Constantinos Mitsotakis
How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
The fall of the Iron Curtain gave way to the bustling, progressive metropolis that is Berlin. And now with NYU in Berlin, the world of the avant-garde, bratwurst and beer is accessible to students looking for what is perhaps an even more independent lifestyle than what they're accustomed to in the Village.
The program encourages students to take initiative through independent exploration beyond the classroom.
The courses, taught by NYU and Humboldt University faculty, focus on Germany's politics and culture and target Berlin as a center for social science research. The program is broadening its curriculum, with courses in art history, psychology and sociology. All classes are taught in English, but admitted students are required to take a German language course at the appropriate skill level. Living in NYU-arranged housing is mandatory. These apartments are fully furnished with kitchens and a private bedroom for each student, and are a 15- to 20-minute bus or subway ride to Humboldt.
Cafe culture is a key element of Berlin, as is contemporary art — installations can be found in unexpected places throughout the city. For days when you want to relax, there are boat tours on the River Spree and shady picnics in Tiergarten Park. NYU program activities include trips to the nearby cities of Potsdam and Dresden, the 1936 Olympic Stadium and the Reichstag. Weekend trips to Paris and Amsterdam are also possible with relatively inexpensive flights leaving from Berlin's Schoenfeld and Tegel airports.
