Austria/UK: Summer Field Study

Two of the most influential theorists and practitioners of psychotherapy are Sigmund Freud and Viktor Frankl, both creating and refining their work in Vienna, Austria to develop methods to help those experiencing psychological distress. Students will travel for 8 days to Vienna to learn about the lives and culture that shaped their indelible mark on the field of psychology. Additionally, the course will explore the influence of history, religion and WWII on the experiences of each of these preeminent thinkers. In Vienna, activities will include exploring the city, studying the history of Vienna, visiting museums directly related to the work of Freud and Frankl, touring the universities in the area, studying the impact of WWII and the Jewish religion on each person as well as the broader culture, and visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp. We will then mimic Freud’s escape from Nazi occupied Austria during WWII, traveling from Vienna to London. In London, we will spend a few days exploring the historical context that influenced Freud’s work and visiting the Freud museum in London. There will be many opportunities for reflection and discussion both during the field study trip and during the required 1 credit course occurring during the Spring 2026 semester.