COLLEGE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS
Study abroad will open your mind and
change your life. It will also prepare you for the global professional
environment of the 21st century.
You can fit education abroad into your
undergraduate experience in many ways-by taking electives for general
education requirements, or by taking a mix of major courses and electives.
It is important to start early to develop a strategy to integrate
study abroad into your academic program.
Even if you do not start early enough, it does not mean you cannot
take the opportunity to study abroad.
You will just need to be prepared for courses to be above and
beyond your degree requirements.
How can you strategize most effectively?
Start early in your Penn State career, and use these resources:
- The Education Abroad website, http://www.international.psu.edu/
describes the wide variety of programs, options, and financial aid
available. Explore the grade requirements and application process,
and note the deadlines of December 1 for fall programs, and
April 1 for spring and full-year plans. The site also has information
on the different types of programs Penn State offers: some are for independent-minded students
ready to enroll directly in overseas universities; others provide
curricula tailored to American students; and some have language or
other course prerequisites. Programs vary in cost, and Penn State administers some offerings itself and runs
others through partner institutions.
- Peer advisers, students who participated in an international
education experience, are available for consultation on a walk-in
basis 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, in 412 Boucke
Building. They can tell
you about the study abroad experience as well as the program selection
and application process. You should visit a peer adviser before making
an appointment with an Educational Abroad Advisor.
- Education Abroad Advisers. It is important to work in partnership with
an Education Abroad Advisor who works with the programs in the country
you are interested in going to. After discussing where you want to
go with a peer adviser, make an appointment with an Education Abroad
Advisor (a professional adviser in the international office), to ask
questions concerning your choice of program, the application process,
and coordination requirements with academic advisers. Appointments
may be made through the International Programs Reception desk on 4th
floor Boucke (814-865-7681). For general inquiries please email peeradviser@ip.psu.edu.
Current Education Abroad Advisors:
Julia Beth Grim (jug11@psu.edu)
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Russia,
Spain, Trinidad, Turkey, Venezuela, Global Engineering Education Exchange
(GE3), PRESTIGE Exchange
Julia Kisner(jbk14@psu.edu)
Denmark, England, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
Wales
Valerie Schreiner(vss3@psu.edu)
Belgium, Canada, France, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa
David
Younger(dsy1@psu.edu)
Asia, Australia, Germany, Austria, and the Pacifid Islands
- Liberal Arts Liaison to Education
Abroad. Students who have narrowed down their choice
of programs, but are unsure of which is best for them can meet with
Sylvia Neely (sxn13@psu.edu). As
the liaison, she can help discuss student choices and what they hope
to get out of the abroad experience to help in coming to a decision. Sylvia is adept in understanding the
education abroad programs and is enthusiastic about helping students
prepare to go abroad.
- Academic advisers. It is also necessary to work in close partnership
with your departmental and college advisers to review courses you
plan to take while abroad to see what may fulfill course requirements
you have to complete. Please
note that some courses may remain in your electives. The advisers
can respond to your questions about the academic accreditation of
courses you plan to take overseas. We recommend you stay in close
touch with: 1) the Department of Psychology website: http://psych.la.psu.edu/
as well as 2) the College of the Liberal Arts academic advising website,
http://laus.la.psu.edu/advisingcenter.htm.
These
are the key steps in making education abroad work for you. You will
be surprised at how many options you have, how you can use your financial
aid to study abroad, and how you can integrate education abroad into
your curriculum and still graduate on time-if you start early to
develop your strategy. Most students in education abroad are juniors
and seniors; however, it is encouraged to not count on fulfilling major
requirements while abroad. Your goal in studying abroad is to open your
mind to the world while sharpening your professional qualifications.
Studying abroad is an opportunity that not all students receive
the opportunity to participate in. It
is an experience that will stand out on your resume when applying for
graduate schools and jobs as it will lend hand in you developing more
self-reliance, self-confidence, and independence.
Where to Study Abroad
Below is a sampling of options
suitable for students in Psychology. This list, which does not
include all the programs open to you, gives you an idea of the kinds
of programs available to you through the Penn State Education Abroad
office. You will find that a large majority of the
programs will work for you especially if you are looking to fulfill
electives, general education requirements, supporting coursework, and
Bachelor of Arts requirements. Please
note that not every program is offered throughout the year as summer
has a limited selection of programs to attend.
**
PSYCH designations refer ONLY to courses offered Spring 2007 or later.
Penn State Maastricht Psychology Exchange Program, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2006-2007 IS
FEBRUARY 17, 2006
Limited to academically superior students,
the competitive Penn State education abroad Psychology Exchange
program is located in Maastricht, a cosmopolitan European-minded city
in the southern Netherlands with a population of 125,000. Maastricht's psychology program is strong in neurobehavioral
science and in experimental psychology. Students in the program may
supplement their study of psychology with courses in other fields, which
will provide them with opportunities to interact with professors and
students as an integral part of a Dutch university community.
The following links provide additional information:
General
information (not Psychology-specific) on the Maastricht web site
(pdf)
Penn
State International Programs Office Maastricht information
Information
on applying to the Maastricht program for 2006-2007
Application
form for Maastricht program for 2006-2007
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Monash University, with 40,000 students, is one of Australia's largest universities. Most students
study at the Clayton campus, located in Melbourne's suburbs approximately thirteen miles
from downtown Melbourne. All courses in the psychology program
are accredited by the Australian Psychological Society. The program
promotes a basic understanding of scientific disciplines, and provides
training in broad generic social science skills, including statistics,
data analysis, presentation skills and team work. Courses include: Developmental
and Biological Psychology, Cognitive and Social Psychology, and Psychological
Testing, Theories of Ability and Ethics.
International
Programs link to information on the Monash University program
Monash University Homepage
RMIT, Melbourne, Australia
RMIT is known for its professional programs,
which focus on educating students in both the theoretical and applied
sides of their disciplines. The university has many industry and professional
connections, especially in fields like psychology with many real world
applications. Located in Melbourne's central business district next to
the city's largest shopping and transport center, RMIT structures its
psychology program as a practical, broadly based science program, designed
to equip students with a blend of theory and practice for the modern
workplace. Courses are taught in a combination of lecture/seminar, tutorial,
workshop, practical and laboratory sessions. Course offerings include:
Psychological Processes of Everyday Life, Social Psychology, The Individual
in the Group, and Stress, Adjustment, and Change.
International
Programs link to information on the RMIT program
RMIT Homepage
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Located on the tip of Port Phillip bay on the Yarra River, Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city with a population
of 3 million. The University of Melbourne enjoys a reputation for academic excellence.
Established in 1853, it is Australia's second-oldest university. Bordered
by park lands and the inner suburb of Carlton, the campus is composed of a historical
blend of architecture, from the Gothic Revival of the last century to
the red and cream period of the 1930's and 1950's. The university is
large, with 31,000 students and eleven colleges. Psychology offers a
broad range of subjects and courses aimed at providing a thorough and
extensive grounding in the discipline. All courses are accredited by
the Australian Psychological Society. Courses include: Introductory
Experimental Psychology 1, Quantitative Methods for Psychology 2, Developmental
Psychology 2, and Behavioral Neuroscience 2.
International
Programs link to information on the University of Melbourne program
University of Melbourne Homepage
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Located in Brisbane, a city of one million in the southeast
corner of the State of Queensland, the University of Queensland has two main campuses, St. Lucia and Gatton,
with most students studying at the St. Lucia campus. With a population of over 25,000
students, the university is large and reflective of Australia's multi-cultural society. The Psychological
Science program provides an integrated and comprehensive education in
the main areas of the scientific discipline of psychology, including
developmental, social, cognitive, biological, and abnormal psychology.
This program is well-suited for students who have an interest in the
study of psychology as a structured program. Courses include: Introduction
to Psychology: Physiological & Cognitive Psychology, Introduction
to Psychology: Developmental Social & Clinical Psychology, and Psychological
Research Methodology.
International
Programs link to information on the University of Queensland program
University of Queensland Homepage
University of Leeds, Leeds, England
Leeds is the cultural and sporting center
for much of its region, with a thriving local music scene featuring
everything from soul and reggae to jazz and folk. The University of Leeds has long had a relationship with Penn State in many fields. The university, with
18,000 students, is a renowned center of learning and research, located
in a prosperous commercial, industrial, and manufacturing city. The
university's School of Psychology provides excellent teaching and research
facilities. Every semester the school invites distinguished guest lecturers.
Courses include: Biological Perception and Communication, Social, and
Cognitive Psychology, the Psychology of Effective Living, and Biological
and Abnormal Psychology.
International
Programs link to information on the University of Leeds program
University of Leeds Homepage
University of Sussex, Brighton, England
Founded in 1961, the University of Sussex is a relatively new and small university
with a student population of 7,000. Sussex differs from most universities in that
it is organized by schools (rather than departments of study), with
plans underway to reduce the number of schools from ten to five. The
University of Sussex is located only a few miles from Brighton, a lively seaside resort on the south
coast of England. London is only an hour away by train. Though
small, Brighton is surprisingly cosmopolitan and has
often been dubbed "London-By-The-Sea". The University of Sussex offers two types of psychology degrees,
one a scientifically oriented program leading to a B.Sc degree and another leading to a B.A. Psychology at
Sussex is extremely well developed and includes
a rich array of program to choose from: Developmental Psychology, Social
Psychology, Psychology and Management, and many others. Courses include;
Research Methods in Psychology 1, Clinical Psychology, Personality and
Intelligence, and Critical Thinking in Psychology.
International
Programs link to information on the University of Sussex program
University of Sussex Homepage
Université Paul Valéry,
Montpellier France
Penn State is a partner with the University of Minnesota in administering the Education Abroad
program at Universite Paul Valery in Montpellier. L'université
Paul Valéry, the arts and humanities branch
of the Université de Montpellier, lies in a 25-acre park situated
to the north of the city. The campus is a 45-minute walk from downtown
Montpellier. It currently has 19,000 students.
Students generally take a mix of courses: courses designed for American
students in French language and culture and (if their French competence
is adequate) direct-enrollment courses at the Paul Valery
with French and international students. Some French proficiency is a
pre-requisite for this program. A variety of course offerings are available
in the arts, social sciences, and humanities.
International
Programs link to information on the Université Paul-Valéry
program
How to Make Education Abroad count toward your major: a sampler
of course accreditations
A key to a successful study abroad strategy
is to integrate your international courses as seamlessly as possible
into your Penn State curriculum and on to your transcript.
Below you'll find a sampling of international courses in psychology
which students have substituted for Penn State credit and grades.
Keep in mind that many education abroad
courses will not be accredited as specific Penn State courses, but as PSY/PSYCH 299 or PSY/PSYCH
499, generic course numbers for "foreign studies in psychology."
Departmental advisers in psychology can help determine how these courses
can be counted for the major. Another thing to keep in mind is that
students who want to accredit an international course, which has not
previously been accredited, are responsible for submitting a syllabus
or course outline to the Education Abroad office with the cover sheet
they provide. The Abroad office will review and send to
the appropriate department for review.
The Education Abroad office maintains
a large database displaying a list of the courses in all majors which
have been accredited. You can find the database and guidelines for international
course accreditation at the Education Abroad Course
Approval list.
Please keep in mind that the samples
are past accreditations and that they may not remain the same due to
courses and credits changing. You
cannot count on integrating your overseas courses without further research.
You will need to do further research on courses available during your
semester abroad. The sampler gives you examples of study abroad
courses which past students have substituted for Penn State psychology courses and gives you an
idea of institutions from which students have obtained course accreditation.
Use the sampler as a guideline not as a road map for your own education
abroad, which you should tailor to your own needs and requirements.
Here's the sampler with psychology accreditations
and substitutions:
PSYCHOLOGY
University of Leeds, Leeds, England
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| Penn
State: PSY 213/PSYCH 212 Introduction to Developmental Psychology
LEEDS:
PSYC 2424 - Psychology of the Individual
|
Penn
State: PSY 438/PSYCH 438 Personality Theory
RMIT: PI
430 Personality |
| Penn
State: PSY 221/PSYCH 256 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
LEEDS:
PSYC 2411 - Cognition, Emotion and Motivation
|
Penn
State: PSY 404/PSYCH 461 Advanced Conditioning and Learning
LEEDS:
PSYC 3040 - Contemporary Trends in Learning and Behavior
|
| Penn
State: PSY 475/PSYCH 423 Social Psychology of Interpersonal/Intergroup
Relationships MELBOURNE:
PI 420 - The Individual and the Group
QUEENSLAND:
PSY 367 - Personal Relationships
|
Penn
State: PSY 487/PSYCH 441 Health Psychology
MONASH:
PSY 3131 - Health Psychology
QUEENSLAND:
PY 352 - Health Psychology
|
This page was last
updated on 07-12-07.
