Education Abroad
The cultural immersion and broadening of life experiences as an impact of the study abroad experience can add immeasurably to the intellectual and personal development of a psychology major.
Our students embrace education abroad. Three-quarters of the student body travel abroad for research, service, work or internship opportunities.
Many of our students have attended the DIS Study Abroad in Copenhagen because there are a large number of classes offered that are related to psychology; however, during your required advising appointment Office of Education Abroad & Away staff can help you explore the full breadth of opportunities available for work, service and research abroad. Davidson alone sponsors multiple study abroad programs during the academic year and summer, in addition to the more than 140 academic programs that are operated by partner programs around the world.
Through these and other education abroad programs, Psychology majors, as well as students from other disciplines, have the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects first hand, conduct original research, and examine global issues in new contexts.
Plan Ahead
The sooner you begin planning for your study abroad, the better. Most students plan to travel during the spring of their sophomore years or during their junior years. As you look into programs that interest you, consider the major requirements of the psychology curriculum and the course sequencing–especially as it pertains to your statistics, research design, and research methods courses.
Course Credits/Transfers
You will begin the credit transfer process as part of your Davidson study abroad application.
Note that some course credits may transfer back to Davidson, provided they meet the requirements in our two-level approval process. You must first receive approval for the transfer credits from the Registrar. Once that approval has been secured, the psychology faculty will review the portfolio (syllabus and course work) from each of the classes you would like to transfer for psychology credit, checking for comparable levels for rigor and alignment with our curriculum in psychology. It is important to note that this final approval for psychology transfer credit happens after you return from studying abroad.
Neither the college nor the department can guarantee in advance that the courses you take while abroad will transfer. The Psychology department typically does not accept transfer credit in place of PSY 200, 300-level Research Methods courses, Advanced seminars, or Capstone seminars.To request transfer for psychology credit or to ask questions about the transfer credit process, please email Prof. Julio Ramirez at juramirez@davidson.edu.
How to Apply
All students planning to study abroad during the academic year or over a break must meet with an advisor in the Office of Education Abroad & Away in order to start an application. All application materials, including transcripts, recommendations and other supporting documents, must be submitted by the appropriate deadline.
Apply by February 1 for fall semester, academic year or summer programs, and by September 15 for spring semester or winter break programs (a few programs may have different deadlines). Contact an Education Abroad advisor with any questions, or email edabroad@davidson.edu.
Travel Registration
All students going abroad for College-related purposes besides credit-bearing study abroad programs (e.g. research, internships, volunteer work) are required to register their itinerary in advance and sign the College’s travel waiver.