Perhaps more than any other field of study, STEM demands global competencies gained during study abroad: the ability to work in diverse groups, to collaborate across cultures, and to problem-solve across disciplines.
An international experience is vital for STEM students, who will be creating technologies that may impact the entire world. However, it often happens that STEM students must take more courses in their majors; therefore, they don’t have many opportunities to take language or liberal arts courses. Clearly, that often limits their study abroad options. Furthermore, unless the courses are taught in an English-speaking country, the language proficiency requirements further limit the geographical options.
ISI Florence is committed to confronting these challenges by providing a variety of STEM courses taught entirely in English in one of the most culturally and artistically rich destinations for study abroad: Florence, Italy. Starting in Spring 2022 ISI Florence and Penn State University have teamed up to provide a unique study abroad experience for STEM students in Biology and/or Chemistry. Students may elect to participate in the entire program or choose one or more courses available.
The availability of these courses allows participants to study abroad without falling behind in their coursework.
BIO 240 – Function and Development of Organisms (4 credits)
Prerequisite: one semester of general biology and one semester of general chemistry
CHEM 212 – Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Organic Chemistry I or equivalent
A year ago, during the 2022 Spring Break, ISI Florence welcomed students of the Anatomy in Italy travel course.
A unique blend of Biology and History, investigating the evolution of anatomy and physiology in Renaissance Italy, this course and its co-requisite (IT 175 Italian Language & Culture for Embedded Experiences Abroad with Prof. Jason Laine) met three times per week throughout the spring semester. Over Spring Break these students traveled to Florence, Bologna, and other cities throughout Italy with Professors Dr. John Waters, Teaching Professor of Biology & Anthropology and Associate Head of Biology Undergraduate Education, and Joel Waters, Coordinator of Education Abroad and International Programs, Eberly College of Science.
During the Spring 2023 Spring Break, we renewed our availability to host the Penn State Anatomy in Italy travel course, offering our rooms and organizational support. This year the course was led by professors Joel Waters, Eleonora Sartoni for Italian, and John Neisser for Biology. Among the many activities, both in-class and outdoors, students also engaged in a language tandem dinner with Italian university students. We take this opportunity also to congratulate Dr. Jason Laine, Director of the Italian Language program at Penn State University Park and author of Italian 001 for Penn State World Campus, who has just received the 2022 Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design for his Italian Language and Culture for Embedded Experiences Abroad.
“Kate Manni, Director of Education Abroad at Penn State Global said, “His Italian Language and Culture for Embedded Experiences Abroad course is a tremendous example of an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning, and the co-requisite model with an upper-level Biology course is an innovative way to have STEM students engaging with language and culture and humanities students engaging with the sciences. The course curriculum helps students to leverage their short time abroad over spring break by preparing them to understand the history and basic language skills necessary to complement their Anatomy in Italy coursework and science-based site visits.” (reference Forum on Education Abroad).