Studying Science in Bologna, Italy
Did you know that Wellesley has a partnership with the University of Bologna (UniBo), Italy, one of the oldest in the world, boasting 39 highly regarded science departments, and in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities?
And did you know that the university offers courses in Biology, Math and Neuroscience that can count toward your majors and minors at Wellesley?
Along with our partners at Vassar College and Wesleyan University, Wellesley is part of the Eastern College Consortium (ECCO). This program gives students the chance to spend a semester or a whole year in Bologna. Students live in UniBo dormitories with Italian-speaking roommates and take courses offered by the University and internal courses offered by the program (taught in Italian by UniBo faculty). ECCO is an Italian-only program that requires students to have a firm foundation in the Italian language.
Completion of four semesters of Italian (or the equivalent) by one of the several gateways the department offers:
- By completing ITAS 101, 102, 201 & 202 over four semesters
- By taking ITAS 101 in Winter Session on campus, and continuing the above sequence. (In both cases, students have the option of taking ITAS 202 in Rome on our winter session program). For these courses students are advised to begin study in their first year
- By completing our two intensive courses, ITAS 103, a blended course that combines face-to-face with online study, & 203 (these courses lead students to the same level as 202 in one year of study and can be taken either in the first or second year)
- By completing the department’s online courses “Italian Language and Culture” (available for free on edx.org) with the addition of a placement test. If you have any questions on this option contact us via email at italianonline@wellesley.edu
Educating women in the study of Anatomy and Medicine since the early 1700’s, the University of Bologna is a fascinating place for students in the Biological Sciences. With some early planning and guidance it is possible to get credit either for coursework or research opportunities in a laboratory. There are suitable courses at the 200 and 300 levels in Anatomy, Physiology, and Genetics. Why not take a course in Epigenetics in Italy?
The University of Bologna has been the home of many important mathematicians, including Maria Agnesi, the first woman ever to have been appointed as a professor at a European university. Among its famous students was Nicolaus Copernicus, who created a model for the known universe that forever changed human understanding about space. Students interested in the sciences can take advantage of courses in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and statistics.
With its rich history in neuroscience, the University of Bologna provides an excellent opportunity for our students to pursue their interest in the subject. Neuroscience majors can expand their exposure to the field by taking: Cognitive Neuroscience; The Plastic Brain: Consequences of Nervous Circuit Modifications and Possible Restoration; or Physiology, Pathology and Clinical Nervous System. In addition, students can get involved in neuroscience research at the University of Bologna.