{"id":5639,"date":"2025-09-24T18:29:04","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T22:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/?post_type=bu-program-page&#038;p=5639"},"modified":"2026-01-02T11:36:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:36:34","slug":"curriculum","status":"publish","type":"bu-program-page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/degree-program\/madrid-science\/curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Madrid Science Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-content\/plugins\/bu-front-end-library\/js\/collapsible.js?ver=5.4.2\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n<nav class=\"toc-wrapper\" id=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Page Section Navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"toc-heading toc-nav-toggle\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Page Contents Navigation\" aria-expanded=\"true\">Page Contents<\/span><\/nav>\n\n\n\n<h2>Curriculum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All students enroll in four courses for a total of 16 units during their time in Madrid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students must enroll in a required Spanish language or content course, depending on students\u2019 proficiency. Students may then take three science courses at the UAM, all taught in English, or they make take two science courses and one elective course at the Instituto. Electives are taught in both Spanish and English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong>&nbsp;Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin. Non-STEM elective course offerings vary and may not be offered every term.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Required Language Course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All students are required to enroll in one Spanish language course from the list below, based on their proficiency level. Students with prior Spanish Language experience will be placed into a higher-level content course, based on their ability. All language courses are taught at the Instituto Internacional.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 111<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">First-Semester Spanish<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p>For students who have never studied Spanish, or by placement test. Introduction to grammatical structures. Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction to Hispanic culture.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Individual in Community<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 112<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Second-Semester Spanish<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p><em>Prerequisite: one term of college-level Spanish or the equivalent<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p>Completes study of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension with readings on contemporary Hispanic culture and writing assignments.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Individual in Community<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 211<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Third-Semester Spanish<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p><em>Prerequisite: two terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p>Completes study of grammatical structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Reading in Hispanic civilization and of contemporary short stories. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Individual in Community<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 212<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Fourth-Semester Spanish<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p><em>Prerequisite: three terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p>Review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture with frequent compositions.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy<\/li>\r\n<li>Individual in Community<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 306<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Spanish Through Translation*<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p><em>Prerequisite: four terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Advanced study of the Spanish language through the translation of written texts. Analysis of the theory and practice of translation as a catalyst of cultural transfer. Taught in Spanish.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy<\/li>\n<li>Oral and\/or Signed Communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 449<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Contemporary Spanish Novel: From \u201cLa Movida\u201d to 15-\u00adM<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>An overview of contemporary Spanish novels from the time of Franco\u2019s death in 1975 to the present day. This class explores cultural issues within the literary, political, and social contexts of contemporary Spain.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy<\/li>\n<li>Research and Information Literacy<\/li>\n<li>Aesthetic Exploration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>STEM Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All students must enroll in two or three of the following STEM courses. These courses are all taught in English at the local university, Universidad Aut\u00f3noma de Madrid (UAM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS BI 203<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Cell Biology<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>Prerequisites: (CASBI108 OR CASNE102) and CAS CH 102 or equivalent<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Scientific Inquiry II<\/li>\n<li>Quantitative Reasoning II<\/li>\n<li>Critical Thinking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS CH 203<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Organic Chemistry I<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>Prerequisites: CAS CH 102 or CAS CH 110 or CAS CH 112, or the equivalent.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Scientific Inquiry I<\/li>\n<li>Quantitative Reasoning I<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS MA 213<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Basic Statistics and Probability<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>Prerequisite: good background in high school algebra.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Students may receive course units for not more than one of the following courses:<\/li>\n<ul><li>CAS MA 113<\/li><li>CAS MA 115<\/li><li>CAS MA 213<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Elementary treatment of probability densities, means, variances, correlation, independence, the binomial distribution, the central limit theorem. Stresses understanding and theoretical manipulation of statistical concepts.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Teamwork\/Collaboration<\/li>\n<li>Quantitative Reasoning II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2>Additional Electives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If students decide to take only two STEM courses, they must enroll in one of the following electives, for a total of four courses. Electives are taught at the Instituto Internacional in English and Spanish, as indicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS LS 241<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Cultures of Spain: Past and Present<\/span><\/h6>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\n<p>An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. Instruction begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students\u2019 fluency increases. Course content is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and others.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy<\/li>\n<li>Historical Consciousness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS PH 251<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Medical Ethics<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p><em>Taught in English.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p>This course will survey ethical issues that arise in connection with medicine and emerging biotechnologies. It will examine topics such as the right to healthcare, research on human subjects, euthanasia, abortion, cloning, genetic selection, disabilities, and the biomedical enhancement of human capacities.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Critical Thinking<\/li>\r\n<li>Ethical Reasoning<\/li>\r\n<li>Philosophical Inquiry and Life&#8217;s Meanings<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container course hub\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\" style=\"overflow: hidden;\">\r\n<h6 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\" role=\"button\" style=\"cursor: pointer;\" tabindex=\"0\"><span class=\"course-code\">CAS AH 368<\/span><br><span class=\"course-title\">Graffiti, Street Art, and Independent Interventions in Public Space in Madrid<\/span><\/h6>\r\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\">\r\n<p>Introduction to graffiti and street art through case studies in Madrid. Combines contextual and aesthetic analysis with hands-on activities. Focus on artistic interventions in public spaces through the lenses of activism, the right to the city, and public space management.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Units:<\/strong> 4<\/li>\r\n<li class=\"hub-course\"><strong>BU Hub areas:<\/strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy<\/li>\r\n<li>Creativity and Innovation<\/li>\r\n<li>Aesthetic Exploration<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Curriculum All students enroll in four courses for a total of 16 units during their time in Madrid. Students must enroll in a required Spanish language or content course, depending on students\u2019 proficiency. Students may then take three science courses at the UAM, all taught in English, or they make take two science courses and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24633,"featured_media":0,"parent":5636,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_editor_template":""},"bu_progs_page-type":[8],"bu_progs_degree-option":[],"bu_progs_location":[],"bu_progs_area-of-study":[],"bu_progs_home-university":[],"bu_progs_program-structure":[],"bu_progs_internship":[],"bu_progs_term":[],"bu_progs_coursework-level":[],"bu_progs_bu-hub-offered":[],"bu_progs_housing":[],"bu_progs_language-of-instruction":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-program-page\/5639"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-program-page"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-program-page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24633"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-program-page\/5639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7319,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-program-page\/5639\/revisions\/7319"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-program-page\/5636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_page-type?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_degree-option","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_degree-option?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_location?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_area-of-study","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_area-of-study?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_home-university","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_home-university?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_program-structure","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_program-structure?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_internship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_internship?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_term","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_term?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_coursework-level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_coursework-level?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_bu-hub-offered","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_bu-hub-offered?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_housing","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_housing?post=5639"},{"taxonomy":"bu_progs_language-of-instruction","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_progs_language-of-instruction?post=5639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}