Berlin: The Psychology of Identity, Love, and Relationships

Summary

*** Info Session: Tuesday, January 28, 12-1 p.m. Register here ***

Study Abroad in Berlin, a city of striking contrasts of history and modernity; a city with a complex past which continues to inform itʻs present; and a city with vibrant present day movements for progressivism, acceptance, and creativity. While on this program, students will explore the diversity of identity expressions and relational approaches, grounded in an interdisciplinary exploration of social, developmental and counseling psychologies.

In this program, students will immerse themselves in studying the identity, cognitive, and social development of individuals aged 18 - 29 as well as topics related to love and close relationships including, but not limited to, attachment theory, social cognition, attraction, healthy communication, and relational repair. At the same time, students will engage with the diverse communities of Berlin to better understand how these theories are impacted and informed by local context and how Berliners think about love, close relationships, and identity development. Special attention will be given to the rich LGBTQ+ histories of Berlin and its present day vibrant communities.

Highlights include:

• Two elective courses within the department of psychology: Psych 144: Emerging Adulthood and Psych169: Love and Close Relationships
• Excursions to cultural and historic sites around Berlin
• Community engagement opportunities with LGBTQ+ organizations in Berlin, working on a variety of issues intersecting with education, love, and relationships.
• Developing an in-depth knowledge of several theories of love and human attachment including, but not limited to: attachment theory, social cognition, attraction, healthy communication, and relational repair.
• Learn and be able to employ aspects of positive communication including Non-Violent Communication

Dates:

Program dates: May 30 - July 1, 2025

All dates are subject to change.

Courses:

In this program you will be enrolled in two courses for a total of 6 units:

• Psychology 144: Emerging Adulthood (3 units) + 
• Psych 169: Love and Close Relationships (3 units) = Total 6 Units

Total Units: 6

Language of Instruction: English

Requirements Satisfied through this Program:

• International Studies L&S Breadth
• L&S Social Behavioral Studies Breadth
• Consult with your college/major advisor to see which additional degree requirements this course may fulfill.

Note: Requirements above must be satisfied through full participation (all courses must be completed with C-/P or better)

Eligibility:

• At least one year of college coursework completed by the start of the program
• 2.0 GPA or higher
• Must be 18+ years old at the time of application
• May not be on academic probation or under censure for student misconduct at any point from application review to the end of your program.

Housing:

• Students will be provided housing as part of the program for the duration of the program dates.
• Students will be housed in Individual studio apartments with kitchens (fridge, grill oven, microwave, stove, dishwasher) and own bathroom, along with bi-weekly cleaning, including the provision of new sheets, etc. Housing is centrally located (7 minutes walking distance to Alexanderplatz).

Food:

• Please note that while some group meals occur on special programmed occasions, daily meals are not provided on the program. In the first week of the program, program staff will take the students on a walking tour to explore affordable restaurant and market options.

Application:

• Application opens February 5, 2025
• Space is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early!
• Deadline to apply is March 12, 2025

Courses

During the program, you will be automatically enrolled to take two courses for a total of six UC Berkeley units.

• Psychology 144: Emerging Adulthood (3 units) + 
• Psych 169: Love and Close Relationships (3 units) = Total 6 Units

Course: Psychology 144

Title: Emerging Adulthood

Instructor: Melissa Bayne, PhD

Units: 3 units

This course will explore the unique biological, cognitive, social, personality and identity development of individuals aged 18 to 29. As this is an experiential course, students are expected to apply their learning through active engagement in the course material.

Course: Psychology 169

Title: Love and Close Relationships

Instructor: Melissa Bayne, PhD

Units: 3 units

Description: This course will explore the social, biological and neurological attributes of love and close relationships. As this is an experiential course, students are expected to apply their learning through active engagement in the course material.

This course explores the unique biological, cognitive, social, personality and identity development of individuals aged 18 to 29. As this is an experiential course, students are expected to apply their learning through active engagement in the course material.

Desired student learning outcomes:

• Develop an in-depth knowledge of several theories of love and human attachment
• Be able to identify key components of love and human attraction
• Be able to employ aspects of positive communication including Non-Violent Communication
• Understand the components of effective relationship repair
• Develop knowledge of past and present theories of human development as they relate to individuals aged 18-29
• Be able to identify key characteristics of the Emerging Adulthood stage of human development and compare them across multiple cultures (German and at least one other)
• Apply course material through introspection, self-exploration, and intentional goal setting

Requirements Satisfied through this Program:

• International Studies L&S Breadth
• L&S Social Behavioral Studies Breadth
• Consult with your college/major advisor to see which additional degree requirements this course may fulfill.

Note: Requirements above must be satisfied through full participation (all courses must be completed with C-/P or better)

Course Enrollment:

Summer Abroad staff will enroll you in courses after your acceptance to the program. Please make sure there are no active blocks on your student account that may impact your course enrollment.

Costs

The fees to participate in this program are broken down into 1) tuition and 2) program fees, which are applied to your student billing account as follows:

Fees are subject to change. All non-Berkeley students must pay an additional Document Management Fee of $71.

Estimated Out-Of-Pocket Expenses

In addition to the fees outlined above, Berkeley Study Abroad has estimated amounts for out-of-pocket expenses. These amounts are used to calculate financial aid packages for eligible students. Actual expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.

It is your responsibility to obtain any necessary travel documentation for your program destination (i.e. passport, visa, etc). This may require you to pay fees of up to a few hundred dollars depending on the type of paperwork required.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for Berkeley students who are enrolled in at least 6 units during the summer. Students can request a financial aid package estimate to understand what their individual financial aid package will look like. We recommend all financial aid eligible students request a financial aid estimate.

​​Requesting a financial aid package estimate: If you wish to receive a financial aid package estimate, please fill out this form (CalNet Authentication required). You will receive an email with your financial aid estimate (please allow a minimum of one week for response).

If you have a specific question about a study abroad financial aid issue you are encountering, please email TravelAid@berkeley.edu. Please do not email to request a financial aid estimate, these requests should be made using the form above.

All other students should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for more information.

Explanation of Fees

Tuition is based on a per unit cost:

• The UC undergraduate student rate is $419 per unit
• The visiting student rate for all non-UC participants is $615 per unit

The program fee includes the following items:

• Student housing (see summary page for more detailed information on meals and housing)
• On-site orientation activities, excursions, etc.
• Travel insurance to cover accident/sickness medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, security extraction, and other travel assistance services
• Other program-related costs including fees for group transportation, guest speakers, etc.
• The $300 deposit. If accepted to the program, the $300 deposit will be applied towards your program fee. If you are waitlisted or denied admission to the program, your deposit will be refunded. If you request to withdraw your application prior to an admission decision being issued, or cancel your participation after being accepted to the program, the deposit will remain charged to your account.

*Please note that the list of items included in the program fee is not all-inclusive and is subject to change.

The following items are excluded from the program fee and included in the Out of Pocket expenses estimate:

• International airfare
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, routine medical expenses, toiletries, etc.)
• Course materials (textbooks and readers) as applicable. Contact instructor for more information
• Other travel expenses (passport, visa, etc.)
• Additional meals

Timeline

* The pre-departure orientation is mandatory and takes place on the UC Berkeley campus. If you are not on campus during this time, we will schedule a meeting via phone or Zoom.

† Students are expected to check into program housing in Berlin, Germany on May 30, 2025, and are expected to check out of program housing on July 1, 2025. Students who arrive in-country early or depart after the last day may do so, but they are responsible for arranging their own accommodations outside of the program dates.

All dates are subject to change.

Instructors

Program Director: Melissa Bayne, PhD

Email: bayne@berkeley.edu

Melissa Bayne joined the Psychology faculty of UC Berkeley in 2015. Specializing in applied social psychology, Dr. Bayne designs and facilitates innovative curriculum that focuses on the real-world application of social science.

Students who have taken Dr. Bayne’s Emerging Adulthood (Psych 144) and Love and Close Relationships (Psych 169) courses describe them as “transformational” and life changing.”

Her published research focuses on mentorship, communication and social justice and Dr. Bayne applies these concepts to her teaching and private coaching practice.