The deadline is coming up for students to register for the European history of psychology trip, sponsored by the Department of Psychology. Applications for the two-week trip are being accepted until the end of this month, with three upper-level psychology credit hours being awarded to participants.

Led by Amy Pearce, associate professor of psychology, the trip will be June 11 through June 26, and the participants will be staying in several hostels.

“This trip provides the experience focused on people in Europe who had been very influential in the psychological field,” Pearce said. “There are many things to learn in Europe, where psychology emerged.”

Psychology formally originated in Leipzig, Germany in 1879, a site participants will visit on their trip.

The creation of the first psychology laboratory conducted by a German physiologist, Wilhelm Wundt, is generally considered the official beginning of psychology as a field of science, separating it from philosophy and physiology.

Pearce also said that learning and understanding those notable psychologists and scientists enable the participants to integrate different areas of psychology and develop a rich appreciation for the roots of their discipline.

 Pearce, who has led psychology-based student trips to both Australia and Turkey, encourages people to join the trip.

This time, the tour will be a course-and-tour, which consists of two weeks of study and two weeks of travel, all of which will cost $3,400, plus the cost of tuition. It includes the airfare, room accommodations, rail pass card, site admission and some meals.

During the first week, the participants will attend orientation sessions in Jonesboro and study the European history of psychology, in preparation for the trip.

On June 11, the group will head to Zurich, Switzerland.

During the trip, students will travel to six different countries: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, France and England.

Psychology major, Xee Lee, is excited to join the trip.

“I’m really excited because all of the places we are going to see are psychology related. We are going to see places where psychologists have done their studies and therapies,” Lee said.

The participants will visit the Freud Museum, Kafka house, Prague Castle, Darwin’s Down House, University of Leipzig and  “Bedlam” Hospital, all being historic psychological landmarks.

“It will help me understand the history of psychology better and where some of the therapies originated from,” she added. “If someone has the opportunity to study abroad, I recommend them taking it. It’s definitely a life-changing experience.”

The trip isn’t just opened to psychology majors. Students of all majors are encouraged to participate as well as Graduate students and students of other universities.

Non-psychology majors can apply credit to their general elective hours.

 Hayley Beall, a sophomore psychology major of Jonesboro, will take the trip to Europe as wel.

 “Vienna is the place I want to visit,” Beall said. “I want to learn more about psychology to help people. It’s pretty interesting to me,” she added.

The trip helps students who plan to work in the psychology field in the future.

Sarah Bish, a senior psychology major of Searcy, is looking forward to it as well.

“I’m learning psychology because I want to help people through counseling and this trip would make it more real,” Bish said.

Among the six countries she will be visiting, Pearce is looking forward to visiting the Czech Republic.

“It is the country I’ve never been to. Czech (Republic) will be very different. It’s exotic,” Pearce said, who has visited Europe in the past.

Currently, there are 10 participants confirmed on the list, but there is no limit to those who can attend. People who are interested in the trip need to apply by the end of March.