The Marnie Pearce Professionalism Seminar (known as HRSM 301) has for more than 20 years been one of the things that makes the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management special. In 2025, a new addition created even more opportunities for students, as HRSM 301 went to Europe.
The semester-long seminar, required for all HRSM students, focuses on the soft skills needed to stand out from other candidates when applying for jobs, ace interviews and flourish in professional settings. It consistently receives rave reviews from students, but co-instructors Jana Xanthakos and Collin Crick wanted to make it even better.
"We wanted to expand as a program for study abroad opportunities because we feel that it adds so many benefits for personal and professional growth" Xanthakos says.
They chose Freiburg, Germany, for a spring break visit, and 17 students chose to join the inaugural expedition with Crick, Xanthakos and HRSM Director of International Affairs Christina Sayers. The group met weekly through spring semester leading up to the trip.
Freiburg is a "green city," a leader in sustainability and solar energy innovation with goals of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035 and carbon neutrality for the city by 2050. It’s also home to Freiburg University, and known as the "capital of the Black Forest."
The first night of the trip featured a cable car ride into the Black Forest mountains for a four-course dinner. It was a beautiful setting and a fantastic meal, but with an added purpose. The students learned and practiced dining etiquette, including the differences in expectations in Europe versus the United States.
The trip included other familiar aspects of HRSM 301, including lessons on emotional intelligence, multicultural communication and True Colors temperament and personality training. All had new twists thanks to the setting, including use of a variety of European candies in the True Colors session.
Highlights of the eight-day trip included a visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France (a short bus ride from Freiburg). Students put their lessons on professional attire into action, listened to a discussion of electric vehicles in Parliament, and had time for sightseeing, with some going to the top of Strasbourg Cathedral, which was the world’s tallest building for more than two centuries.
Another memorable sightseeing experience was a hike in the Black Forest. The students, led by an expert local tour guide, encountered 4-5 feet of snow.
“It was really beautiful, and some of our students had never seen snow before,” Xanthakos recalls.
The students also toured Europa-Park Stadion, home to football club SC Freiburg and visited local restaurants and other businesses, experiencing the culture and sampling many German delicacies.
“This trip reinforced my passion for the hospitality industry and showed me how businesses can integrate sustainability into their operations,” says student Lindsay Goldberg. “I’m grateful for this experience and excited to see where these lessons lead me in the future.”
The group included students from a variety of backgrounds and interests, with global studies, English and theater majors joining HRSM students majoring in hospitality management, tourism management, retailing and sport and entertainment management.
“I felt like they all grew closer together, which I enjoyed watching. You could tell some of them really made lifelong friendships,” Xanthakos says.
The success of the first HRSM 301 study abroad trip ensures that there will be more. Xanthakos and Crick are making plans for Paris for spring 2026, with future possibilities including Switzerland and Austria.