Students participating in George Mason University's Hooligans and Homicide study abroad program are being offered a unique educational opportunity. Permission has been obtained for participation in police ride-a-longs within four different agencies in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The ride-a-longs permit the student to witness first-hand day-to-day law enforcement operation in a foreign country.
Examples of community relations, extremist group interaction, terrorism prevention and criminal investigations will be afforded to the student in the learning experience that opens up a comparison and contrasting view of police work in two different countries.
Program Highlights
- Witness day-to-day police operations in major cities in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- Take part in training exercises used to enhance law enforcement operations.
- Participate in intelligence and terrorism briefings that improve police response to increased extremist threats.
- Educational tours including the National Justice Museum and the Glasgow/Edinburgh Police Museum.
Eligibility
Undergraduate students only. Minimum 2.25 GPA.
Prerequisite coursework:
CRIM 401: Policing in America and/or CRIM 312: Intelligence Analysis Techniques OR instructor permission.
Credits
Students will choose one 6-credit course or two 3-credit courses during the application process.
Course Options
- CRIM 485: Study Abroad (3 or 6 credits)
- CRIM 490: Special Topics (3 or 6 credits)
Program Dates
May - June 2022
Sample Itinerary
| Day 1 - Arrive independently in Edinburgh, Scotland |
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| Day 2 - Morning presentation at the St. Leonard's Street Station | afternoon walking tour of Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle |
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| Day 3 - Morning visits at Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service | afternoon: students conduct research |
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| Day 4 - Presentation at University of Edinburgh, Napier Campus |
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| Day 5 - Travel from Edinburgh to Dumfries, Scotland | brief meeting with Police Scotland at memorial site | afternoon: students conduct research |
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| Day 6 - Presentation of Lockerbie Air Disaster and tour of Lockerbie | afternoon: students conduct research |
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| Day 7 - morning Tour of Dumfries prison | afternoon attendance at Scottish Rally (tentative) |
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| Day 8 - Travel from, Dumfries to Belfast, Northern Ireland |
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| Day 9 - Presentation at PSNI Headquarters | afternoon walking tour of Belfast led by Laurence Mckeown. |
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| Day 10 - Lecture by university staff at University of Ulster |
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| Day 11 - Travel from Dumfries to Dublin, Ireland |
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| Day 12 - Presentation and tour of Ballymun Garda Station |
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| Day 13 - Tour of criminal courts building including a question and answer time with sitting judges | afternoon travel from Dublin to Liverpool, England |
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| Day 14 to 15 - Free day in Liverpool |
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| Day 16 to 19 - Visits with Merseyside Police |
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| Day 20 - Travel from Liverpool to Lincolnshire, England, by way of Nottingham, England | Tour of National Justice Museum |
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| Day 21 - Free day in Lincolnshire |
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| Day 22 to 25 - Visits with Lincolnshire Police |
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| Day 26 - Travel from Lincolnshire to London, England |
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| Day 27 - Walking tour of London and Jack the Ripper tour |
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| Day 28 - Depart to the US |
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* Dates and itinerary subject to change. The Global Education Office reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, and/or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Program Cost
Summer 2022: Coming Soon!
The Program Cost for study abroad courses is assessed separately from Mason tuition and fees. This means separate charges are put on your student account for this course, a study abroad tuition charge and a study abroad program fee charge, which together equal the published Program Cost for this course.
Included:
- Application deposit
- Tuition for 6 credits and mandatory fee
- Accommodations
- Entrance fees/tours/guides as described in itinerary
- Some breakfasts & group meals
- In-country transportation
- Pre-departure orientation
- International emergency medical insurance
Not included:
- Airfare*
- Passport
- Visa fees
- Some meals
- Some transportation
- Personal spending
- COVID-19 testing in the U.S. before departure
- COVID-19 testing while abroad
- Vaccinations
- Required textbooks and/or course materials
*Note: This program does not include a group flight. Information regarding arrival times and location will be sent out to all participants after the application deadline. Do not purchase airfare until you receive the "Green Light for Flights" notice from the Global Education Office via email.
The notice will include information on the arrival/departure airports, flight times, and where to meet the group. Students who fail to follow the guidelines GEO sends out will be responsible for applicable costs of changing their flights. When the time comes to purchase airfare, GEO will be recommending the purchase of Flight Interruption and Cancellation Insurance. The “Green Light for Flights” email will provide additional information about this insurance.
Program Payments
The full program fee is charged to your Mason Student Account. Students pay the Global Education Office (GEO) Program Fee as advertised in two payments (Application Deposit + Final Payment.)
Application Deposit: $200 non-refundable Application Deposit must be received by the application deadline. This fee is paid online through the MasonAbroad application system and is included in the program fee.
Final Payment: The final balance payment is made through the Mason Bill+Payment system. Payment is due according to the Mason Payment Schedule. The amount due is the difference of your Program Cost minus the $200 you will have already paid, the Application Deposit.
Note:
- You can make your final payment in the Mason Bill+Payment system even if you do not see the GEO program charge on your student account.
- George Mason University applies payments to outstanding charges first. If you have an outstanding balance from a previous semester your payments will first go to paying that charge. You will still be responsible for the GEO charge.
Financial Aid
In most cases, financial aid (federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans) can be used to finance study abroad. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the Office of Financial Aid to review their financial aid package. The Office of Financial Aid is the only office that can determine your aid eligibility.
Meeting with your financial aid officer prior to applying to study abroad will help you understand if, how much, and when your aid can be used to study abroad.
Confirmation of your financial aid award may not be available until registration and billing for the term in question is final. If aid eligibility changes, or the amount of aid disbursed is lower than anticipated, students are responsible for all remaining account balances or risk late fees, holds on their accounts, and program dismissal.
To assist students in the processing of their financial aid, GEO will communicate with the Office of Financial aid those students who plan to utilize financial aid for their specific study abroad program through their application with GEO. Please note there is no guarantee to students that their aid can be utilized for their specific study abroad program.
If you plan to use federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans to finance your study abroad you must:
- Mark “Yes” to “Do you plan to use Financial Aid to finance your program (federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans)?” in your profile in MasonAbroad.gmu.edu.
After acceptance:
* Students must be enrolled at least half-time for federal loans and the majority of grant funds. Please refer to the Financial Aid Website for a definition of half-time for undergraduate and graduate students: https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/eligibility.
VA Benefits: The Veterans Administration determines if a program is eligible to receive VA benefit payments based on the participants VA education program. Use of benefits is dependent on type of benefit and type of program. If you plan to use VA benefits to finance study abroad contact your program officer at MasonLed@gmu.edu to request the "Intent to Use VA Benefits Form." You will complete that form with Mason’s Office of Military Services. To contact Military Services be sure to email them directly at Military@gmu.edu.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy: All participants are bound by the Mason GEO Withdrawal and Refund Policy.
Payment Instructions
For more information on payments, financial aid, and information for non-Mason students:
Payments
Scholarships
GEO offers a number of need- and merit-based scholarships. All Mason students are welcome to apply:
Scholarships
Application Deadline:
March 10, 2022
Application requirements:*
Program Deposit: $200 for all applicants.
Course Selection Questionnaire: You will choose the course(s) you would like to be receive credit for on this program. Check the "Academics" tab to see what courses are offered on this program. If you need help selecting your course, check with your academic advisor.
Passport Status Questionnaire: You do not need a passport to complete this questionnaire or the application. However, if you do not have a valid passport, you should begin applying for one now. The Global Education Office offers Passport Grants to help.
Signature Documents: Read and electronically "sign" the documents regarding the acknowledgement of risk, the pre-departure orientation, and your financial responsibility.
Additional requirements for non-Mason applicants:
- Official transcript: To be mailed or emailed to the Global Education Office at George Mason University.
- Non-degree Contract Course/Admission Form: Please complete the form and upload it into the questionnaire.
* Additional application requirements may apply to individual programs. Once you open your application, you will see all application requirements.
Application instructions: