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When you should go

Joint chemistry and biology majors should plan to go abroad during spring of junior year. Because many of the major requirements are fall semester courses (Chem 105/111, Chem 103/109, Bio 111/113 and Bio/Chem 189), the only feasible way to go away during a fall semester is to arrange in advance to substitute courses taken abroad for one or more of these required courses. Going abroad in fall of senior year also necessitates choosing a senior research project that can be conducted in two successive spring semesters, and starting that project during the junior year.

Some places Joint Chemistry & Biology majors have studied abroad recently

• University College London

Department rules for transferring credit

• You must receive departmental approval in advance for any courses you wish to transfer for credit towards the major. Petitions should be submitted to the relevant Department Chair (Chemistry Chair for chem courses, Biology Chair for bio courses).

• Substitutes for biology electives B and C may be taken abroad with advance approval.

• Biochem courses can be substituted with advance approval.

• The colloquium requirement is waived for the semester you study abroad.

FGA (Frequently Given Advice)

• If you are planning to go away junior spring, it is advisable to take at least one biology elective course (Bio 101 or 108) in sophomore spring.

• At many institutions, 4 courses is the maximum load you are allowed to take. This normally transfers into HMC as 16 units.

• Make steady progress on your on-campus Humanities & Social Sciences courses, since Hum/Soc courses taken abroad will count as off-campus courses.

• It is a good idea to identify and petition for approval of more courses than you will actually take while abroad. This helps if there are unexpected changes in offerings by your host institution. Advance approval is required for your protection -- it is best to avoid surprises about what will and won’t transfer when you return!

• If you go away in the spring of your junior year, maintain contact with your academic advisor so that you can be kept informed about senior research opportunities.

For further advice

Professor McFadden (mcfadden@hmc.edu) has agreed to help advise biologists in consultation with the Study Abroad Committee. The HMC Study Abroad website is: www.Study-Abroad.hmc.edu.

 

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An example plan for studying abroad spring of junior year

Freshman:	Fall	Units		Spring	Units
	Chem 21 and 25	4		Chem 22 and 26	4
	Phys 23	2		Phys 24 and 28	4
	Math 11 and 12	4		Math 13 and 14	3
	CS 5	3		Bio 52	3
	Hum 1	4		Hum 2	3
		17			17
Sophomore:	Fall	Units		Spring	Units
	Chem 51	3		Bio 54	1
	Chem 53	2		Bio elective A	3
	Math 61 and 62	3		Chem 56 and 58	4
	Phys 51 and 53	4		Math 63 and 64	3
	Hum/Soc #1	3		Hum/Soc #2	3
				E59 or Hum/Soc #3	3
		15			17
Junior:	Fall	Units		Spring - STUDY ABROAD!	Units*
	Bio 111 and 113	5		Bio Elective + lab**	4
	Chem 105 and 111	4		Hum/Soc #5***	4
	Hum/Soc #3 or E59	3		Hum/Soc #6	4
	Hum/Soc #4	3		Hum/Soc #7	4
	Colloquium	0
		15			16
Senior:	Fall	Units		Spring	Units
	Sr. Research	3		Sr. Research	3
	Bio/Chem 189	3		Bio/Chem 182 + 184	4
	Chem 103 and 109	4		Hum/Soc #9	3
	Hum/Soc #8	3		Hum/Soc #10	3
	IE Course	3		Elective	3
	Colloquium	0		Colloquium	0
		16			16

*Some countries and/or institutions allow a maximum of four courses per semester. While fewer in number than a normal HMC load, these have transferred in as 16 units for the semester.

**At most universities lecture courses must be taken with accompanying laboratories.

***Note that it is possible to take 4 humanities courses and no biology courses while abroad.