STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS FOR PSYCHOLOGY MAJORS

Psychology majors are able to study abroad in a variety of programs, including both Dickinson College programs and those run by colleges, universities, and other institutions world-wide.  Students may study abroad for a summer, semester, or full year.  Because many psychology majors become involved in research projects here on campus, they elect to study abroad for a single semester (fall or spring) of their junior year.  Others decide to study abroad for the entire year.  The links below provide information on available programs, courses in psychology, and advising. 

Dickinson College Programs
Non-Dickinson Programs
Other Dickinson Study Abroad Program Options
Advising for Study Abroad in Psychology

DICKINSON COLLEGE PROGRAMS AND DICKINSON PARTNER PROGRAMS

The University of Queensland Science Program:

The University of Queensland Science Program in Brisbane, Australia is designed to provide students studying biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, geology, mathematics, physics and psychology with the opportunity to expand their understanding of those major disciplines though international study. Students from other majors are admitted on a space available basis. 

Psychology majors enrolled in the University of Queensland Science Program in Brisbane, Australia may take psychology courses in the School of Psychology.  In order to receive credit as a psychology course, students must prove that a course taken at UQ is equivalent to courses offered at Dickinson College.  Upon returning to campus, students must request course approval from the Department of Psychology.  Students should provide course syllabi, course descriptions, and samples of assignments in order for the Department to determine whether or not the student should receive Psychology credit for that course.  Questions about Psychology course credit should be directed to Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu .

NOTE:  Because differences exist in offerings between institutions, students are advised to choose psychology courses from those listed below.  While other courses may be worthwhile and may complement a student’s study of psychology, they will not typically transfer for credit as a psychology course.

The University of East Anglia Science Program:

The University of East Anglia Science Program in Norwich, England offers both semester and academic year options. Students benefit from access to the course offerings and research opportunities of a major research university while at the same time participating in the program-specific curriculum offered by the on-site science-program director. UEA has highly regarded programs in the sciences, particularly in the areas of biology, environmental science and chemistry. 

Psychology majors enrolled in the University of East Anglia Science Program in Norwich, England may take psychology courses in the BSc in Psychosocial Sciences program.  In order to receive credit as a psychology course, students must prove that a course taken at UEA is equivalent to courses offered at Dickinson College.  Upon returning to campus, students must request course approval from the Department of Psychology.  Students should provide course syllabi, course descriptions, and samples of assignments in order for the Department to determine whether or not the student should receive Psychology credit for that course.  Questions about Psychology course credit should be directed to Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu .

NOTE:  Because differences exist in offerings between institutions, students are advised to choose psychology courses from those listed below.  While other courses may be worthwhile and may complement a student’s study of psychology, they will not typically transfer for credit as a psychology course.

The Psychology Major at UEA:  Psychology majors at UEA follow a very proscribed sequence of courses.  That sequence includes taking several half-credit courses, some full-credit courses, and perhaps one full-year course, all at the same time.  To experience psychology as a UEA psychology major would, Dickinson students are advised to take at least two half-credit courses from within the same cluster (see below), plus two full-credit courses (or a combination of half- and full-credit courses) for a total of three Dickinson course credits in psychology.

The University of Toulouse, Dickinson in France Program:

Students enrolled in the Dickinson in France program in Toulouse, France take courses in French language, literature, and civilization at the Dickinson Study Center. Classes are taught entirely in French by faculty from the University of Toulouse and Dickinson College. Psychology majors also enroll in one or two psychology courses each semester at the Univerity of Toulouse.

Psychology majors enrolled in the Dickinson College University of Toulouse program in Toulouse, France may take psychology courses at the Universite de Toulouse II – Le Mirail (UTM) campus in the Unite de Formation et de Recherch (UFR) de Psychologie.  In order to receive credit as a psychology course, students must prove that a course taken at Toulouse is equivalent to courses offered at Dickinson College.  Upon returning to campus, students must request course approval from the Department of Psychology.  Students should provide course syllabi, course descriptions, and samples of assignments in order for the Department to determine whether or not the student should receive Psychology credit for that course.  Questions about Psychology course credit should be directed to Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu NOTE:  Because differences exist in offerings between institutions, students are advised to choose psychology courses from those listed below.  While other courses may be worthwhile and may complement a student’s study of psychology, they will not typically transfer for credit as a psychology course.

Other Dickinson Programs and Dickinson Partner Programs:

One of the options available to psychology majors, particularly those double majoring in a foreign language, is to study at one of the other Dickinson Programs or at a Dickinson Partner Program.  Dickinson Programs are developed and directly managed by Dickinson College and led by an on-site director who may be a Dickinson professor or a representative from the host institution. They have been created by academic departments at Dickinson as extensions of the department’s curriculum and are monitored by them.  Partner Programs are developed through linkages between Dickinson academic departments and departments at overseas institutions.  More…

Dickinson Approved Programs

Because of a specific interest in a particular country, university, or program of study, some psychology majors study abroad at a Dickinson Approved Program.  Approved Programs extend Dickinson’s off-campus network to include study options in every part of the world and in every academic area. While not as closely monitored as Dickinson Programs and Partner Programs, these programs are offered by accredited colleges and universities, which oversee them. 

Danish Institute for Study Abroad:  One approved program that recent psychology majors have enrolled in is the Danish Institute for Study Abroad.  DIS is a specialized Danish institution, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, offering study abroad programs, taught in English, primarily for American university students in their third or fourth year of study, with credit transfer to their home school. Altogether, some 160 American and other universities and colleges constitute the DIS network of approved programs. 

Psychology majors enrolled in the Danish Institute for Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark may take psychology courses in the Psychology and Child Development program.  In order to receive credit as a psychology course, students must prove that a course taken through DIS is equivalent to courses offered at Dickinson College.  Upon returning to campus, students must request course approval from the Department of Psychology.  Students should provide course syllabi, course descriptions, and samples of assignments in order for the Department to determine whether or not the student should receive Psychology credit for that course.  Questions about Psychology course credit should be directed to Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu .
NOTE:  Because differences exist in offerings between institutions, students are advised to choose psychology courses from those listed below.  While other courses may be worthwhile and may complement a student’s study of psychology, they will not typically transfer for credit as a psychology course.

Advising for Study Abroad in Psychology

ADVISING

Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu, is the advisor for all study abroad programs in psychology. Psychology majors planning to study abroad should meet with Prof. Smith to discuss their options.

Students thinking about study abroad should follow these steps to gather information about available programs.

STEP 1:  Finding a program:  Students should begin their search for study abroad programs by exploring the various possibilities in consultation with the Office of Global Education. 

STEP 2:  Learning about a specific program:  Once a specific program (or programs) has been identified, more information about that program can be obtained from the on-campus coordinator or program advisor for that program or the Office of Global Education.

STEP 3:   Psychology programs abroad:   For majors interested in the University of Queensland, University of East Anglia, the University of Toulouse, or the Danish Institute for Study Abroad, Prof. Smith is available to talk about available course offerings in psychology. 

STEP 4: Before departing campus: Before leaving campus for your study abroad program, meet with Prof. Smith. Students studying at the University of Queensland, University of East Anglia, the University of Toulouse, or the Danish Institute for Study Abroad must meet with Prof. Smith to discuss potential course selection. Students taking courses in other programs must meet with Prof. Smith before going abroad to obtain pre-approval for all psychology courses they plan to take.

STEP 5: Return to campus, course credit: When you return to campus, meet with Prof. Smith to receive credit for psychology courses taken abroad. Bring all course syllabi, course assignments, and work completed, along with an Enrollment in Another Insitution form to that meeting.

For general information about study abroad programs, students should contact the Officeof Global Education.

Questions about a specific program should be directed to the on-campus coordinator or program advisor for that program.  Questions regarding the psychology major and study abroad should be directed to Prof. Gregory Smith, smithg@dickinson.edu.