Psychology Travel Course:
PSYC 3120 “Explorations in the History of Psychology, Ireland"
Charles I. Abramson and Silvia Daggy, MSc
In 2012, the Psychology Department created its first international travel course, PSYC 3120 “Explorations in the History of Psychology”. This course was possible with the collaboration between Dr. Charles Abramson and Silvia Daggy, MSc. The main goal of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to understand the complexity of global issues and allow them to interact with people from other countries. The academic goal is not limited to history of psychology because students are welcome to explore other historical and cultural issues from an international perspective. For this reason, the course is open to all majors and has no prerequisite.
This spring break (3/17/2018 – 3/24/2018) we visited Dublin, Republic of Ireland and Belfast Northern Ireland - UK. Our previous trips included visits to Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Russia, Italy and Spain. For 2019, our destination is Paris - France. If you are interested, please contact Silvia Daggy MSc (silvia.daggy@okstate.edu) for details. Scholarships to help you cover some of your costs are available but you must apply for them in a timely manner.
This year was one of our largest groups. Our fourteen students came from a diverse background including psychology, political science, journalism, sociology, human development, nutritional sciences, and Engineering. For several of our students, this was their first international experience.
The goal of the trip was to learn about the ‘troubles” and to understand that negotiation is better than war in settling disputes. During the lecture portion of the course, students learned about the British role in the Irish potato famine, the importance of Irish music, dance, and food, the rich culture of Ireland, and the contributions that the Irish made to the United States. We also had guest lectures on how to conduct oral histories and insights on what is was like to live during the times of the troubles. Our trip began in Dublin. While in Dublin we had the opportunity to visit Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, Ha’Penny Bridge, Dublin Castle, Chester Beatty Library, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Zoo, Irish Presidents House, Liffey River, Millennium Bridge and Phoenix Park. Of special interest was the visit to the General Post Office where the Irish Republic was announced in 1916. Garden of Remembrance, a memorial garden dedicated to the memory of those that gave their lives in the cause of Irish Freedom among other historical and cultural sites.
After spending a few days in Dublin we traveled by train to Belfast. In Belfast, we toured the Titanic Museum, Titanic Dock and Pumphouse. We walked around the streets known for its famous murals, an artistic tribute to Ireland’s past and current history. The murals also depicted current international events. Afterwards we took a bus tour of the city visiting Parliament building, St. George’s Market, May Street, Great Victoria Streets, Shaftesbury Square, and Queens University. From Belfast, we took a day tour to the Giant Causeway along the scenic Antrim Coastal Road. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a geological formation of interlocking basalt columns. Along the way, we visited Carrick Fergus and stopped at the vertiginous Carrick–a-Rade rope bridge. Following Belfast we returned to Dublin for a free day for souvenir shopping, stroll around Dublin and its many parks or just relax before our return flight back to the United States the next day.
Students interested in learning more about the history of psychology should take Dr. Abramson’s History of Psychology course, PSYC 4493.