Murray State students who study abroad have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience new places and cultures, create lasting friendships, and gain a global perspective — all while earning credit toward their degree. In conjunction with the Murray State Education Abroad Office, faculty in the college lead semester-long programs in the fall and spring, as well as shorter excursions over the spring and winter breaks. Students can apply for scholarships and other financial aid, and the university offers numerous workshops to help students find financing for their trip.
In this issue of the newsletter, we’ll look back at three trips from summer 2019: KIIS-Barcelona; Experience Scotland; and Music History in Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague.
KIIS BARCELONA
Dr. Drew Seib from the Department of Political Science and Sociology participated in the KIIS-Barcelona study abroad in summer 2019. His course, “Nationalism in Contemporary Spain,” focused on the Catalan region of Spain, which has a long history of wanting to separate from Spain. Students explored the nationalist movement to better understand its roots and how the movement has survived for so many years. Students visited a number of museums, explored the city, and observed the life around them, evaluating such things as the importance of symbols like the flag and language.
“We were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Catalan parliament, and sit and hold class on the parliament floor,” said Seib. “We even got to talk with a senior member of the governing/majority party who talked about why they are pursuing independence from Spain and explained the situation with the political prisoners from his party.”
Photo above: KIIS Barcelona on the Catalan Parliament floor
A section of the class was devoted to sports nationalism. Students visited the 1992 Olympic sites to talk about the importance of Barcelona hosting the 1992 Olympic Games instead of Madrid, and the challenges that posed. During the last week of the program, students visited Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona museum and soccer stadium. Their famous tagline “Mes Que Un Club” or “More than a Club” is symbolic of the nationalist sentiment that team fosters, especially in reference to their arch-rival, FC Madrid. We also had a day long excursion to a city south of Barclona, called Tarragona. There, students enjoyed a unique opportunity to compare ancient Roman nationalism as a seaside colosseum to Catalan nationalism.
Photo above: Bryce Robinson and Drew Seib at Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona soccer stadium and museum
EXPERIENCE SCOTLAND
Two Murray State History students, Ashleigh Deno and Ocean Tindall-Small, participated in the Experience Scotland program in Dalkeith, Scotland. They accompanied Dr. Kathy Callahan who taught the course in which they were enrolled, “Women in the Big Houses of Britain.” The course explored the lives of women who lived in British manor houses during the sixteenth through twentieth centuries.
Photo above, L-R: Ocean Tindall-Small, Ashleigh Deno and Kathy Callahan at Dalkeith House
The students had ample opportunities for experiential learning while in Scotland. All program participants live in Dalkeith House, an early eighteenth-century manor house built by the Duchess of Buccleuch. Additionally, Ashleigh and Ocean traveled to Alnwick Castle (in England), Linlithgow Palace, Gladstone’s Land and Georgian House. A very special event involved a tour of Dalmeny House after which they had tea with Lady Dierdre Primrose, Countess of Rosebery. She and her husband the Seventh Earl of Rosebery own Dalmeny House.
Photos above L-R: Ashleigh and Ocean standing on the border between England and Scotland; Students dancing at the ceilidh on the first night of classes
MUSIC HISTORY IN VIENNA, SALZBURG, AND PRAGUE
Dr. Tana Field’s summer study abroad trip, Music History in Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, explored the lives of composers and musical trends in context. As a portion of the trip, students attended two full operas, as well as a third opera performed with marionettes.
Photo above: Music History in Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague at the Hohensalzburg Fortress
Among other highlights were visits to the Haus der Musik, the National Czech Museum of Music, the Prague Jewish Quarter, Terezin Concentration Camp, the Arnold Schoenberg Center, the Autograph Vault at the Mozarteum, and several relevant Sound of Music sites.
Photos above L-R: Liam Coursey playing Theramin and Becca Hallum on Guitar at the National Czech Museum of Music, Prague; Andrea Campbell testing out the harp at the National Czech Museum of Music, Prague; Jackson Gray on the musical staircase at the Haus der Musik, Vienna
If you’re a student interested in studying abroad or a faculty member interested in teaching abroad, visit the Education Abroad Office in Blackburn 131, or check out their website.
College of humanities and fine arts 