Sciences & Engineering

Science & Engineering

Semester Program

AiB TAMU Biotechnologies

Term: Spring

In Cooperation with: Texas A&M University (TAMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

Directed at students of biomedical studies, biomedical engineering or veterinary medicine, the AiB TAMU Biosciences program is designed to provide participants with an array of knowledge in the fields of math, engineering, and natural and medical sciences while embedding all of these disciplines within the cultural context and history of Europe. Students will learn about their field of studies and its history in Europe whilst also working on a real-world project over the course of the semester with our partner institute enmodes, for which students work on the design of an extracorporeal medical device.

AiB Contact: Mara Minkler (Senior Academic Manager) – mm@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

VTPP 401/BMEN 400 – History of Medicine (4 credits) – taught by US faculty:

The course is designed to introduce students to the major accomplishments and developments in the field of medicine that have occurred in Europe between antiquity and the present. It will introduce key figures and medical practices that shaped the development of human and veterinary medicine in Europe while also exploring the historical background of modern-day issues within the medical sciences, such as animal rights, the ethics of human experimentation and the application of biomedical research for military purposes.

VTPP 435 – Physiology for Bioengineers II (4 credits) – taught by US faculty:

This course gives students a detailed grounding in cellular and organ system anatomy and physiology. The focus will lie on the physiology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and gastrointestinal systems as well as on the critical aspects of temperature regulation and metabolic physiology. Functional design elements will be emphasized in order to further the understanding of the body’s physiology.

VTPP 423 – Biomedical Physiology I (4 credits) – taught by US faculty:

The course is designed to introduce students to the physiological significance of cells, organs and organ systems in maintaining homeostasis of the mammalian organism. An emphasis will be put on the control mechanism and physiological data of central nervous, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems.

BMEN 211 – Signals and Systems for Bioengineers (3 credits) – taught by US faculty:

The course deals with the quantitative analysis of biomedical and physiological systems and will introduce various methods for said analysis. The filtering of biomedical signals, as well as using electrical circuits as analog representational models of physiological systems will be of major importance in this course.

BMEN 253 – Medical Device Design I (1 credit) – taught by US faculty:

This course presents current FDA as well as European regulations for the design and development of medical equipment. Working as a team and following a systematic process of planning for the design of a medical device, and with that finding solutions to medical problems, will be one focal point. Additionally, the course will help establish and follow official guidelines for businesses in organizing the process of medical device development. Within this course students will team up with our partner enmodes to work on our real-world, semester-long project: “Medical Device Challenge”.

VTPP 420 – Applied Pharmacology (2 credits) – taught by US faculty:

This course is an introduction to modern themes of therapeutic drugs in animals and humans including drug discovery and development, clinical use of drugs, and drug regulation. Additionally, this course will look at the basic mechanisms of how drugs enter, manipulate and leave the body and by doing so both the physiological as well as the psychological effects of medication will be discussed.

BIMS 320 – Biomedical Genetics (3 credits) – taught via livestream by US faculty:

This course is an introductory study of modern genetics intended for students interested in health and biomedicine related careers or pursuing graduate education within these fields. The academic course work will cover classical genetics and mammalian genomics by looking at the basic structure and functions of genes as well as chromosomal aberrations and genetic diseases.

VTPP 485 – Directed Studies (1-4 credits) – supervised by US faculty:

Students will receive credit for completing a directed study on a specific aspect of the current European veterinary or human medical environment. Specific topics could include (but are not limited to): (a) the euthanasia debate within the EU and the United States, focusing on the historical antecedents for the varying legal and ethical positions taken by different governments; (b) the developing health care crisis in Europe resulting from the current global economic downturn; (c) comparative aspects of human stem cell research issues within the EU and between EU countries and the United States; (d) the history of research involving human subjects particularly the role played in the development of current concepts of informed consent after the formulation of the Nuremberg Code; (e) the debate in Europe over GM (genetically modified) crops and animals; (f) recent changes in German (and other EU) animal rights legislation and the effects of these changes on farm animal production methods.

VIBS 311 – Biomedical Explorations Through Narrative (1 credit) – taught via livestream by US faculty:

This course deals with the reading, writing and analyzing of short scientific texts stemming from the field of biomedical sciences. Students will learn to critically approach academic writing about human and veterinary medicine. Additionally, the course emphasizes key skills in revising and editing scientific texts.

MATH 308 – Differential Equations (3 credits) – taught via livestream by US faculty:

This course covers the basics of Differential Equations. Differential Equations finds its application not only in mathematics but also in areas of the natural sciences and engineering. Thus, the learned skills are an important framework for solving mathematical equations and translating them for the use on natural phenomena.

MATH 308 Tutorial – taught by AiB faculty:

This tutorial accompanies the “MATH 308 – Differential Equations” course and supports students in the understanding of introduced concepts and the preparation of homework, as well as for the final exam.

GERM I – Elementary German – taught by AiB faculty:

This course is aimed at students without any pre-knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Every-day conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

4 days Vienna, Austria

1 day Colmar and Beaune, France

3 days Paris, France

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Remagen, Bingen, and Andernach.

Cultural & Social Activities:

AiB Charity Day, Bonn Marathon, Rhine River Cruise, Visiting German Castles , Museum of German Postwar History, Intercultural Workshops

Special Projects:

**Medical Device Challenge in Cooperation with enmodes (www.enmodes.de**) – A semester-long project in which students collaborate on a medical device design challenge which is rooted in the real-life research and development of our partner enmodes, a company that specializes in medical device technologies.

Hospital Shadowing in Cooperation with the University Clinic Bonn (www.ukbonn.de) – Students are able to spend a whole day shadowing surgeons or orthopedists of the University Clinic Bonn to get to know the daily life of medical staff at one of Germany’s most prestigious teaching hospitals.

Accommodation:

Host Family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)

Semester Program

AiB LMU Science

Term: Spring

In Cooperation with: Loyola Marymount University (LMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

The AiB LMU Science program is directed towards students from different majors and academic backgrounds. Thus, an emphasis is put on combining various fields of study under the umbrella of discussing sustainable practices in Germany and Europe. Students can attend a large selection of academic courses ranging from Math and Physics to European Christianity and the arts.

AiB Contact: Charlotte Korff (Senior Academic Manager) – ck@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

BIOL/CHEM/HHSC 398 – Sustainable Practices (3 credits) – taught by US faculty:

This course explores human energy and water use in the context of sustainability and resiliency. Students discuss the history of water and energy use as a function of societal change. An emphasis will be put on analyzing pollution resulting from use of non-renewable energy sources as well as discussing recent advances in the production of renewable and sustainable energy practices.

SCEM 198 – German Language, Culture and Communication (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty: This course is aimed at students without any pre-existing knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Everyday conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

PHYS 254 – General Physics II (4 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

This course has a prerequisite of “Physics 253 – General Physics I” and discusses the topics of electricity & magnetism, optics, atoms and nuclear physics. A major part of the course takes place in the laboratory setting and with that, hands-on learning experiences.

MATH 204 – Applied Statistics (3 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

This course is an introduction into statistics for engineers and other scientists. Students learn about sampling and descriptive statistics, probability combinatorics, commonly used distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and correlation.

PHIL 3100 – Ethics (4 credits) – taught by AiB faculty: Students familiarize themselves with foundational texts from the central approaches to moral philosophy. Depending on the course focus, which is adapted to both the needs of the student cohort as well as current ethical developments and issues, there is a wide array of texts that will be introduced, analyzed and discussed in class.

THST 398 – European Christianity (4 credits) – taught by AiB faculty:

Over the course of two millennia, the churches in Europe have experienced dynamic interactions, tensions and dialogue within their theological doctrines, beliefs and practices. This course focuses on the theological, historical and political factors that have shaped the European Christian communities and looks at the societal context of said developments.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

5 days Berlin and Dresden, Germany

6 days Paris and Amsterdam, France/Netherlands

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Mainz and Leverkusen.

Cultural & Social Activities:

AIB Charity Day, Bonn Marathon, Rhine River Cruise, Visits of German Castles and Cathedrals

Special Projects:

Local Community Work

Students cooperate with local partners from the field of ecology and sustainability in order to transfer their theoretical background to everyday practices that change environmental contexts.

Accommodation:

Host Family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)

Semester Program

AiB LMU Engineering

Term: Fall

In Cooperation with: Loyola Marymount University (LMU) & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

The AIB LMU Engineering program is a semester-long program that allows students to progress in their Engineering major and core curriculum courses in a country that has a long history of significant engineering achievements. Through a combination of in-class instruction and study tours, students gain exposure to highly relevant topics in the fields of civil, mechanical and electrical engineering. Classroom lectures are complemented by field trips to selected industry partners and project sites to help students understand and increase their interest in the exciting scientific, mathematical, technological and artistic work being carried out in Germany and the European Union.

AiB Contact: Charlotte Korff (Senior Academic Manager) – ck@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

ELEC 210 – Electric Circuit Analysis (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

In this course students are introduced to the techniques of electrical circuit analysis, including branch, node and mesh methods, Thevenin and Norton theorems, step and sinusoidal responses of RLC circuits, operational amplifier circuits, and other general basics of circuit simulations.

PHYS 201 – Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Including (4 Credits) – taught by US or AIB faculty:

This course focuses on understanding the laws that govern the behavior of charged particles. Topics include electrostatics, current, resistance and D.C. circuits, magnetism, induced electromotive force, electric and magnetic properties of matter and an introduction to Maxwell’s equations. This class is complemented by a laboratory class that focuses on hands-on experimentation.

ENGR 200 – Statics ( 3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

In this course students learn to solve determinate statics problems in preparation for junior and senior level design and analysis courses. The focus is on analyzing and resolving forces and force systems, and with that identifying and solving common engineering problems.

MATH 245 – Ordinary Differential Equations (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

Within this course students study general solutions of first and second order differential equations considering qualitative, analytical and numerical approaches.

GENGR 198 – German Language, Communication and Culture” (1 Credit) – taught by AIB faculty:

This course is aimed at students without any pre-existing knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Everyday conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

THST 1050 – In Search of a Way: Spirituality, Faith and Culture (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

This course familiarizes students with various theological aspects and backgrounds. Students analyze the crucial role of faith, religion and spirituality in the formation of the individual and communities.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

6 days Berlin and Dresden, Germany

6 days Brussels and Paris, Belgium/France

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Bonn and the Ruhr region, including a visit of the particle accelerator that is located in Bonn.

Cultural & Social Activities:

Rhine River Cruise, Visiting German Castles , Museum of German Postwar History, Intercultural Workshops

Special Projects:

Local Student Collaboration

The program aims at bringing US as well as German engineering students together by means of workshops. These workshops are based on current engineering issues or problems and in the past have dealt with topics such as robotics.

Accommodation:

Host family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)

Semester Program

AiB Lafayette College Engineering

Term: Spring

In Cooperation with: Lafayette College & Institute for Education and Social Innovation (ibugi)

In this program, students acquire extensive engineering, mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills, which enable them to work in a scientifically and technically sound manner as graduates and to act responsibly in their professional activities. In addition to the specialized courses, students take elective courses in the humanities. The interdisciplinary approach enables students to analyze and evaluate socio-political and socio-cultural developments from an engineering and scientific perspective and to develop their own solutions. Through study tours to production facilities and logistics companies, students learn about the workflows of technical processes and are prepared to develop and evaluate technical and planning solution concepts. Students are enabled to work sustainably and interdisciplinary and to consider socio-political and environmental law issues, also in cross-national comparison.

AiB Contact: Charlotte Korff (Senior Academic Manager) – ck@aib-bonn.org

More information

Courses:

ELEC 210 – Electric Circuit Analysis (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

In this course students are introduced to the techniques of electrical circuit analysis, including branch, node and mesh methods, Thevenin and Norton theorems, step and sinusoidal responses of RLC circuits, operational amplifier circuits, and other general basics of circuit simulations.

PHYS 201 – Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Including (4 Credits) – taught by US or AIB faculty:

This course focuses on understanding the laws that govern the behavior of charged particles. Topics include electrostatics, current, resistance and D.C. circuits, magnetism, induced electromotive force, electric and magnetic properties of matter and an introduction to Maxwell’s equations. This class is complemented by a laboratory class that focuses on hands-on experimentation.

ENGR 200 – Statics ( 3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

In this course students learn to solve determinate statics problems in preparation for junior and senior level design and analysis courses. The focus is on analyzing and resolving forces and force systems, and with that identifying and solving common engineering problems.

MATH 245 – Ordinary Differential Equations (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

Within this course students study general solutions of first and second order differential equations considering qualitative, analytical and numerical approaches.

GENGR 198 – German Language, Communication and Culture” (1 Credit) – taught by AIB faculty:

This course is aimed at students without any pre-existing knowledge of the German language. The goal is to give students the ability to speak, understand, read and write German on a basic level. Everyday conversational skills that students will need outside of the classroom are emphasized. Additionally, the academic contents of the course will cover aspects of German history, directly connecting the learning of the language with a better understanding of the students’ study abroad location.

THST 1050 – In Search of a Way: Spirituality, Faith and Culture (3 Credits) – taught by AIB faculty:

This course familiarizes students with various theological aspects and backgrounds. Students analyze the crucial role of faith, religion and spirituality in the formation of the individual and communities.

Academic Extended Study Tours:

6 days Berlin and Dresden, Germany

6 days Brussels and Paris, Belgium/France

Academic Regional Study Tours:

Multiple academic one-day study tours to regional locations such Cologne, Bonn and the Ruhr region, including a visit of the particle accelerator that is located in Bonn.

Cultural & Social Activities:

Rhine River Cruise, Visiting German Castles , Museum of German Postwar History, Intercultural Workshops

Special Projects:

Local Student Collaboration

The program aims at bringing US as well as German engineering students together by means of workshops. These workshops are based on current engineering issues or problems and in the past have dealt with topics such as robotics.

Accommodation:

Host family, Hotel/Hostel (during Academic Extended Study Tours)