Location
Classes will be held at the facilities of AIFS (Amercian Institute for Foreign Study) located in the heart of Berlin, a few blocks from the Museum Island and vibrant Alexander Platz. With large access to many bus and U-Bahn lines, it is easy to get to classes from anywhere in the city. Or take a stroll and discover the unique neighborhoods on foot.
Campus and Classrooms
Wi-Fi is available throughout the AIFS student center, and you will have access to a printer.
Housing
Twin-bedded studio apartments in a centrally located residence in Berlin. Maximum 45-minute travel time to the AIFS Center. Each apartment will have single beds, a bathroom, and a fully equipped kitchenette. Bed linens, towels, and wireless internet will all be provided.
Transportation
Travel pass: unlimited travel on the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams and regional trains in zones A & B of Berlin for the duration of the program, plus an extension to the travel pass for any activities taking place in zone C.
Faculty and Courses
Dr. Don Ludwig’s passion for travel and social change began as a first-generation college student at Spokane Community College. While in college, it was two study abroad trips—to Europe and then Israel, Greece, and Egypt—that first opened his eyes to the transformative power of seeing the world through new lenses. Since then, Don has explored cultures across five continents: studying Islam in Pakistan, Buddhism in Thailand, and leading student service-learning projects to Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Honduras, South Africa, and beyond.
In Spring 2023, Don led WCCCSA’s Rome Study Abroad program—an experience that deepened his belief in the life-changing power of immersive learning. Don is thrilled to return to Europe—this time to Berlin, Germany, a city that lives at the crossroads of history and reinvention. With a last name like “Ludwig,” it feels a bit like coming home.
Having traveled to Germany many times, Don is especially excited for this extended opportunity to learn and teach in a place known for its rich cultural diversity, social resilience, and creative spirit. For Don, it’s the perfect blend of academic inquiry and cultural exploration, using Berlin’s vibrant neighborhoods, family life and complex history as a living classroom.
A tenured professor of Sociology & Criminal Justice at Clark College, Don designs his courses to help students understand social life through the lenses of sociology, psychology, history, and religious studies—equipping them to create a more just and equitable world. Outside the classroom, you might find him cycling the San Juan Islands or recounting his coast-to-coast bike ride across the U.S. (yes, 44 days!). A former rock-climbing guide and Mt. Rainier summiteer, Don shares life’s adventures with his wife Kathy and their three grown children—adopted from Lesotho, Africa, and Washington State foster care. Whether walking through Berlin’s streets or teaching in Clark’s classrooms, Don invites students to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be.