Academics (neuro)
Students in the Salamanca Neuroscience Program typically take 4 courses during the semester in Salamanca + HUM 170
HUM 170: Contemporary Spanish Experience (1.5h) is required and includes the group excursions to sites around Spain. This course is pass/fail and is taught by the Salamanca Cultural director.
The 4 remaining courses are chosen from the list and must include at least 1 Spanish course.
All courses except the Spanish course are taught in English. Spanish courses are offered at various levels.
Students with 5 semesters or more of Spanish may take SPA 328. Medical Spanish with the Immersion program students.
Courses are scheduled Monday through Thursday, leaving three-day weekends to explore the city or travel to nearby destinations.
All courses for Spring 2025 can be found here.
All courses offered during Spring 2024:
- BIO 354. Methods in Neuroscience. (3 h) and BIO 354L Neuroscience methods lab (1h) This lab course is an introduction to the techniques used in the field of neuroscience. Anatomical, physiological, molecular and behavioral methods are covered through lectures, laboratory work, and reading the primary literature. P-BIO 114 or 150 and 214 or 160, or POI. – This course contributes to the biology lab requirement (300 level, 4h course) for the Biology Major (the lab portion of the course is only offered in Salamanca).
- BIO 363. Sensory Biology. (3 h) A lecture course with emphasis on sensory physiology and other aspects of sensory systems, e.g. molecular biology and anatomy. Credit not allowed for both BIO 363 and 364. P-BIO 114 or 150 and 214 or 160, or POI
- BIO 370. Biochemistry I: Macromolecules and Metabolism. (3 h) Introduces principles of biochemistry including structure, function, biosynthesis and breakdown of biological molecules, analysis of enzyme function and activity, bioenergetics, and regulation of metabolic pathways. Also listed as BMB 370 and CHM 370. P-POI or two of the following: CHM 122 (CHM 123); CHM 280; BIO 214 (BIO 160).
- PSY 317. Special Topics in Experimental Psychology: Cognitive Neuroscience. (3 h). Theoretical and empirical examination of specialized areas within experimental psychology. May be repeated for credit if topic varies. P-PSY 151. (D)
- SPA 196. Spanish for Neuroscience. (3 h) Introduction to basic Spanish vocabulary and grammar for those working in the field of neuroscience. Offered only abroad. P – POI. Upon successful completion of SPA 196, students may re-take the placement exam to determine eligibility to take SPA 212/213 [For students who have not yet completed a fourth-semester Spanish course at WFU and who have placed into SPA 112, 113, 153, 154, or 212]
- SPA 300C. Spanish Across the Sciences Curriculum. (3h) Coursework in Spanish done as an adjunct to specifically-designated courses in the sciences and medical curriculum. May be repeated for credit. P—POI. Counts as an elective towards Spanish major and minor. [For students who have already completed a fourth-semester Spanish course at WFU (SPA 212, 213) or placed into SPA 280)]
- HUM 170. Contemporary Spanish Experience. (1.5h) An introduction to Spanish history, culture, art and society for students taking part in the WFU Neuroscience in Salamanca program. Includes site visits and field research. Pass/fail.
The Salamanca Program follows the Class Attendance policy listed in the WF Bulletin:
- Attendance is mandatory.
- Two sick days are permitted, no justification required (Tip: it would be wise to reserve these absences for illness).
- Each additional absence will lower the final course grade by 2%.
- In case of hospitalization or a doctor’s bed rest orders for prolonged illness, send documentation to your semester RP, who will notify your professors.
- Absences from academic trips are not permitted. Each day (partial or complete) of absence from an academic trip will lower the final HUM 170 grade by 10 points.
Class changes once students have been registered for Salamanca courses are generally not permitted.
- An Add may be permitted if there is space in a class and the change will not enroll the student in more than 17 credit hours per semester.
- A Drop will be permitted only in the event that a course is discovered to no longer meet the student’s major/minor/concentration requirements.
- Students must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours of locally-taught courses.
- Add/drop request form
Rules for pass/fail:
- Students are limited to electing to take one course (4h, maximum) per semester pass/fail.
- The criteria for a passing grade is established by the professor.
- The last day to change from grade mode to pass/fail mode is the drop date.
- The last day to change from pass/fail mode to grade mode is the Friday of the twelfth week of the semester.
- The change requires written or electronic permission of the academic adviser and the course instructor.
Protocol/procedure:
- The student obtains email approval from his/her academic adviser to take a particular course pass/fail.
- The student forwards the written approval from the academic advisor to the Salamanca On-site Director (Javier) and the course instructor, and requests approval from the instructor to take the course pass/fail.
- The instructor, copying Javier, sends the student written permission that establishes the criteria for a passing grade.
- Javier, copying the student, notifies the Abroad Registrar (Sarah Dale).
- The Registrar confirms the change, copying the student and On-site Director (Javier).
- Spanish universities follow a different calendar of assessment. Daily homework checks and quizzes are less common than they are in the States.
- Although there are exceptions, courses generally require a midterm and a final and some written essays.
- Exams must be taken at the time established by University of Salamanca. Changes to the date or time of an exam will only be allowed in the event of a documented medical emergency, with prior permission from the Wake Forest Resident Professor/On-site Administrator (Javier) and the professor of the course.
- Professors will also evaluate your participation and attitude.
- You may get assistance from tutors or native speakers (for Spanish courses), but they are not to help you do assignments to be turned in for a grade; doing so will constitute an infraction of the HONOR CODE.
Throughout the semester you are bound to note cultural differences in your Salamanca professors´ styles of teaching. This is part of the experience of studying abroad. However, just as your professors on campus articulate their expectations clearly, provide you with timely feedback, and grade your work fairly, so also will your professors in Salamanca.
If at some point you should have a complaint about a professor’s performance or grading, use the following procedure:
- As soon as possible and no later than fifteen days after the event, talk personally with or send a written message explaining the concern directly to the professor. Should you need assistance writing this message, your Resident Professor may be of help. (If your complaint regards the Resident Professor, move directly to step 2) The Resident Professor will not take a position or write a message for you, but s/he can help you find the vocabulary to communicate your complaint.
- If your complaint is not resolved, you may appeal to the Program Director for assistance. The Program Director will communicate with you and the professor, seek to understand your individual perspectives, reach a conclusion, and share it with you and the professor.
- If your complaint is still not resolved by these procedures, you should consult with the Office of Academic Advising for assistance.
- Finally, you may appeal to the Committee on Academic Affairs which will study the matter, solicit input from all parties, and reach a final decision concerning resolution.
Again, a complaint should be directed as soon as possible to the professor whose actions or inactions have given rise to the problem. In no case will a complaint be considered later than fifteen days after the event.”
WFU Honor Code: https://studentconduct.wfu.edu/undergraduate-student-handbook-2/#20230228212512
Honor Code
The Wake Forest Undergraduate Honor Code prohibits “plagiarism, stealing, cheating, and deception.” In academic terms, this means turning in, as your own, wording, text, or ideas that are not your own.
To avoid plagiarizing, cite your sources when quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing works (print or online) by other authors. To avoid cheating and deception, do not use tutors, friends, collaborators, contractors, translators, grammar checks, or artificial intelligence generators for work that must be your own.
Any sign of plagiarism, stealing, cheating or deception will be regarded as a violation of the Honor Code and will be awarded a grade of 0 and submission to the Judicial Council.
Wake Forest will pay for all your books. You will be notified when and where to collect them.
Find the link for your USAL Gmail account here http://gmail.usal.es/
- Your USAL account username will be your email address (example: i_c000000@usal.es; you can find yours below your picture on your USAL ID card).
- Your passport number will be your password.
- Use your USAL credentials to access the USAL Canvas, called STUDIUM can be accessed here with http://studium.usal.es/
Make sure that you log into your USAL account to activate it. It must be done at least once before classes start. Please let us know immediately if you are unable to log in.
