Ashland University students will have the opportunity to attend a study abroad trip to Wittenberg, Germany this summer from May 11 to June 6.

The overall cost of the trip will be $5,200, which covers tuition, housing, some meals and the flight, but extra money is needed to cover other meals and any other purchases made.

A nonrefundable $500 deposit for the trip is due by Dec. 1, but if students would like to be considered for grants, ranging from $100-$1000, then the deposit is due to Bixler 211 by Nov. 1.

The $5,200 should be paid before the departure date of May 16 if students do not want to be charged interest. Otherwise, it is not due until scheduling of classes the following semester.

The first week of the experience will be spent on Ashland’s campus beginning courses before departing to Germany. It is $10 a day for students to stay on campus during that week, but students are also welcome to commute, Dr. David Aune, associate professor of religion said.

Aune said why he encourages this trip to students.

“It’s really a nice combination between enjoyment of another culture and really living a little bit on your own while you’re over there, I mean you’ll be with friends, but learning how to negotiate being in another part of the world but in a really safe way,” he said.

There will be two courses everyone attending will take; Luther and the German reformation taught by Aune, and renaissance and reformation of art taught by Dr. Wendy Schaller, associate professor of art.

Although Martin Luther is a famous Christian figure and is frequently known for his rebellion against the catholic church, it is not required to be Christian or religious in any way for the course, Aune said.

“We’re able to be right in the center of it and learn about Luther’s life and his importance that developed into the reformation that we know,” Aune said. “We’ll actually be visiting the spots where that all took place. We’ll go to the church that he nailed the Theses on, we’ll go to the one that he was actually the pastor at for years, and we’ll go to the place that he actually defiantly made an act against the Catholic Church.”

There is also a third option for students currently enrolled in Intro German I and II. They can do conversational German while they are in Germany to count as German III, Aune said.

The classes will be held Monday through Thursday afternoons. Students will then be able to enjoy the weekends experiencing Germany for themselves.

“Everybody learns a little bit of German to get around. Good morning, thank you for what we’re getting, how to order things in restaurants, how to relate to people why we’re there, where’s the bathroom,” he said. Most people speak English but they like it if you can practice a little German with them, but where we’re going are sites where most people speak some English.

Overall, students will be earning 6 credit hours but receiving core credits for humanities, CCI, Aesthetics and Religion.

Scout Weber, a junior political science and history major went on this trip last year and described her personal experience during her time in Germany.

“This was my first time traveling abroad and the program exceeded my expectations,” Weber said in an email interview. “It was so wonderful to be able to be immersed in a new culture and learn so many new things… With all of these credits I am now able to graduate early.This program was a win-win for me.”

If more than 17 students attend, then the price is reduced $150 per student. For more information contact Aune, whose email can be found in the staff directory.