by Grear Boyd ’25
Hello!
My name is Grear and I was an economics student at Vanderbilt University until the Spring of 2025. I was blessed to be able to participate in the Durden Dickinson in Bremen program in Sommersemester 2024, where I took two German Studies equivalent classes and two economics classes at Uni Bremen. I was pleased to find that the economics department at Uni Bremen offered a wide variety of courses, both core and elective, in both English and German. Typically, the core courses were more so offered in German and elective courses more so in English, although there were exceptions. If you feel your German ability is sufficient to take a core economics class in German, I would highly recommend it as I believe it would make a significant and positive addition to the immersion aspect of the program at large.
Personally, my German skills were not quite sufficient to be able to do this, and I took Environmental Macroeconomics with Professor Klarl and International Public Finance with Professor Heinemann. Both professors were approachable, despite English being their second languages, and passionate about their respective subjects, especially Prof. Klarl, who has extensive publications in the field of environmental economics. I was particularly impressed, and even moved by his obvious passion for environmental protection and his emphasis on how environmentalism and economic viability are not mutually exclusive.
In contrast to typical American course structure, economics coursework at Uni Bremen are largely independent, with lectures meeting only on a weekly basis and graded homework being virtually nonexistent. That said, you will be solely responsible for mastering course concepts both in preparation for final papers (Hausarbeit) and for the general advancement of your education. Initially, that seemed to me to be slightly intimidating, but, after having experienced this system, I now consider it to be rather empowering. After all, absorption of personal responsibility in this manner is, in my opinion, what an immersive study abroad program like this one is all about. It serves to transform children into personally responsible adults! Just kidding, but only kind of. Really, these courses do serve you in becoming a stronger, more independent person. And that is truly reflected in the structure of these economics courses.
That said, you will not be without support, should you feel you need some. In my experience, Professors Klarl and Heinemann were happy to schedule meetings or speak after class about any questions or concerns you may have about course materials or Hausarbeit. Aside from that, you will always have the opportunity to connect with your peers, as many of them are also international students, likely with the same or similar concerns as you may have. So be sure to take advantage of that resource.
Lastly, a final note of appreciation for these courses that I might add would be the European perspective applied to the field of economics. I often found that, in the United States, the teaching of economics revolves around American economic history, United States (US) central banking and the Federal Reserve. Put simply, I learned economics in the US with “America as the center of the world”, if you will. My point is, I found it mind opening to view global trade, supply chains, taxation/public finance, etc., from the perspective of the European Union and with the US as a foreign entity.