Study Abroad in Valencia: Courses
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Recommended credits are shown in parentheses. Courses are subject to change at the discretion of the Universidad Católica de Valencia.
ECTS: The Universidad Católica de Valencia awards ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits. The number of class hours and ECTS credits will be shown on the transcript to allow each student’s home institution the ultimate decision in the awarding of U.S. credit. Recommended U.S. semester credits next to each course are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit and are not a conversion of ECTS credits. Students should consult with their university advisors prior to participating in the program to have course credit pre-approved and ensure that they are taking the appropriate amount of credits.
AIFS recommends that students gain pre-approval for several levels of Spanish to ensure that credit is accepted for the course that students test into following the placement test.
SPANISH LANGUAGE
Students are placed into one of the following courses based on the results of a written proficiency exam and oral interview. Students with an Advanced level of Spanish (four semesters of college level Spanish) may choose Spanish for Health Professionals in place of a traditional language course. Language levels are defined according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and will be listed on the transcript on completion of the program.
Beginner Spanish I/UCV Spanish 101 (3)
Beginner Spanish II/UCV Spanish 102 (3)
Pre- Intermediate Spanish/UCV Spanish 103 (3)
Intermediate Spanish/UCV Spanish 201 (3)
Advanced Spanish/UCV Spanish 301 (3)
Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition/UCV Spanish 302 (3)
Spanish for Health Professionals/UCV 410 (3)
ECONOMICS, FINANCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UCV-40 (3) spring only | Corporate Growth
One of the objectives most organizations have in common is to achieve sustained growth. Through this course students will learn how to obtain various benefits, such as economies of scale and experience curve effects, or to exploit potential synergies of multiple types, assuring this way the foundations for future profits. This is an introductory course to the different models of existing strategies within the framework of strategic direction, whose objective is the study of the company and its management from a holistic point of view and with a global scope.
UCV-41 (3) fall only | Customer Relationship Management
Takes a theoretical and practical approach to activities concerning the establishment of customer relationships and loyalty. Its objectives are: provide students with an understanding of the theory and concepts related to this discipline; integrate the different dimensions of CRM in the corporate business practice and identify their profits; classify customers according to their behavior; understand the novelty and timeliness of relationship marketing as a routine practice in the markets.
UCV-42 (3) fall only | Descriptive Statistics
UCV-43 (3) spring only | Entrepreneurship
Analysing entrepreneurial traits, entrepreneurial activities, types of businesses. Develop an entrepreneurial attitude and prepare for creating your own business.
UCV-44 (3) fall only | Principles of Business Management
Provides a vision of the reality in which firms develop their work, contributing to the creation of professionals capable of carrying out work involving management, consulting, and evaluation in production and service organizations, and their functional areas.
EDUCATION
UCV-50 (3) spring only | Body Language
Revolves around four main goals, namely, knowing and analyzing the basic theoretical foundations of the “Physical Activities” unit; designing intervention proposals suitable for Early Childhood Education by knowing how to analyze both the context and the needs of the pupils; analyzing body language as a form of expression and communication, relate it to other forms of expression and check the role it could be playing in the pupils’ development; analyzing the contribution of P.E. to the integral development of a person.
UCV-51 (3) fall only | Mediation and Familiar Orientation
Themes include: family-like system; familiar work, familiar representation; strategies of communication; mediation and familiar direction; representative principles and models; conflict; techniques and abilities of mediators; indications and contraindications; practical applications; essential techniques in mediation and familiar direction. Phases of mediation: structure of mediation process; mediation and children.
UCV-52 (3) spring only | Motor Development and Curriculum
Revolves around five main goals, namely, knowing and analyzing the basic theoretical foundations of the “Physical Activities Unit”; designing intervention proposals suitable for Early Childhood Education by knowing how to analyze both the context and the needs of the pupils; designing and experiencing teaching-learning activities for the development of the curriculum; analyzing the contribution of P.E. to the integral development of a person; and knowing the learning and motor development fundamentals in Early Childhood Education.
UCV-53 (3) | Teaching Internship
Students will undertake a period of teacher training at a school in Valencia. Placements will depend on their major and linguistic competence in English and/or Spanish. While at school, students will have a tutor who will guide them throughout the whole process. Hands-on learning for prospective teachers!
HEALTH SCIENCES
UCV-60 (3) spring only | Bio-Chemistry II: Metabolism and Nutrition
The course contents are focused on cellular metabolism, coordination and integration of nutrition and exercise physiology. Covers studies in obesity, diabetes, lipidemias, metabolic syndrome and exercise physiology that have an underlying basis in metabolism. Students will work on assignments on the biochemistry of metabolism, cell signaling, molecular and cellular biology of nutrients. Current, but not exclusive, interests are metabolic effects, hormonal regulation, and metabolic adaptations.
UCV-61 (3) | Embriology and General Anatomy I
Comprising the steps of forming the human body from fertilization to completion of embryogenesis during the first trimester of pregnancy. Understand the concepts and evolution of the human anatomy. Relate the anatomical and functional concept of disease. Recognize the pathological anatomical abnormality. Acquiring the concept of non-pathological anatomic variants. Learn about the concepts of the anatomic relationship, comparison and movement distinguishing anatomical and functional concepts of organ, apparatus and system. Learn basic techniques of surgical corpse dissection. Use self-learning as a fundamental tool in development, innovation, and professional responsibility. Understand the structure and function of the human body semiotics, mechanisms, causes and general manifestations of the disease and diagnostic methods processes of medical and surgical pathology.
UCV-62 (3) spring only | Epidemiology and Statistics
The aim of this course is to define the concepts of health and disease; to know the determinants of oral health; to know the strategies of promotion of health; to know the epidemiology and prevention of the contagious diseases; to know the programs of oral health in the area of the cooperation and international health; to adopt basic knowledge to design an investigation project; to know the basic concepts of the statistics for application and interpretation of results in dentistry.
UCV-63 (3) fall only | Introduction to Dentistry
Acquire a view of the development of dentistry through history and general notions of the different specialties of dentistry.
UCV-64 (3) | Life Support
UCV-65 (3) spring only | Microbiology
The aim of this course is to understand the concepts of microbiology. Knowing the general characteristics of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Knowing the related infectious diseases and microorganisms especially those producing oral infections. Learn the fundamentals for proper use of antimicrobial drugs. Develop skills relating to microbiological diagnostic techniques and to obtaining buccal samples, transportation and processing and to evaluating laboratory tests from the same. Learn the basic principles of immunization and prevention of infectious diseases.
UCV-66 (3) fall only | Molecular Genetics
Focuses on the molecular basis of gene expression and inheritance. Basic molecular genetics techniques will be learned through laboratory sessions. Attendance to related scientific seminars and introductory bioinformatic sessions is included.
UCV-67 (3) fall only | Nursing Care of Women
Provides students with a better understanding of normal and abnormal pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, as well as the main pathologies in gynaecology that affect women during their reproductive age and during postmenopause. Covers the physiological mechanisms of pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, the different obstetric distocia and their nursing care, the nursing care of the gynaecological pathology during the woman’s reproductive age and postmenopause, and the fundamentals of prevention in gynaecological health.
UCV-68 (3) | Nutrition and Dietetics
Aims to develop students’ knowledge of nutritional problems among the current population, the epidemiological factors responsible for them, and the measures used to promote healthy nutrition. Covers the difference between nutrition and dietetics and provides adequate knowledge for nursing professionals to be able to carry out nutrition programmes in nursing clinics and be able to elaborate balanced diets for a person of any age group, regardless of their status.
UCV-69 (3) fall only | Proteomics
Focuses on the large-scale comprehensive study of a specific proteome, including information on protein abundances, their variations and modifications, along with their interacting partners and networks, in order to understand cellular processes.
UCV-70 (3) spring only | Psychology
Aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge necessary to help them in their future professional practice. Enables critical understanding of the basic processes that influence human behavior and development and trains students so that they can manage and better serve patients. Covers the basic methodology and techniques used in research of psychology as a field of study and the specialized themes developed in the program literature. Deepens aspects of health psychology related disease process, habits related to health and disease, the doctor-patient relationship, the types of patients, the phenomenon of placebo, pain (acute and chronic) and compliance with therapeutic prescriptions.
UCV-71 (3) spring only | Stem Cells: Origin and Practical Applications
Focuses on the study of different types of stem cells, methods for their isolation and culture. Examples for their use in research and for the development of therapeutic programs will be provided.
UCV-72 (3) | Hospital Internship
TBD
HUMANITIES
UCV-31 (3) fall only | Literatura Hispanoamericana Contemporánea /Contemporary Hispanic- American Literature
Analyzes recent Latin American cultural productions through a selection of literary works. Students will engage in texts beginning with what is known as “the Boom” all the way through 21st-century literary productions, closing the course with the Bogotá 39 generation. Through the study of each literary work, students will gain valuable knowledge of critical issues and a deeper understanding of the complexities/diversity of Latin American culture. Language of instruction: Spanish.
UCV-32 (3) spring only | Literatura Española Contemporánea/Contemporary Spanish Literature
Analyzes recent Spanish culture through a selection of films and literary works. Students read excerpts or full novels, several short stories, and watch a number of films over the course of the semester. Works selected focus on the period of rapid social, economic, and political change in Spain between 1979 and the present day. Through the study of each literary work, students will gain valuable knowledge of critical issues and a deeper understanding of the complexities of Spanish culture. Language of instruction: Spanish
UCV-33 (3) | Culture and Society of Contemporary Spain
With an emphasis on the present-day but setting the examination of institutions and attitudes in their historical context, this course offers an introduction to Spanish culture, familiarizing students with the social, economic and political structures of contemporary Spain. Course highlights include: the restoration of the ancestral monarchy after years of dictatorship; organization in autonomous communities; and the perception of Spain in the world today.
UCV-34 (3) | History of Spain through Media and Arts
Provides a general overview of Spanish history from the Middle Ages to current times via cinema. In order to understand contemporary Spanish society, the class focuses on some of the most important aspects of the country’s history and analyzes them through historical texts and movies. Students will be provided with some key historical overviews as well as with some filming notions so that they can analyze both the films’ technical characteristics as well as their historical representations. Aims not only to teach the students how to analyze a movie, from an artistic point of view, but also to show them how cinema can be enjoyable and didactic at the same time while providing them with an increasing knowledge of Spanish culture and history.
UCV-35 (3) | The Gothic in Literature
Explores the Gothic as an artistic and cultural phenomenon from its earliest development in 18th-century literature to its contemporary manifestations in modern cinema. Apart from discussing key works of the Gothic imagination, students will also seek to understand this genre in terms of its philosophical, psychological and sociological dimensions. As students engage in a thorough analysis of each text or film, they are also encouraged to think critically about the Gothic in relation to the European/ American cultures in which it has developed.
UCV-36 (3) Service Learning | Social Justice
Introduces students to the study of social justice, attempting to link social theory, particularly the theories of Catholic social teaching, with social action and change. Students explore the diverse meanings and definitions of social justice while developing a critical understanding of key concepts and theories. Presented in relation to some of the most important social justice debates today, this course encourages students to apply their knowledge to a wide range of subject areas and social issues. As a key component of the course, students choose a relevant placement in a community service organization/NGO, complete a minimum of four hours of service per week, and engage in meaningful reflective practice with their peers.
OCEANOGRAPHY
UCV-80 (3) spring only | Marine Ecology
The main goals of this course are: to understand concepts and basic postulates as well as the current approach of ecological science; to learn to interpret and elaborate ecological models applied to marine systems; to understand the structure and functioning of ecological systems (pelagic and benthic); to know the functioning of aquatic ecosystems from the knowledge of the flows of energy and cycles of matter.
SPORTS SCIENCES
UCV-90 (3) | Human Anatomy
The general aims of the course are: to know and understand the basics of anatomy to facilitate the study of the locomotor system and the different organ systems as a priority basis for understanding human movement. Relate the structure and function of the various parts of the human body. Initiation to the knowledge of structures, systems of the human body and its involvement in movement.
UCV-91 (3) spring only | Human Physiology
Aims to help students develop a constant personal and professional drive to better themselves, a problem-solving approach, a decision making attitude, leadership and management, to develop effective study habits, time organization skills, individual autonomy, critical and self-critical thinking, and oral and written communication skills and covers the fundamental concepts needed to understand the human body functions. Students will also study the function of each one of the human body systems and the scientific language used in clinical practice.
UCV-92 (3) spring only | Nutritional Requirements of Physical Activity and Sports Training
An overview of the role of nutrition and supplements in sport; the basic components of food and their impact on the physiology of the athlete; the different types and functions of nutrients; the different food groups and proportions in which they must be present to have a healthy and balanced diet; techniques for assessing the nutritional status of the subject; the relationship between diet and exercise and how to apply knowledge of nutrition to promote the education of healthy habits.
UCV-93 (3) spring only | Sports Injuries
Teaches students how to prevent the most prevalent injuries and diseases induced by physical activity and sport; to evaluate the most common injuries in the most practiced sports; to describe, analyze and evaluate protocols to make fast and appropriate decisions to treat sports injuries; to know and apply the principles of injury prevention and to recognize and analyze problems in the topic of injury prevention and recovery.
UCV-94 (3) spring only | Strength and Conditioning
Teaches the basic terminology of strength and conditioning training; the main components of strength and conditioning training and how to observe, detect and correct critical elements of the training; to understand the relevance of the general principles of strength and conditioning training in different contexts of practice (health, education and sport high-level) and to understand methodological aspects and means used to develop physical qualities.
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