The Madrid Science Program, offered only in Fall Semesters, combines science coursework taught in English with Spanish language and culture studies at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Instituto Internacional en España. All students have the unique opportunity to experience life in a Spanish homestay. In addition to coursework, students participate in guided field trips to industries and research institutions. The program design allows students to take courses that fit neatly into their curricula and requirements. All students take a required four-credit Spanish language course and three 4-credit electives. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required.
BU Abroad: Madrid's Deeper Meaning
BU Abroad: Madrid's Deeper Meaning
Requirements & Considerations
Curriculum
All students take a required 4-credit Spanish language course, and three 4-credit electives.
Required Language Course
All students are required to enroll in one Spanish language course from the list below, based on their placement test results. Students with prior Spanish Language experience will be placed into a higher-level course, based on their ability. All language courses are taught at the Instituto Internacional.
Required Course
- CAS LS 111 First Semester Spanish (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- CAS LS 212 Fourth Semester Spanish (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Individual in Community
- CAS LS 306 Spanish Through Translation (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Global Citizenship & Intercultural Literacy
- Oral & Signed Communication
- CAS LS 400 Level Spanish Elective Course (pending placement test results)
Elective Courses
Students choose three courses below. Taught in English.
Elective Courses
- CAS BI 203 Cell Biology (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Scientific Inquiry II
- Quantitative Reasoning II
- Critical Thinking
- Prerequisites: CAS BI 108 and CAS CH 102, or the equivalent.
- Principles of cellular organization and function: biological molecules, flow of genetic information, membranes and subcellular organelles, and cell regulation. Students may receive credit for only one course, either CAS BI 203, 213, or 218.
- Syllabus
- CAS CH 203 Organic Chemistry I (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Quantitative Reasoning I
- Scientific Inquiry I
- Prerequisites: CAS CH 102 or CAS CH 110 or CAS CH 112, or the equivalent.
- Fundamentals of contemporary organic chemistry, including electronic structure, stereochemistry, and reactions of important functional groups. Environmental problems, action of drugs, chemical warfare agents, insecticides, and chemical causes of disease. Taught at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM).
- Lab manual
- CAS MA 213 Basic Statistics and Probability (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Quantitative Reasoning II
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Prerequisite: good background in high school algebra.
- Students may receive course credit for not more than one of the following courses:
- CAS MA 113
- CAS MA 115
- CAS MA 213
- Elementary treatment of probability densities, means, variances, correlation, independence, the binomial distribution, the central limit theorem. Stresses understanding and theoretical manipulation of statistical concepts. Taught at the UAM.
- CAS LS 241 Cultures of Spain: Past and Present (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Historical Consciousness
- An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. Instruction begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students’ fluency increases. Course content is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and others.
- Syllabus
Housing & Student Services
Local Homestay
- Individual bedrooms in local family home. Each room has a bed, a desk, and some storage space. Linens are provided and washed regularly. Kitchen access is not guaranteed. Students will have the ability to reheat food.
- Board included: All meals (3 meals per day/ 7 days per week) will be provided by the host family. A packed lunch will be provided by the host family if the student is unable to commute home for lunch.
- Students may eat at the dining hall.
- Host families provide laundry, internet.
- Gyms at the university and in town, but may be expensive. Students can study at the Instituto or the Autónoma. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: early September to mid December
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester & Academic Year: March 15
This program is not on a rolling admissions cycle. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials have been received by the BU Study Abroad office by the application deadline. Decisions will not be made until after the application deadline. Applicants will receive their decision via email.
Information on other programs that do not follow a rolling admissions cycle and information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
