Students explore anatomy and culture through Italian embedded course
Penn State students traveled to Italy over spring break through the SC 475N: Anatomy in Italy and IT 175: Italian Language and Culture embedded course, which offered students a transformative journey combining science, humanities, culture and personal growth.
A unique mix of biology and history, the program combines students’ interests in medicine and Italian culture and challenges them to rethink what it means to study anatomy and the human body.
One of the program’s distinctive features is its interdisciplinary approach. Rather than focusing only on modern clinical methods, students explore the historical evolution of anatomy and medicine, examining how art, religion and culture shaped early understandings of the human body.
As second-year biomedical engineering student Jacob Ott put it, the course reveals “not just how anatomy works today, but how we got to where we are,” highlighting the influence of Renaissance thinkers and artists. This perspective allows students to see medicine not simply as a technical field, but as a human story shaped over centuries.
The learning experience extended far beyond the classroom. During the trip, students traveled to Florence, Bologna and Rome, where they encountered history and medicine in real time.
Veronica Swartz, a fourth-year student majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, described standing in St. Peter’s Basilica as “one of those moments where you just stop and think, what is my life right now?”
These powerful experiences were paired with interactive learning opportunities, including visits to anatomical museums and hands-on exercises that encouraged critical thinking. Students weren’t just memorizing information but learning how to ask better questions and develop a deeper appreciation for the human body.
A key element of the program is its global exchange with the University of Bologna. Italian medical students visited Penn State before hosting the "Anatomy in Italy" students abroad, resulting in meaningful connections and exposure to different educational systems and perspectives on health care.
Olivia Mrazik, a second-year student majoring in psychology, said interacting with international students gave her “a global perspective” and showed her that “the way we learn things is different.”
The program is shaped by strong faculty and staff mentorship. Led by the Eberly College of Science’s Joel Waters, coordinator of education abroad and international programs, and John Waters, teaching professor of biology and anthropology; Jason Laine, associate teaching professor of Italian in the College of the Liberal Arts; and College of Medicine representatives Mark Stephens, associate dean for medical education, University Park Regional Campus, and Mike Flanagan, assistant dean for student affairs, University Park Regional Campus, the experience is carefully designed to support and challenge students.
Waters pointed out that “the interdisciplinary nature of these courses lends itself perfectly to the collaborative efforts among faculty from three different colleges.”
Swartz noted the instructors “go out of their way to make this a memorable experience.” It also helped her better understand her goals, she said.
“I realized I want my work to directly help people,” Swartz said. “This program helped me see that connection.”
Mrazik similarly noted that the experience taught her to embrace continuous learning, explaining that “you can’t assume your knowledge is fixed.”
Whether learning to communicate in Italian or analyzing art through a new lens, the program pushed students to expand their perspectives. Ott described it as “a great way to push myself out of my comfort zone.”
Third-year biology student Luscinia Quance emphasized the sense of exploration the program fostered, highlighting how the experience allowed students to slow down, reflect and fully engage with both their surroundings and their learning.
“I’ve never been more grateful to know so little,” she said.
Laine observed that some of the most impactful moments are unstructured, when the students are gathering with their international peers.
“They share their perspectives and ambitions, their passions and their hopes for the future realizing that despite cultural or geographic differences, they have so much more in common," Laine said.
Ultimately, students expressed how the "Anatomy in Italy" program proved to be an experience that reshaped how they understood the world, their education and themselves.