The following list covers programs led or co-led by College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Faculty. For a more comprehensive list of study abroad programs available to students, please visit the TAMU Education Abroad Programs site.

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- Costa Rica 1: Biomedical Science Semester
- Costa Rica 2: Ecology and Diversity Semester
- Germany 1: Veterinary Medicine in Europe: Past, Present, and Future
- Germany 2: History of Medicine in Europe
- Peru: Veterinary Field Experience
- South Africa 1: Conservation Veterinary Medicine
- South Africa 2: African Wildlife Conservation and Health
- Thailand: Global One Health
- Bulgaria: Biomedical Sciences
- Spain: Barcelona Global Health
- Taiwan: Marine Mammal Anatomy
Costa Rica
Costa Rica 1: Biomedical Science Semester (Fall)
Faculty Member | Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith |
General Course Description | 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 and 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. Pre-Med and Pre-Vet students, as well as all majors, are encouraged to apply. Students will enroll in the following courses:
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Costa Rica 2: Ecology and Diversity Semester (Spring)
Faculty Member | Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith |
General Course Description | 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. Students of all majors interested in are encouraged to apply. Students will enroll in the following courses:
*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. |
Germany
Germany 1: History of Medicine in Europe (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. Jeremy S. Wasser and Micah Waltz |
General Course Description | 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. Students will enroll in the following courses:
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Germany 2: Germany Biosciences Semester (Spring)
Faculty Member | Dr. Jeremy S. Wasser and Dr. Virginia Fajt |
General Course Description | 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, VTPP 427, VTPP 485, VTPP 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 a large number of day-long and overnight 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. Students will enroll in the following courses:
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Peru
Veterinary Field Experience (Winter)
Faculty Member | Dr. Donald J. Brightsmith |
General Course Description | 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.
Texas A&M Study Abroad Website – This program not currently offered |
Credit | A total of 4 credit hours are offered for this program. Students will enroll in one of the following 2-credit courses:
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South Africa
South Africa 1: Conservation Veterinary Medicine (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon |
General Course Description | This course is offered to students in the DVM curriculum who would like to participate in a study-abroad trip to South Africa to learn about conservation medicine. Students will learn how African species are managed at wildlife parks and games preserves. Student will become familiar with certain aspects of hoofstock medicine including common diseases and preventative medicine. Students will gain direct experience with many aspects of chemical immobilization including skills needed, drugs and darting equipment. Students will assist in the immobilization of animals during this trip. |
Credit | A total of 4 credit hours are offered for this program:
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South Africa 2: African Wildlife Conservation and Health (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. James Derr and Dr. Walter Cook |
General Course Description: | You will leave this experience with a new found 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. |
Credit | All students are required to take a total of 4 credit hours to participate:
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Thailand
Global One Health (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. Michelle Yeoman |
General Course Description: | This hybrid study abroad course – which focuses on cultural case studies in Global One Health – explores the connections between human, environment and animal health. During the four-week study abroad component in Thailand, students explore Thai food and culture, work with elephants and other species, and restore coral reefs at a sea turtle sanctuary. They then engage in a community development project in a rural village by providing veterinary clinical care to cats, dogs, elephants, and livestock animals (as cases arise). The remaining six weeks will be completed via distance education. After completing interactive online modules, students will write about emerging issues in Global One Health and analyze the structure and crafting of scientific articles. |
Credit | All students are required to take 1-6 credit hours for this program:
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Bulgaria
Biomedical Sciences (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. Ivan Ivanov |
General Course Description: | Topics in the Biomedical Sciences: Eastern European Perspective proposes to provide the enrolled students with the unique experience of learning about the neurobiology of developmental disorders while being immersed in the Bulgarian culture-a produce of the rich history of this part of Eastern Europe. The international location of this program will help the students to understand the differences and similarities between the Eastern European and the American perspectives of developmental disorders. In this six week program, the students will grow both interpersonally and culturally and will prepare for their future careers. Providing a specific global perspective on developmental health issues, this program aims to serve as a catalyst in their 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:
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Spain
Barcelona Global Health (Summer)
Faculty Member | Dr. Maria Esteve-Gassent |
General Course Description: | The objective of this program is to provide the students with training in One Health and bilingual (Spanish/English) shadowing and/or research experience in Barcelona, Spain. Studies will take place at the School of Medicine (UPF) and the practicum 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.
Summer 2:
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Taiwan
Marine Mammal Anatomy (Winter)
Faculty Member | Dr. Gladys Ko |
General Course Description: | 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
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