Kinesiology senior Brooke Johnson plans a career in physical therapy and a recent study abroad experience broadened her horizons both culturally and academically.
This summer, Johnson traveled to Barcelona, Spain, where she took a course on personal fitness and wellness. The course focused on how exercise, nutrition and other wellness topics integrate into daily life. Johnson found the experience particularly enriching, as it allowed her to apply her knowledge in a new cultural context.
“We related [our studies] to athletes, since that’s typically the population our major [works] with,” Johnson explains. “Overall, we did a lot of personal reflection.”
Johnson is one of 42 students who took a College of Health Professions and Sciences class in Spain during Summer 2024. The Study Abroad Program in Barcelona, currently in its third year, offered four-week courses addressing topics like human disease, nutrition, personal wellness and human performance.
Study abroad is one of two unique summer experiences designed for students to gain new skills in an international setting while receiving credit toward their degree and experiencing new cultures. In addition to Barcelona, students can study abroad in Costa Rica and Taiwan or participate in a clinical shadowing abroad program in Europe.
Johnson shares her experience on the latest episode of Knight Life @UCFCHPS. The series shares perspective into students’ day-to-day life by highlighting their experiences in internships, research, study abroad, specialized courses, student organizations and other high impact practices.
Johnson’s time in Barcelona included visits to various sites related to her field of study, including an Olympic training facility and a local gym offering high-intensity exercise classes. These visits highlighted the diverse opportunities within the field of kinesiology and affirmed her interest in pursuing physical therapy, particularly in a sports context.
“We got to experience what our field looks like in a different country and in different ways,” Johnson says. “It was cool to see the similarities and the differences, and you don’t really get that unless you’re immersed in the differences themselves.”
Johnson also cherished the connections she made with fellow UCF students during the trip. “What had the biggest impact on me was the new friendships I made,” she says. “Now my supportive network includes people from different majors and career fields.”
“We provide our students with multiple opportunities to expand their learning experience beyond the boundaries of the classroom,” says Suha Saleh, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success. “Study abroad in Barcelona is a powerful example of a multidimensional experience, where students are immersed in a different culture while taking courses that are taught by their UCF faculty member at an international center in Barcelona. This unique experience allows students to earn credits towards their degree at a global setting.”
Information sessions will take place in August and September for students to learn more about studying abroad in Barcelona in Summer 2025. Scholarships are also available. More information about next summer’s sessions can be found here.
