Psychology study abroad course offers students taste of Italian culture

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2025 • Greg Pederson :

A summer study abroad program offered by the Department of Psychology at The University of Texas at Arlington provided undergraduate students with the chance to experience the culture of Italy in a hands-on way.

Eleven students participated in the Cultural Psychology course, which was the first faculty-led study abroad offered by the Department of Psychology. Rachel Baldridge, associate professor of instruction, led the program, which was open to students from all majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The course was designed to deepen students’ cross-cultural understanding of psychological concepts, emphasizing global competence and professional development. An underlying idea was to help students learn how to market their international experience in future careers. Students also gained practical skills in navigating challenges and engaging respectfully with the host culture. 

“We spent two weeks in Italy, with our time split between Rome and Florence, plus a day trip to Siena,” Baldridge said. “The curriculum focused on cultural studies in psychology, with a special emphasis placed on food, family, religion, and immigration. It was a great learning experience for the students.”

 

The program allowed students to be immersed in Italian culture and participate in many experiences first-hand. The group visited Rome, where they toured the Colosseum and Roman Forum, visited the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, and enjoyed a Roman food tour. In Florence, the group visited the Uffizi Gallery, the Piazzale Michelangelo, and the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the largest churches in the world. They also participated in a cooking class and toured the local market.

In Florence the students also attended a lecture about Italy’s “slow food” movement, a reaction against fast food which strives to preserve traditional and regional cuisine. Its focus is on taking pleasure in eating and on enjoying the freshest local ingredients from local food producers.

Logan Payne, a senior psychology major, said the program was the best experience he has had as a college student. He said his favorite memories from the trip were during the downtime in the schedule when the students could walk around and explore the cities together.

“I didn’t know anyone in the group before we went on this trip, but I formed many great friendships which will last a lifetime,” he said. “Being able to roam the streets of Italy together and just pop into little shops here and there and go to eat at random restaurants are the memories that are going to stick with me most.”

 

Kari Davis, a nursing major in her junior year, said she enjoyed the completely immersive aspect of the experience. Prior to the trip, the students completed assignments designed to help them better understand the differences between U.S. and Italian cultures.

“This program truly allowed me to open myself up to new experiences from talking with people — even though I used Google Translate for the majority of our conversations — to the food and the amazing views,” she said.

On the weekends, the students were able to create their own itineraries. Payne visited the beach in the coastal towns of Sperlonga and Cinque Terre, and also stopped in Pisa. Davis visited Cinque Terre and enjoyed the stunning views from the high cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea.

“Each village I traveled through just increased my desire to want to travel more and see all the beauty the country had to offer,” Davis said.

“My overall impression of the program is that it was a once in a lifetime experience with a once in a lifetime group of people,” Payne said. “Professor Baldridge was phenomenal in allowing us to experience all that Italy had to offer. She truly set the tone for the group and allowed us to enjoy ourselves and get out of our comfort zones. 

“I’m forever grateful for the experience that the program provided for me. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad to do it. You only get a few years in college; make the most of them!”

Baldridge is planning to offer the course again in May 2026 and is accepting applications. UTA students of any major with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible. Interested students can contact Baldridge at [email protected].

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