the cultural and political conceptualizations of childhood and adolescence. Along the way, we will attend to the ways that identity and status can structure opportunities, policies, and political competition.

London, England

This program will actively explore London as we learn about youth cultures and the politics of childhood. Both UK history and present-day London offer a wealth of opportunities for engaged, place-based learning. Advocates in the UK were particularly instrumental in forming movements to press for the extension of basic rights to children in the early 20th century. Many of the most prominent NGOs focused on children’s well-being were founded and are still headquartered in London. Moral panics that politicized youth culture throughout the mid 20th century often originated in the UK, and youth political engagement today offers a striking example for young people around the world. We will use the classroom as a space to prepare and reflect as we visit world class museums like the Young V&A and the Foundling School, wander through historical landmarks like Trafalgar Square, tour famous neighborhoods like Soho, attend a screening at the illustrious British Film Institute, and decompress in the city’s lush parks and gardens. In addition to our more regular excursions, students will have the opportunity to visit Bath and Stonehenge, stay overnight in Oxford, cruise the River Thames, and explore the city independently on weekends.

Sara Dahill-Brown
Associate Professor
335-758-3364
dahillse@wfu.edu

Student housing in Central London will be arranged by CEA-CAPA. Students will live in shared residences with varied floorplans and should expect to have roommates. All housing will include a kitchen or kitchenette, bathrooms within the apartment or suite, unlimited Wi-F and utilities, and linens.

Some anticipated excursions/field trips are as follows:

• Foundling School Museum
• London Museum Docklands
• Trafalgar Square & Royal Albert Hall
• British Film Institute
• Walking tour of Soho
• Overnight to Oxford
• Day trip to Bath & Stonehenge

• Good academic standing

The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:

• Program Fee – Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.
• Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2025 summer rate was $950/per credit hour. 
• Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
• Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students’ spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.

Billed by Wake Forest:
Program Fee (estimated) – TBD
Tuition (3hrs) – $2,850
                       +
Personal costs (will fluctuate per student spending and location):
Airfare – TBD
Personal Expenses (estimated) – TBD

Estimated total cost – TBD

Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies.  Scholarship deadline is February 1st. 

Passport Information
Students need to check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.

Students going on a summer program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-February of the following year.

US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.

Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country’s passport office.

Visa Information
If you are a US citizen, you most likely will not require a visa for your summer abroad program. If you do, details will be shared with you by GPS. Non-US passport holders should check with their host country’s embassy or consulate to find out if a visa is required for their program or not.

Sara Dahill-Brown
Associate Professor
335-758-3364
dahillse@wfu.edu

Amanda Batten 
Study Abroad Advisor
Center for Global Programs and Studies
(336) 758 3194
battena@wfu.edu