Once again, for the third year in a row, Psychology students from SDSU enjoyed a wonderful and rewarding experience studying in the International Summer Schools at the University of Osnabrück, Germany. This past July, students from SDSU joined fellow students from Costa Rica, El Salvador, England, Iran, Germany, and across the United States to learn about Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Competencies. The program started with a keynote address by Dr. Hazel Markus (Stanford University), and included lectures and workshops taught by professors from around the globe, including Dr. Kate Hattrup from SDSU.
Students also learned about culture first-hand, through immersion in the local community, excursions to the cities of Oldenburg, Bremen, and Berlin, and a mudflat hike in the North Sea. Students participated in workshops taught by German professionals, where they learned to practice intercultural sensitivity and also had a chance to build their own Intercultural Competencies workshop.
The University of Osnabrück provided an environment where all international students could mingle with locals as well as other students in the summer programs, including programs in Biodiversity and International Perspectives on Health Care. Students in the program had the opportunity to get to know the city and local way of living through city tours and private home stays with university students. There was no need to worry about the language barrier because the program also included a German course for beginners. When asked about his experience, Psychology student and current Psychology Club President, Jorge Soto stated,
“This has been one of the best things that has happened to me. It was an amazing and rewarding experience that has opened up my eyes to the world outside of the United States. The city is beautiful and inviting, the locals treat you amazing and I have made friends from all over the world thanks to this exchange program. I learned so much this summer and am very grateful I had a chance to attend to such and incredible program.”
Altogether, 17 students from SDSU participated in the International Summer Schools at the University of Osnabrück this past July; 11 of them were from Psychology. The Psychology Department maintains very popular exchange programs with two universities in Germany: the University of Osnabrück and the University of Mannheim. Students who are interested in participating in 2016 should contact Dr. Kate Hattrup for more information and advice. [Read more about the Germany study abroad program].
