Neuroscience Study Abroad

IFSA Study in Buenos Aires (IFSA)

Looking for big city living with Latin flair and abundant opportunity to improve your Spanish? Find it in lively Buenos Aires. Open to students with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. A range of IFSA English-taught classes in everything from multicultural psychology to international trade make it easy to gain the credits you need while you get to know a city known for its powerful cultural scene, passion for tango, and fondness for late nights.

There’s no language prerequisite, but the program will make sure you learn the essential skills you need to savor empanadas and morcipán and get to know this multifaceted city. Options for internships, directed research, and volunteering help you gain insights and experience to guide your career path as you connect with fellow porteños, port city dwellers.

IFSA’s Study in Buenos Aires program provides a compelling curriculum that’s taught in English and focuses on business, economics, psychology, neuroscience, and Spanish. Crafted for U.S. degree requirements and contemporary hot topics, you can select four to five IFSA classes for a total of 12-15 U.S. semester credit hours.

All classes are open to all students without prerequisites. Classes may vary by semester based on faculty availability and student interest.

Neuroscience Courses:

Brain, Drugs, and Addiction
3 credits

This class examines substance use and its impact on how the brain functions from the perspective of neuropsychology. The concept of drugs, normal brain functioning, and the impact of their consumption at the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological levels will be analyzed. Students will address social, psychological, cultural, and biological aspects that are linked to the deterioration of the nervous system, as well as the differences between occasional use, problematic use, and addiction. Finally, a comparison will be made in the substance use and its impact approach between Argentina and the U.S.

Intervention Strategies in Mental Health
3 credits

This class covers strategies of intervention in mental health. Some psychologists in Argentina have defined “mental health” as a comprehensive and inclusive state of actions capable of producing welfare rooted in the insertion of the individual in their functional milieu. Together students learn about mental health, intervention, and effective strategies, while exploring the applications across diverse situations and populations. Identifying effective preventive and therapeutic strategies is crucial to establishing public policies which contribute to mental well-being at individual, family, community, and social levels.

Multicultural Psychology
3 credits

This class will examine how “cultural traditions and social practices regulate, express, and transform the human psyche, resulting less in psychic unity for humankind than in ethnic divergences in mind, self, and emotion” (Shweder, 1991, p. 91). It will explore how psychology is socially constructed and will pay particular attention to the following factors as they influence human development: oppression, language, acculturation, economic concerns, racism and prejudice, sociopolitical factors, child-rearing practices, religious practices, family structure and dynamics, and cultural values and attitudes. We will explore the meaning of culture and how it affects our thoughts and behavior.

The Psychology of Crime and Justice
3 credits

This class introduces the broad range of theoretical and methodological approaches to forensic psychology and criminal justice. Is a criminal mind born as such, or is the criminal a product of their environment? What role do governments and societies play in facing crime? Students will gain a foundation in relevant areas of psychology and psychoanalysis and then examine how that science interacts with real-world judicial systems. Additional topics will include punishment, treatment, and rehabilitation; assessment and intervention; and how dimensions of privilege can impact perceptions of crime and justice in conscious and subconscious ways.

Social Cognition and Neuroscience
3 credits

Integrating insights from cognitive psychology, social cognition, and cognitive neuroscience, this class explores how we understand other people’s behavior. Students will examine the organization of the brain and its functions from a descriptive dimension, as well as from a global and systemic perspective to understand how we construct social cognitions and their effect on behavior and social interaction. Intending to make the theoretical contents easily understandable, the topics will be approached from practical examples, both from the local culture (e.g., fútbol, mate) and from global social examples (e.g., the Holocaust, bullying).

Neuroscience (DIS Copenhagen)

Enjoy the freedom of choice
Build your semester by choosing a Core Course from 27 Academic Programs and pick elective courses to build on your academic focus or explore other disciplines. You also have the choice of six diverse housing options to ensure the best fit for you.

Engage in high-impact courses
DIS courses challenge you to examine issues from various perspectives. Learn how concepts and issues are perceived, lived, and theorized in Europe; and reflect on the cultural norms and values that shape you.

Build your knowledge in new settings
Turn Copenhagen into your classroom on local Field Studies. Hone your skills in research or labs, studio, practicum, or workshops.

Explore Europe on Study Tour
Travel with your class and faculty on two course-integrated Study Tours in Europe. Visit important sites and meet with local experts who add their perspectives to your knowledge of the field.

Neuroscience Core Courses:

Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness
Fall/Spring semester
3 Credits
Corequisite Course(s): Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness Lab

This course introduces the main theoretical models and the empirical methods employed to explain and measure consciousness. Students are offered the opportunity to learn about the neurobiological mechanisms possibly underlying the emergence of consciousness and to grasp why science also needs to embrace conceptual and philosophical levels of analysis. The course outlines the multi-faceted nature of consciousness by discussing different aspects of the phenomenon in normal as well as abnormal conditions. Students are encouraged throughout the course to actively participate in discussions and to critically think regarding the current state of knowledge about how the brain relates to the mind.

Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity
Fall/Spring semester
3 Credits

How do we understand creativity and the brain? This course asks you to explore and debate human creativity through neurobiological, cognitive, and psychological perspectives. Main topics include discussions of the definition of creativity; psychological and cognitive profiles of creative individuals and functional neuroanatomy of the creative processes; the neural correlates of creative thought; cognitive processes and lastly, cognitive strategies for optimizing creative output. Study tours within Denmark and Europe will provide the experiential foundation for further understanding theory and research in the field.

Psychopharmacology: Substances and the Brain
Fall/Springsemester
3 Credits

This course examines neuroscience with a pharmacological and neuropsychological approach. The course will focus on psychiatric disorders and their pharmacological treatments. Besides covering basic brain anatomy and function, the link between dysfunctional brain regions/circuits and different psychiatric symptom will be discussed. A strong focus will be on neurotransmitters and their receptors, as well as how the neurotransmitters interact. This will be used to discuss the diverse pharmacological profiles of psychotropic/psychoactive agents, and how these profiles couple to their effects on perception, emotion and behavior, and to their adverse side-effects.

IFSA Biosciences Career Accelerator (IFSA)

London is the world’s 11th largest city for biosciences, with a thriving ecosystem that spans the entire sector, from biotech to nutraceuticals. It’s also the world’s top study-abroad destination. Get to know the city as you wander Camden Market, wonder at Tate Modern masterpieces, time travel at the Tower of London, and connect with local peers during special meetups, meals, and excursions.

The minimum GPA for this program is 2.0. However, if selecting elective classes at Queen Mary, University of London, a 3.0 GPA is required.

Build your own curriculum with a combination of IFSA classes. All students take Leadership for the Biosciences Sector. Select IFSA elective classes for a total of 12–17 U.S. semester credit hours. Or, combine IFSA elective classes with one or two direct-enroll class at Queen Mary.

CORE CLASS

Leadership Development for the Biosciences Sector (required)
3 credits

Get ready to approach a fulfilling career in biosciences with insider’s knowledge and in-demand skills. From researchers to the range of team players that support their breakthroughs by managing projects, marketing, finance, and more, employers in this exciting sector seek talented candidates who can think critically, communicate, and collaborate effectively with a diverse group of teammates.

This unique class complements academic work, combining professional skill development with an in-depth look at how this industry operates, and delivering thoughtfully designed opportunities to put learning into practice. Lessons come to life with group projects, visits to industry companies and organizations, talks from experts who are driving industry change, and networking events—each enriched by immersion in London’s globally recognized bioscience ecosystem.

When you finish this class, you’ll have a complete understanding of career options that build on your love of science, as well as valuable global connections and a deeper understanding of your personal strengths. In addition, you will have an exclusive credential from The Leadership Edge—a firm that partners with 1,000+ life science companies, worldwide—to highlight your new abilities.

IFSA BIOSCIENCES ELECTIVE CLASSES

IFSA has carefully tailored a suite of bioscience classes to fit U.S. degree requirements. All classes are open to all students. Prerequisites for some classes may be required. Please note, not all classes may be offered in a given semester depending on enrollment. Click on each link below for a detailed class syllabus.

Biochemistry
3 credits

This class focuses on studying chemical reactions at a molecular level to gain a deep understanding of living matter. Metabolic homeostasis, protein structure, and nutrient intakes impact on molecules will be covered.

Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations
3 credits

This class will introduce the cognitive systems in neuroscience that include attention, pattern recognition, knowledge representation, language, reasoning, and human intelligence.  (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Ecology
3 credits

This class will provide an overview of population biology, evolutionary ecology, community structure, with emphasis on species interactions, including competition, predation, and symbiosis.

Introduction to Statistics for Biosciences
3 credits

This class will introduce the statistical methods used in the analysis of biological experiments. Topics covered in this class will include descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, regression, correlation, contingency analysis, and the testing of methods for sampling natural populations.

Microbiology
3 credits

This class focuses on the different types of microorganisms, how they function, and research methods that can be applied to understand and manipulate them further.

Microbiome and the Brain
3 credits

This class focuses on the microorganisms living within our body and how this plays a role in our health. This will include an overview of bacterial diversity and taxonomy, types and mechanisms of plant-bacteria interactions, bacterial pathogenesis, and methods for study.

Scientific Communication
3 credits

In this class, students will develop skills in written and oral scientific communication. The class provides background on the different segments of scientific writing, including the peer review process and research communication. It requires students to write papers, abstracts, and grant proposals. Additionally, the class will provide context for copy editing, peer review and critique, and preparing presentations and proposals.

QUEEN MARY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON DIRECT-ENROLL CLASSES 

Elective classes, including lab classes, are available at Queen Mary, University of London for a supplemental fee. You may take one or two classes. Queen Mary requires a 3.0 GPA minimum for enrollment in its classes.

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

Credit Conversion
15 Queen Mary credits = 4 U.S. semester credit hours
20 Queen Mary credits = 5 U.S. semester credit hours
30 Queen Mary credits = 8 U.S. semester credit hours

Some popular options are listed below, but you have access to any class available to visiting students. To view available classes at Queen Mary, visit the university’s class catalog.

• The Basis of Gastro-Intestinal Disease
• Biomedical Neuroscience
• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• Exploring Neuroscience
• Translational Pharmacology and Innovative Therapeutics

Italy Padua Italian & European Studies (BU)

BU’s Padua programs take place in a lively town that’s home to one of the oldest universities in the world. The Padua Italian & European Studies Program, offered Fall and Spring semesters, is designed for students with all levels of Italian language ability. Students will take elective courses in English or Italian at the BU Padua Center or at the Università degli Studi di Padova.

BU Padua is a combination of 3 BU Padua Center courses and 1 University of Padua course or 4 BU Padua Center courses for a semester schedule, 16 U.S. credits.

Elective Courses

Elective courses can be selected from the BU Padua Center as well as the University of Padua course offerings. Course availability varies based upon enrollments, class schedules, and student’s Italian language proficiency and requirements.

Students will select a combination of three BU Padua Center courses and one University of Padua course, or take all four courses at the BU Padua Center. Individual advising is provided through the BU Padua Center.

All courses below are held at the BU Padua Center.

CAS AH 349 Between the Lily and the Lion: Art in Renaissance Padua (4)

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:

• Aesthetic Exploration
• Historical Consciousness

Introduction to art history with regard to notable works of art and architecture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Padua, Venice and Florence. Exploration by on-site visits and experience of the cultural context in which works were created.

CAS HI 263 Modern Italian History (4)

This course follows the history of Italy’s rapid transformation from agricultural economy to industrial and post-industrial country. Starting from Italy’s “liberal” period of 1870s through World War I, the course then introduces students to Fascism and the Mussolini era. From post-war republicanism, the course moves on to the 1970s, and traces the historical roots of current economic crises and issues. On-site classes are part of this course.

Syllabus

CAS IR 334 European Politics and Policy Challenges: Italy and the United States (4)

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:

• Individual In Community
• Social Inquiry II

Explores the birth of the European Union and the Europeanization concept. Through a comparative approach, students explore important topics for the EU, including migration, human rights and security policies, gender distribution in the political institutions, foreign and environmental policies.

Syllabus

SHA HF 323/CAS SO 333 Italian Food Culture and Society: Foundations, Transitions and Representations (4) Effective Fall ’24

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:

• Social Inquiry I
• Ethical Reasoning

The Italian food industry from economic, cultural, and social perspectives. Special attention paid to producers, product quality and certification, and relationships to the land and regional cultures. How is the industry evolving to offer consumers up-to-date products while remaining anchored in Italian tradition? Taught through a combination of lectures, seminars by industry experts, case studies, and company visits.

Syllabus

CFA MH 340 Italian Music: From Renaissance to 20^th Century Avant-Garde (4) Effective Fall ’23

This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:

• Aesthetic Exploration
• Historical Consciousness

The course examines the history, evolution, and main aesthetic features of Italian music from the 16th century to the mid-20th century. Italy played a central role in the development of music, witnessing the birth of opera, the cantata, oratorio, sonata, concerto, and symphony, all of which were disseminated internationally, creating a cohesive, international musical style. The main aim of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive view on the making and developments of the main Italian music genres, from Renaissance to post-WWII Avant-garde.

Syllabus

University of Padua Elective Courses

For University of Padua courses, a high degree of flexibility is required. Students must be aware that they are enrolling in an institution abroad that will function differently from a US institution.

University of Padua courses are taught either in Italian or in English. Students will select the appropriate course based on individual advising that they will receive by the Assistant Academic Director once they arrive in Padua.

Please note that the University of Padua semester starts a month after the beginning of the Padua program. The availability of a particular course cannot be guaranteed. Flexibility is highly recommended.

The list of courses below are courses that have been offered in past semesters, and is subject to variation from one semester to another. There is no guarantee that the courses below will be offered during your desired semester of enrollment. Some courses may also be in conflict with courses held at the BU Padua Center. It is highly recommended that each student identify alternate course choices in addition to their primary choices.

Courses Taught in English

Courses Taught in Italian

BU Study Abroad students have taken courses in the following University of Padua departments in past semesters:

• Archaeology
• Art History
• Biology
• Business
• Economics
• Film
• Geography
• History
• International Relations
• Linguistics
• Literature
• Management
• Music
• Natural Science
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Sociology

Neuroscience (DIS Stockholm)

Enjoy the freedom of choice
Build your semester by choosing a Core Course from 11 Academic Programs, and pick elective courses to build on your academic focus or explore other disciplines. You also have the choice of four diverse housing options to ensure the best fit for you.

Engage in high-impact courses
DIS courses challenge you to examine issues from various perspectives. Learn how concepts and issues are perceived, lived, and theorized in Europe; and reflect on the cultural norms and values that shape you.

Build your knowledge in new settings
Turn Stockholm into your classroom on local Field Studies. Hone your skills in research, labs, or workshops.

Explore Europe on Study Tour
Travel with your class and faculty on two course-integrated Study Tours in Europe. Visit important sites and meet with local experts who add their perspectives to your knowledge of the field.

Neuroscience Core Courses:

Cognitive Neuroscience of Addiction
Fall/Spring semester
3 Credits

Addictive disorders involve complex interactions among neurobiological, psychological, environmental, and sociocultural features and can reflect problems across a range of substances or behaviors. From drug abuse, to gambling, to the more controversial sex addiction and food addiction, problems with addiction share important commonalities in neurocircuitry. In this course, we will adopt a multidisciplinary lens and review contemporary research involving techniques such as neuroimaging, brain stimulation, and real-time neurofeedback to explore addiction processes and strategies for treatment and prevention. Finally, we will explore various approaches for addressing problems with addiction and discuss similarities and differences across the United States and Scandinavia.

Neuroscience of Emotion
Fall/Spring semester
3 Credits

How do we understand the interplay of human emotions and their neural networks? This course applies findings from the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience and the psychological study of cognition, emotion, and personality. Basic, complex, and social emotions are explored from the perspective of, for example, the subjective experience of emotion, non-conscious processes, how emotions are interpreted, expressed, or regulated. Affective systems, neural networks, and their relationship to cognitive processes such as attention, learning, memory, and decision making are addressed. Where relevant, human brain imaging findings, pathological conditions, treatment and cultural perspectives are considered.

The Loving Brain: The Neuroscience of Relationships
Fall/Spring semester
3 Credits

What is the nature of love? In this course we will explore the neuroscientific research on social relationships. We will investigate a wide range of relationships, including, but not limited to, parent-sibling relationships, friendships, romantic relationships, as well as social ostracism and rejection. We will examine relationships with an evolutionary lens as we consider primate brain evolution as a function of the adaptive value of social connections. A fundamental question will be whether neuroscientific research enhances our understanding of social relationships. Furthermore, we will investigate how variation in the cultural emphasis on independence and interdependence relates to cultural differences in brain activity and social relationships. A principal framework for our inquiry will be to understand the implications this research has for health and wellbeing.