The following list covers programs led or co-led by VMBS faculty. We encourage students to explore the options offered by VMBS as well as those hosted by other colleges and independent programs. For a more comprehensive list of study abroad programs available to students, please visit the Texas A&M University Education Abroad Programs site.
Texas A&M VMBS has faculty-led programs on five continents
Required core courses and tropical rain forest. Key electives and a weekend at the beach. Top flight faculty and volcanoes.This program offers an unbeatable combination for students working towards a degree in Biomedical Sciences, pre-meds, pre-vets, and others who want to have the semester of a lifetime while still advancing their degree plan.Read more about the Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester
Credit
A total of 13 credit hours are offered for this program:
VTPB 411: One Health and Ecology in the Tropics (3 credit hours)
Explore National Parks, beaches, and rivers, work with local communities, go Ziplining, study rainforest ecology, speak Spanish, learn from indigenous leaders, and see sloths, macaws, monkeys, toucans, peccaries, red-eyed tree frogs, morpho butterflies, crocodiles, and more. A full semester program open to students of all majors interested in the natural sciences—geared for Sophomores, but outstanding Freshmen and Juniors who need to take the courses are encouraged to apply.Read more about the Costa Rica Ecology and Diversity Semester
Credit
A total of 13 credit hours are offered for program:
RENR 205: Fundamentals of Ecology (3 credit hours)*
RENR 215: Fundamentals of Ecology Lab (1 credit hour)*
ENGL 210: Technical Writing (3 credit hours)
ENTO 322: Insects in Human Society (3 credit hours)
VTPB 289: Cultural Discourse in Costa Rica (3 credit hours)
Spanish (up to 3 transfer credits)
Service Learning
*Students who have taken RENR 205 or RENR 215 may be able to take a 3-credit, 485 “Directed Study In Costa Rica” course instead.
This program is designed to introduce students to the historical development of human and veterinary medicine in Europe. It is heavily freighted with field trips including many overnight excursions. These include visits to museums, medical schools, hospitals, research institutions, and sites of general cultural and historical importance throughout Germany and neighboring countries. The program is designed to maximize the international impact for students interested in pursuing careers in human or veterinary medicine or in biomedical research.
Credit
A total of 7-10 credit hours are offered for program:
VTPP 401/BMEN 400: History of Human and Veterinary Medicine in Europe (4 credit hours)
VIBS 447: Neurophysiology of Music (2 credit hours)
This program is offered to two specific student cohorts: Biomedical Science majors (includes life science majors: BIMS, BIOL, GENE, MICR, PSYC, etc.) and Bioengineering majors (includes BMEN and RHEN). Both cohorts must complete VTPP 401/BMEN 400. Additionally, Biomedical Science majors must choose at least two courses from the following: VTPP 423, 427, 485, and 420. Bioengineering majors must choose at least two courses from the following: VTPP 435, BMEN 211, BMEN 253, VTPP 485. In addition to coursework, the program includes field trips to museums, research institutions, medical and veterinary medical schools, and other sites of historical and cultural importance throughout Germany and neighboring EU countries.All students in the program participate in a semester-long biomedical science/bioengineering project in collaboration with a German biotechnology company. The project counts as a significant part of the program coursework and is a unique opportunity to get real-world experience in research and design.
Credit
A total of 22-25 credit hours are offered through program:
VTPP 401/BMEN 400: History of Human and Veterinary Medicine in Europe (4 credit hours)
VTPP 420: Applied Pharmacology (2 credit hours)
VTPP 423: Biomedical Physiology I (4 credit hours)
VTPP 427: Biomedical Physiology II (3 credit hours)
VTPP 435: Physiology for Bioengineers II (4 credit hours)
VTPP 485: Directed Studies (1-4 credit hours)
BMEN 211: Biomedical Applications of Circuits, Signals and Systems (3 credit hours)
*This program is not currently offered*This program is offered during the Wintermester to students in the DVM curriculum with interest in research and avian medicine. The courses will be held at Tambopata Research Center, Madre de Dios, Peru and will immerse veterinary students in a long-term research program studying the health, conservation, and natural history of large macaws (Ara spp) and other psittacines in the lowland rainforests of southeastern Peru.
Credit
A total of 4 credit hours are offered for this program:
VTPB 948: Didactic Elective in Wild Psittacine Biology and Medicine (1st, 2nd, 3rd-year DVM)
VSCS 945: Advanced Small Animal Clinical Elective in Wild Psittacine Biology and Medicine (4th-year DVM)
This course is offered to DVM students who would like to learn about conservation medicine in South Africa. Students will learn how African species are managed at wildlife parks and game preserves. Students will become familiar with aspects of hoofstock medicine including common diseases and preventative medicine. Students will gain direct experience with chemical immobilization including skills needed, drugs and darting equipment.
Credit
A total of 4 credit hours are offered for this program:
VTPP 948: Conservation Medicine and Management for Veterinary Students (4 credit hours)
You will leave this experience with a newfound appreciation for the role of veterinarians in large landscape wildlife conservation medicine and return to the U.S. with newly developed skills to apply to wildlife health and sustainability issues across the State of Texas.Wildlife experts will guide participants through activities including animal restraint, administering drugs, field surgery and darting. Other experiential learning could include interaction with crocodiles, buffalo, and rhinos.
Are you interested in earning 60 veterinary hours, 20 animal experience hours, and 20 research hours? Would you like to help care for rescued elephants while practicing your veterinary clinical skills and learning about tropical conservation and management?
In this 4-week summer study abroad program in Thailand, you’ll work alongside U.S. veterinarians to help care for rescued elephants and companion animals. You’ll spend a week at an elephant sanctuary and two weeks in the city assisting at an animal shelter. Then, you’ll spend a week on a beautiful beach island while helping to restore coral reefs and learning to SCUBA dive! Other activities include zip-lining through a rainforest, exploring street markets, and taking a cooking class. You’ll also earn TAMU course credits that can be applied to your BIMS degree.
A total of 7-8 credit hours are offered for this program:
ANSC 448: Tropical Conservation (transfers as 2 credits of 200-level BIMS-directed elective)
ANSC 450: Tropical Shelter Medicine (transfers as 3 credits of 200-level BIMS-directed elective)
ANSC 444: Veterinary Clinical Skills (transfers as 2 credits of 400-level BIMS-directed elective)
(Optional) Students can take a writing-intensive course with Michelle Yeoman for 1 credit, which satisfies 1/2 of the BIMS writing-intensive course requirement.
This program provides students with the unique experience of learning about the neurobiology of developmental disorders while immersed in the Bulgarian culture and the rich history of this part of Eastern Europe. The location of this program will help the students to understand the differences and similarities between the Eastern European and U.S. perspectives of developmental disorders. Providing a specific global perspective on developmental health issues, this program aims to serve as a catalyst in students’ international health career development. This course will offer an introduction to the biological foundations of Developmental Psychopathology. The emphasis will be on the development, origins, and developmental consequences of selected developmental disorders, e.g. intellectual disabilities, ADHD, ASD, LI, dyslexia and anxiety disorders, assessment methods and research. The signs and symptoms in the dynamics of the disorders will be presented from a neurobiological perspective and in the context of genetics, neuroimaging, neurochemistry, and disease biomarkers.
Credit
All students are required to take a total of 3 credit hours to participate on this program:
VTPP 489: Special Topics in Neurobiology of Developmental Disorders (3 credit hours)
The objective of this program is to provide the students with an opportunity to learn medical Spanish and comparative public health in Barcelona. Studies will take place at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and an optional shadowing experience will be either in primary care centers, for those interested in human medicine, or, for those interested in veterinary medicine, at veterinary clinics or the school of veterinary medicine in Barcelona.
Credit
Summer 1:
All students are required to take a total of 6 credit hours to participate on this program.
Health Systems & Public Health: An international perspective (taught in English) (3 credit hours)
Medical Spanish (300-level) (3 credit hours)
Summer 2: *Depending on availability of placements this session may not be offered*
VTPB 485: Directed Studies (3 credit hours) – Students will be placed in primary care physician practicums or veterinary clinics
Taiwan, historically known as Formosa (beautiful island), is a democratic island country situated in the Pacific. Taiwan is rich in both history and culture. The people of Taiwan are comprised of multiple native indigenous ethnic groups (2%) and those of Han Chinese descent. Over several hundred years, this tiny island has experienced Portuguese, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Chinese colonial ruling. Every ruling left its marks on this island that is now melted into the Taiwanese culture and cuisine.Because Taiwan is located between tropical and sub-tropical regions, the surrounding ocean is enriched with marine animals, including 27 species of cetaceans such as bottle-nosed dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, and the rare hump back dolphin. During their trip, students will be immersed in marine mammal conservation of the Taiwanese style.
Credit
All students are required to take a total of 3 credit hours to participate on this program
Read more about the Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester
Are you interested in earning 60 veterinary hours, 20 animal experience hours, and 20 research hours? Would you like to help care for rescued elephants while practicing your veterinary clinical skills and learning about tropical conservation and management?
