Berlin
Dates
May 28 – June 12, 2023
Subjects
Criminology/Criminal Justice, History, Holocaust Studies, Film, Honors
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Based in Berlin’s vibrant and centrally located Prenzlauer Berg district, the KIIS Berlin program affords participants a unique chance to explore Germany’s thriving capital, art, culture, and history. Classes are divided between formal classwork, field workshops, and guided excursions that provide students direct contact with the city, its streets, and its heritage.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Berlin is a foodie’s dream! From traditional Wurst stands to many different types of Asian, Italian and Russian, and Vegan restaurants, the food and coffee scene in Berlin offers a lot to explore!
Pergammon Museum, Martin Gropius Bau, Hamburger Hauptbahnhof, KZ Contemporary, the Berlin Biennial, and as many more as we can squeeze in. Berlin is the museum capital of the world, many of which are world class.
If tickets are to be had, we will be attending the last concert performance of Sir Simon Rattle, the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, accompanied by his famous wife, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, in the outdoor stadium in the Olympic Park.
Spreewald is a lush reserve on the river Spree south of Berlin. This land consists of 200 small canals that wind their ways through quaint old German towns. We will stay overnight in the small town of Burg and canoe or hike in the Spreewald.
Designed to rival Versailles, Sanssouci was the summer palace of Frederick the Great. Its name means “without a care”. Potsdam itself is markedly different from Berlin in architecture and feel. We will explore both.
Berlin’s Jewish Museum is one of the best memorial museums in the world. We will visit the Jewish museum, the Holocaust Memorial, a massive outdoor installation near the Brandenburg Gate, as well as the Sachsenhausen concentration camp on the outskirts of Berlin.
Markets are vibrant, cultural hubs of contemporary German culture, and we will visit several in various parts of the city including the Mauerpark Fleamarket, held in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, making sure to visit the Berlin Wall Documentation Center and Church.
We begin our trip with several walks around Berlin that will highlight World War II history, the Holocaust of the Jewish culture in Berlin, the Soviet occupation and Berlin’s rebirth as the center of modern Germany.
What's Included
Program Cost: $2,950 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), two meals per day + personal expenses (approx. $400-600 depending on your food tastes/spending habits/optional independent travel preferences), any class readings/materials, and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Student Voices
“I wanted to go on the KIIS Slavic Europe program because not many people can say they’ve been to Ukraine and presented at an international conference. I chose the KIIS Berlin program because I have always wanted to visit Germany, and this was a great opportunity to explore more countries in Europe. I would highly recommend studying abroad to any college student. The paper and conference along with having two study abroad programs on my CV were talking points when I applied for graduate school at MTSU for a master’s degree in Historic Preservation. MTSU was impressed with my experiences studying abroad and offered me a graduate assistantship within my department.”
– Abby, Berlin & Slavic Europe
“So far we have encountered several excursions on this trip, thanks to the wonderful KIIS program and our fantastic professors. One of the more vibrant excursions that we went on was a trip to the Berlin Wall Flea Market. The flea market was an exciting melting pot of all sorts of people, food, and vendors.”
– Xena, Berlin
“You may think you are diverse in the United States, but you never know what diversity is until you have traveled with the KIIS program. It’s more than an educational experience it is an experience that will change your views about yourself and the world in a very positive manner.”
– Tonya, Berlin
“Studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me truly see that life and the world begin there.”
– Megan, Berlin
“Through daily interactions with the locals at markets and shops, I developed a confidence in myself in managing new situations rather than avoiding them… I was not always successful in the trials of communicating with the locals, but I learned from my mistakes and adjusted how I would approach the same situation again. I have gained a sense of independence that I lacked before the program.”
– Katerina, Berlin
“Berlin is a city steeped in history, yet the city is still very young. Having been bombed at the end of World War II the city is filled with buildings that are reconstructions, thus modern, but that carry the weight of their history. In the course of four days one can barely scratch the surface of everything there is to do in Berlin.”
– Michael, Berlin
“The Berlin trip has helped my graphic design skills more than I ever would have thought. Coming back to the states and working on graphic design projects and even just viewing the world around me, I am more aware of design in my daily life and the Bauhaus principles I was taught have definitely shown in the work I have done since I have returned.”
– Angela, Berlin
Take Your Education Further
Description
Dates
May 28 – June 12, 2023
Subjects
Criminology/Criminal Justice, History, Holocaust Studies, Film, Honors
Deadlines
Dec. 1: Apply Early & Save $100
Feb. 5: Regular Deadline
Program Overview
Based in Berlin’s vibrant and centrally located Prenzlauer Berg district, the KIIS Berlin program affords participants a unique chance to explore Germany’s thriving capital, art, culture, and history. Classes are divided between formal classwork, field workshops, and guided excursions that provide students direct contact with the city, its streets, and its heritage.
Note: Studying abroad likely is more physically strenuous than you are used to at home. KIIS study abroad programs typically involve approx. 5-10 miles of walking (approx. 10,000-20,000 steps) or the like in a day, including the possibility of walking, hiking, and climbing stairs in heat and humidity, over elevations at higher altitudes, and over rocky terrain. See Health & Wellness for more information.
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Prior to your KIIS program, please speak with your home campus academic advisor and/or study abroad office to determine course equivalencies. Grades will be transferred to your home institution in mid-August after the completion of the program. Course offerings are subject to change according to enrollment. For more information, visit Transcripts & Grades.
Program Excursions
Berlin is a foodie’s dream! From traditional Wurst stands to many different types of Asian, Italian and Russian, and Vegan restaurants, the food and coffee scene in Berlin offers a lot to explore!
Pergammon Museum, Martin Gropius Bau, Hamburger Hauptbahnhof, KZ Contemporary, the Berlin Biennial, and as many more as we can squeeze in. Berlin is the museum capital of the world, many of which are world class.
If tickets are to be had, we will be attending the last concert performance of Sir Simon Rattle, the conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, accompanied by his famous wife, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, in the outdoor stadium in the Olympic Park.
Spreewald is a lush reserve on the river Spree south of Berlin. This land consists of 200 small canals that wind their ways through quaint old German towns. We will stay overnight in the small town of Burg and canoe or hike in the Spreewald.
Designed to rival Versailles, Sanssouci was the summer palace of Frederick the Great. Its name means “without a care”. Potsdam itself is markedly different from Berlin in architecture and feel. We will explore both.
Berlin’s Jewish Museum is one of the best memorial museums in the world. We will visit the Jewish museum, the Holocaust Memorial, a massive outdoor installation near the Brandenburg Gate, as well as the Sachsenhausen concentration camp on the outskirts of Berlin.
Markets are vibrant, cultural hubs of contemporary German culture, and we will visit several in various parts of the city including the Mauerpark Fleamarket, held in the shadow of the Berlin Wall, making sure to visit the Berlin Wall Documentation Center and Church.
We begin our trip with several walks around Berlin that will highlight World War II history, the Holocaust of the Jewish culture in Berlin, the Soviet occupation and Berlin’s rebirth as the center of modern Germany.
What's Included
Program Cost: $2,950 + airfare
To help you budget, keep in mind that you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a passport ($165), two meals per day + personal expenses (approx. $400-600 depending on your food tastes/spending habits/optional independent travel preferences), any class readings/materials, and any fees from your college/university.
Although KIIS tries to foresee all possible expenses in formulating program fees, please note that dramatic fluctuations in foreign currency valuations and/or airline surcharges may affect the total cost of the program.
Student Voices
“I wanted to go on the KIIS Slavic Europe program because not many people can say they’ve been to Ukraine and presented at an international conference. I chose the KIIS Berlin program because I have always wanted to visit Germany, and this was a great opportunity to explore more countries in Europe. I would highly recommend studying abroad to any college student. The paper and conference along with having two study abroad programs on my CV were talking points when I applied for graduate school at MTSU for a master’s degree in Historic Preservation. MTSU was impressed with my experiences studying abroad and offered me a graduate assistantship within my department.”
– Abby, Berlin & Slavic Europe
“So far we have encountered several excursions on this trip, thanks to the wonderful KIIS program and our fantastic professors. One of the more vibrant excursions that we went on was a trip to the Berlin Wall Flea Market. The flea market was an exciting melting pot of all sorts of people, food, and vendors.”
– Xena, Berlin
“You may think you are diverse in the United States, but you never know what diversity is until you have traveled with the KIIS program. It’s more than an educational experience it is an experience that will change your views about yourself and the world in a very positive manner.”
– Tonya, Berlin
“Studying abroad pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me truly see that life and the world begin there.”
– Megan, Berlin
“Through daily interactions with the locals at markets and shops, I developed a confidence in myself in managing new situations rather than avoiding them… I was not always successful in the trials of communicating with the locals, but I learned from my mistakes and adjusted how I would approach the same situation again. I have gained a sense of independence that I lacked before the program.”
– Katerina, Berlin
“Berlin is a city steeped in history, yet the city is still very young. Having been bombed at the end of World War II the city is filled with buildings that are reconstructions, thus modern, but that carry the weight of their history. In the course of four days one can barely scratch the surface of everything there is to do in Berlin.”
– Michael, Berlin
“The Berlin trip has helped my graphic design skills more than I ever would have thought. Coming back to the states and working on graphic design projects and even just viewing the world around me, I am more aware of design in my daily life and the Bauhaus principles I was taught have definitely shown in the work I have done since I have returned.”
– Angela, Berlin
Take Your Education Further
Additional information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Term | |
| Subject | Criminal Justice, Criminology, English, Film Studies, History, Holocaust Studies, Honors |
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