By Ali Bettuzzi

Staff Writer

GRAND RAPIDS - The Cornerstone University psychology department is planning a study abroad program to Europe for May of 2015.

The goal of the trip, still pending approval, is to help psychology students broaden their horizons.

Besides traditional undergraduate students, the trip will be open to psyche students in the CU Professional Graduate Studies division.

Nicole McDonald, CU psychology professor of 16 years, said she is excited for the opportunity to take students abroad.

“The ability to walk the same land, experience the same foods, and (see) the same sights as some of those key theorists-you just can’t get that from a textbook,” McDonald said.

Students who take advantage of the opportunity would be able to travel to a few countries in Europe.

Though the itinerary is still tentative, the hope is to travel to two cities in Switzerland, then London and Paris.

“A lot of those key ideas that developed into theories and have influenced us today have their roots in European history,” McDonald said. “Even for someone who’s been in the field for 25 years, to be there and to experience these historical sites, and to reflect on the key influence that they had on the development of the discipline that I commit a lot of my life and professional work to-it just gives you a different mindset, and the ability to culturally contextualize.”

Whether or not participants decide to commit to a life of pondering and study in Europe, the purpose of the trip is to change perspectives.

India Lichti, a sophomore psychology major, has already had some perspective changes.

“When I came in freshman year, I was determined never to leave the United States,” Lichti said. “I am scared to death about going overseas but now, I’m very excited about the prospect. I would advise anyone who is nervous to keep an open mind about it because it could be the experience

of a lifetime.”

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity could become a major source of inspiration for those who attend, as well as an eye-opening experience about Europe.

“I’m wondering how psychology is different in Europe versus America,” Lichti said.

“I’m hoping to learn about how they see psychology and maybe learn some new techniques that I can use to further my knowledge.”

While touching on her personal experiences during the exploratory planning trip she took, McDonald spoke about her time in Geneva, Switzerland.

“As far as locations, the highlight for me was Geneva,” she said. “I enjoyed spending time at the University of Geneva, in the (Jean) Piaget archives. There was a lot of his writing there-his toys, and tools, drawings and artwork from children he worked with. And to see someone that I’ve studied for over 25 years-to see so many of his original works was nothing short of inspiring.”

She also talked about the opportunity to observe the European people while visiting the oldest zoo in the world, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, Switzerland. The differences between Europeans and Americans were apparent.

“They’re not as safety obsessed,” McDonald said.

“They would let their children roam out a little more than you typically see here in the United States. There seemed to be more of a casually, this is a safe environment attitude towards it. That was very meaningful as a psychologist to kind of observe those patterns of the European people. We learned as much from observing as we did from any textbook.”

McDonald said students should seriously consider studying abroad.

“I would urge students to take the opportunity that’s in front of you,” she said. “We will help you make this opportunity a reality. This is one of those things that could help you define your work, and really, you won’t come back looking at psychology the same way.”