Penn State students have the opportunity to take spring break in Lisbon, Portugal, and learn a few things on their trip.

While there, students can participate in three courses, writes Christina Billie for Penn State Brandywine.

The deadline to register and pay for this study abroad trip is Jan. 10.

The courses offered are “The Science of Music in Lisbon,” taught by Associate Professor of Psychology and Linguistics Evan Bradley; “Travel Writing in Lisbon,” taught by Assistant Teaching Professor of English Debbie Ousey; and “Understanding Social Problems in Cross-Cultural Perspective,” taught by Associate Teaching Professor of Human Development and Family Studies Laura Evans.

All courses include pre-travel work to give students a cultural introduction to Portugal.

The program is designed to give students the chance to learn and experience a new culture while traveling during the academic year.

Students taking part in the study-abroad Lisbon trip will stay in Hotel Avani and will have the opportunity to take guided tours and visit historic and cultural sites during the day and Lisbon’s nightlife in the evening.

Students will also receive travel passes for unlimited public transportation each day and embark on two guided tours on behalf of Celestial Voyagers, the trip facilitator.

Paul Greene, professor of ethnomusicology and integrative arts at Brandywine and one of the faculty leads for the trip, said this program is a great opportunity for students to experience the world and develop a relationship with travel.

“As students travel with study abroad programs, they’ll probably travel more as a result after graduating from college because of how the experience impacted them,” said Greene.

“They become more globally aware and more globally engaged citizens. We’ve had folks write to us saying their study-abroad experience helped them get jobs after graduating; it made them stand out in the job pool. Certainly, they’re taking a course and getting the credits, but I think the value goes far beyond that.”

The spring break in Portugal exposes the students to Portugal’s history and world history.

“Portuguese globalization was an early, large globalization that took place, happening even before the British began to colonize parts of the world,” he noted.

“For a long time, Portuguese imperialism was a thing. Brazil took shape because of this.

“Going to Lisbon is also going to the center of where it all happened: the good, the bad, the powerful, the important, and a really special kind of opportunity that way. If we think about the globalization happening now, it can be useful to look at the last iteration.”

Scholarships are available for students interested in studying abroad in Lisbon.

Learn more about the program.

For more information, contact Paul Greene at pdg4@psu.edu.