Office of International Education and Development

Biology

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Planning
Planning your Program: 

The best time for a Biology major to go abroad will be a combination of their concentration, credits they have transferred in, whether they have a dual major or a minor, whether they plan on taking any summer classes, and obviously their personal situation.  Listed below are some suggested time frames for each concentration. Students looking to go abroad during a different period are encouraged to work closely with their department advisor and the Education Abroad Office.

For all concentrations short-term study abroad opportunities are normally fairly easy to fit into a student’s degree plan.  Students are able to start participating on short-term programs (winter break, spring break, and summer) as early as their first year.  Students participating on short-term faculty-led programs often fulfill General Education, Major Free Electives, Major Concentration courses, Language requirements, or 2nd Major/Minor requirements.  Students participating on partner summer programs may be able to fulfill Biiology requirements in addition to the above options. Some students will also engage in research or complete an international internship.


First Year

Students in their first year are not able to apply for a semester program but may be eligible for short-term faculty-led or partner summer programs.

Second Year

Students may be able to study abroad for a semester during their second year however it is important to work closely with your academic department.  Some required core requirements such as sequence Chemistry courses may not be available on all programs. Second year can be a good time to participate on a faculty-led program or a partner summer program.  

Third Year

Third Year is perhaps the best time to go abroad. By now, you’ve probably taken your core courses, so you’ve got a good foundation to build on. Look for programs with courses that fit into your academic plan. The summer after your 3rd year is also a perfect time to participate on a summer Biology program.

Fourth Year

Fourth Year can be another great time to go abroad, but it does require careful planning to make sure all of your course requirements are in order, especially your Capstone requirement.  Studying abroad during your final year can help you finish a research project, gain additional language skills, take classes not offered at Appalachian, or even do an internship.


Course Considerations: 

Biology majors need to work with their department if they are hoping to fulfill Capstone requirements abroad and it can generally be difficult to find a program that offers comparable sequence courses.  Other courses that students may want to plan to take before or after their abroad experience are______. Outside of these requirements students may be able to take other biology courses abroad, but often electives are the easiest requirements to fulfill.

Students looking to participate in a semester or non Biology faculty-led program can also look to satisfy General Education requirements.  It is suggested that students save 1 or 2 LSE requirements for their study abroad program. It may be possible to satisfy an ILE, Science Inquiry, or Quantitative Literacy course but this requires more advanced planning.  BA Biology students can also participate in a summer or semester language program to satisfy their Intermediate language requirements or look to take Minor courses.


Advising: 

Students should email their Biology faculty advisor to schedule an advising appointment.

Key questions to ask?

  • What are my remaining degree requirements?
  • How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?
  • How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?
  • What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?
  • Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?
  • Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?
  • Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?
Programs

Biology majors are able to participate on department faculty-led programs,  summer partner programs, and on semester programs.  Listed below are some possible options.

Program Type Information

Faculty-led

All faculty-led programs for fall 2021 have been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. Please check back beginning in summer 2021 for updates about faculty-led programs for Spring Break and Summer I & II 2022.

Below are examples of previous faculty-led programs.


Flora and Fauna of Australasia

  • Available Terms: Summer (on hiatus)
  • Country: Australia/New Zealand
  • Unique Feature: 6 credits of BIO Special Topics coursework

Arctic Field Ecology

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Canada
  • Unique Feature: 3 credits of BIO Special Topics coursework.  

Short-term

Veritas

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Veritas offers a few field based courses.  Excellent option for students in the EEE track. Course offerings include Environmental Impact and Social Development, Tropical Ecology, Tropical Ornithology, Land Vertebrates of Costa Rica, Tropical Marine Biology, Marine Mammals of Costa Rica, Climate Change, Conservation Biology of Sharks & Rays, Limnology, Marine Molecular Biology, Biology of Edible Insects, Wildcats of Costa Rica, Land Mammals of Costa Rica, and Biotechnology and Sustainability.  

Semester

Africa

University of Johannesburg

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Good option for students with course flexibility looking for electives in Biology, Botany, Microbiology, and Zoology.

University of the Free State

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Africa
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Good option for students with course flexibility looking for electives in Genetics, Microbiology, Plant Science, and Zoology.  

Asia

ISEP The Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Cantonese and Mandarin language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Biology courses often with labs each year.  Past course offerings have included Ecology, Genetics, Human Biology, Plant Physiology, Conservation Biology, Human Genetics, Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation, Cancer Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, and Neuronal Cell Biology.  

Bishop Heber College

  • Program Type: Partial Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Good option for students with course flexibility looking for electives in Botany and Zoology.  Some course offerings are Biology of Invertebrates, Human Physiology and Commercial Zoology, Cell Biology Genetics and Evolution, General Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Invertebrates I and II.  

Kristu Jayanti

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Cell Biology, Genetics, General Microbiology, Bio Analytical Techniques, Cytogenetics, Human Physiology, Molecular Genetics, Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Recombinant DNA Technology.

Madras Christian College

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Good option for students with course flexibility looking for electives in Microbiology, Plant Biology, and Zoology.  

Chonnam National University

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: South Korea
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Korean language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology
  • Unique Feature: Good option for students with course flexibility looking for electives Biology.  Past areas have included Microbiology, Plant Pathology, Oceanography, Applied Biology, Animal Genetic Engineering and Practice.  

National Cheng Kung

  • Program Type: Partial Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Chinese language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell
  • Unique Feature: Offers several Biology courses taught in English each year.  Good for students with course flexibility. Offerings have included Evolution and Biodiversity, Ecological Modelling, Theoretical Ecology, Genome Evolution, Advanced Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology, Stem Cell Biology, and Cell Death and Disease.  

Europe

Universite d’Angers

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: France
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers French language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell
  • Unique Feature: Angers is developing some hybrid English/French taught classes (most classes will have lectures in French with class materials and notes in English as well as smaller tutorial sessions in English) for the Sciences.  They also hope to create some research opportunities during the semester. Sample course offerings include Molecular Cellular Biology and Physiology, Biology of Organisms and Populations, Earth Sciences and Environment, Plant Science, and Scientific Knowledge and Culture Dissemination.  

USAC Cork

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Ireland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Biology elective course options including Anatomy, Microbiology, Zoology, Conservation Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Advanced Cell Biology, Principles of Medical Genetics, Vertebrate and Invertebrate Diversity, Biology of Marine Mammals, Evolutionary Ecology, Developmental Genetics, Genetics and Society, and Population and Evolutionary Genetics.  

Lorenzo de' Medici Rome

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language: All students are required to take Italian language.  
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: LdM also offers a special STEM track at their Rome campus that includes courses such as Org Chem II, Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Human Anatomy II, and Hospital Shadowing placement.

Radboud University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Best suited for students looking to take some upper level electives. Course offerings have included Animal Cell Biology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Biodiversity, Genetics and Population Genetics, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA, Pathobiology, Plant Physiology, Genetics, Molecular Basis of Diseases, and more.

Universidad de Alicante

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Best suited for students looking to take some upper level electives.  Often offer Cell Biology, Ecology, Plant Biodiversity, General Immunology, Modelling of Ecological Systems.  

Universidad Pablo de Olavide

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology
  • Unique Feature: Offers several Biology and Chemistry courses with labs (Anatomy II, Microbiology, Org Chem I & II) along with other electives taught in English and Spanish.

Bilkent 

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Turkey
  • Concentrations: Cell
  • Unique Feature: Offers a wide range of Molecular Biology and Genetics courses.  

Keele University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Animal Adaptations, Human Genetics, Health and Environment, Applied Insect Ecology, Conservation Biology, Human Evolution, Molecular Cellular & Structural Immunology, Human Parasitology, Structural Biology, and Developmental Biology.  

University of Roehampton

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Biology course options including Zoology, Cell Biology, Human Epidemiology, Pharmacology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, and Aquatic and Invertebrate Biology.  

Swansea University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Biology course options but has specific strengths in Marine Biology.

USAC Reading

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of Biology elective course options including Bacteriology and Virology, Pathology and Histology, Zoology and Ecology, Mammals, Ecology, Plant Diversity, Microbiology, Medical Genetics, Neurobiology, Forensic Zoology, and Evolutionary Genetics and Phylogeny.  

Latin America

Veritas Universidad

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Veritas offers a few field based courses.  Excellent option for students in the EEE track. Course offerings include Introduction to Genetics, Environmental Impact and Social Development, Tropical Ecology, Tropical Ornithology, Land Vertebrates of Costa Rica, Tropical Botany, Tropical Marine Biology, Freshwater Ecology, Conservation Biology of Endangered Marine Species, Marine Molecular Biology, Biology of Edible Insects, and Marine Mammals of Costa Rica.  Students can also take a Spanish language course.

CIEE Costa Rica Tropical Ecology  

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: The CIEE Tropical Ecology and Conservation program combines Spanish language with hands on field based courses. Students will take Tropical Diversity, Tropical Community Ecology, Humans in the Tropics, and Independent Research in Biology/Ecology.  

CIEE Open Campus Block Monteverde: STEM & Society

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: The CIEE Science and Technology program combines Spanish language with hands on field based courses in Biology, Environmental Science, and Agriculture.  Students can go for 2 or 3 blocks. Course offerings include Introductory Biology I with Lab, Principles of Environmental Science with Lab, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics and Field Methods with Lab, Introduction to Physical and Environmental with Lab, Introduction to International Agricultural, and Biology of Tropical Diseases.  

USAC Costa Rica Heredia

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: The USAC program combines Spanish language instructions with regional and ecological studies coursework.  Relevant Biology courses include Introduction to Tropical Ecology, Plants and People, Introduction to Conservation Biology, Introduction to Plant Biodiversity, and Water in Tropical Landscapes.  All Biology courses have the option of adding on a 1 credit field study course.

USAC Costa Rica Puntarenas

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: The USAC program combines Spanish language instructions with regional and ecological studies coursework.  Relevant Biology courses include Introduction to Tropical Ecology, Tropical Marine Biology, Plants and People. Most Biology courses have the option of adding on a 1 credit field study course.  

USAC Costa Rica San Ramon

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: The USAC program combines Spanish language instructions with regional and ecological studies coursework.  Relevant Biology courses include Independent Research, Plant Taxonomy, Tropical Ecology, Biological Diversity, Ecology and Population Biology, Tropical Conservation Biology, and Tropical Marine Biology.  Most Biology courses have the option of adding on a 1 credit field study course.

Universidad de las Americas Puebla

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Mexico
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology
  • Unique Feature: Students who do not have advanced Spanish language ability should have course flexibility as English-taught offerings change from year to year.  Past English-taught offerings have included Fundamentals of Biology, Molecular Methods of Data, Experimental Biology, Zoology, and Animal Physiology.

CIEE Open Campus Block Merida: STEM & Society

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Mexico
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology
  • Unique Feature: Students can go for 2 or 3 blocks and take courses such as Physics I & II, Introduction to Bioinformatics, Mayan History Culture and the Environment, Principles of Earth Science, and Environmental Chemistry, as well as Spanish language.

Middle East/N Africa

AURAK

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Arabic language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology
  • Unique Feature: Offers introductory Biology, Physics, and Chemistry courses with labs, as well as Microbiology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and some additional advanced courses.  

ISEP Sharjah

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Arabic language coursework.
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers introductory Biology, Physics, and Chemistry courses with labs, as well as more advanced courses like Cell Biology, Microbiology, Medical Parasitology, Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Evolution and Diversity, Ecosystems Management, Desert and Maritime Plants, and more.  

Oceania

University of Canberra

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Canberra course offerings include such options as Biology 1 & 2, Environmental and Forensic Genetics, Genetics and Genomics, Immunology, Clinical Microbiology, Freshwater Biology, Ecology, Conservation Ecology, Plants and Animals, Advanced Physiology, and Molecular and Cellular Biology.

La Trobe University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of courses across all disciplines.  Past course offerings include Ecology Evolution and Biodiversity, Animal Plant and Microbial Life, Australian Fauna and Ecology, Ecological Genetics and Evolution, Introductory Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Molecular Genetics, Metabolic Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Molecular Genetics and Genomics, Advanced Microbiology, Landscape Ecology and Conservation, and many more.  

Southern Cross University 

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: SCU course offerings include Ecology, Wildlife Conservation, Coral Reefs, Marine Systems Science and Management, Plant Physiology and Ecology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Genetics, Coastal Resource Management, and others.  

ISEP Massey and USAC Massey

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct, Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, Cell, EEE
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of courses across all disciplines.

Various

School for International Training

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Country: Various
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: Biology, EEE
  • Unique Feature: SIT offers a number of programs focusing on Climate & Environment. 

Internships

CEA Internships

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Country: Various
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior

CEA Study + Internships

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Country: Various
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior

CIEE Internships

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Various
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior

Global Experiences

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Country: Australia, Ireland, Italy
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior

USAC Hawkes Bay Internship

  • Program Type: Affiliate Internship
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Concentration: EEE
  • Unique Feature: Students will take an Agriculture and Environment Field Expedition course and will have a 4 week placement in family farms, agribusinesses, non-profit environmental organizations, wildlife sanctuaries, regional land management authorities, governmental departments, and wineries.

Additional information about international internships can be found on the OIED website.  

Research

ISA Universidad del Norte

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Colombia
  • Standing:  Junior, Senior
  • Language Requirement: High Beginner Spanish
  • Concentration: BIO, CELL
  • Unique Feature: Offers students the option of completing a 4 credit summer research project.  Past projects have focused on Virology and Associated Pathologies (i.e. HIV Subtypes, Extracellular Matrix Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Pathology) as well as Cellular and Molecular Biology and Natural Products.  

ISA Euroscholars

  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Europe
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Highlights: EuroScholars is a unique research abroad programme designed for advanced and talented undergraduate students from US and Canadian institutions looking for an international research experience. In this programme, students have the opportunity to undertake one course in the classroom and then work under the direct supervision of professors and other academic staff on a specific academic research project chosen by both the student and the faculty.