Rome
This Global Bioethics: Engaging Rome with the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics & Human Rights learning abroad trip is designed to engage students with critical issues in bioethics and medical humanities from a global, cross-cultural perspective. We are collaborating closely with our partners at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights, supported by the School of Bioethics at the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum and the Faculty of Law at the European University of Rome.
Students will participate in a site-based learning program in Rome that integrates classroom study with direct involvement in the UNESCO Chair’s ongoing initiatives. This immersive experience:
- Highlights the profound human and ethical questions including neurobioethics, global art and bioethics, multiculturalism, religion and bioethics, and human rights
- Enhances academic learning through engagement with the rich cultural and historical context of Rome
- Introduces students to the global mission and interdisciplinary approach of the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights
- Provides exposure to international research internships and graduate education opportunities.
You will need to be enrolled in Global Bioethics HONS 3397H in Spring 2026 with Professor John Lunstroth.
*The course and associated trip are open to undergraduate students in all majors.
TRIP DATES: May 15-24, 2026
If are unable to enroll in the Global Bioethics course, contact Prof. John Lunstroth who will open the course for you.
Here is timeline [may be subject to some adjustments]:
- December 1, 2026: All Applications due.
- December 10, 2025: Acceptances and waitlist notifications sent.
- January 2, 2026: Deposit due ($500).
- January 9, 2026: Invitations to those waitlisted. Final cost and timeline for payments announced.
- January 27, 2026: Last day to add required Global Bioethics course.
We estimate the total cost to be between $4,500 and $4,800, depending on the final airfare price between Houston and Rome. As a reminder, we encourage you to apply for the Honors College Travel Scholarship and the International Education Scholarship to help fund your trip. You do not need to be formally accepted to the trip in order to apply for these funding opportunities!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
Imperial Forum brings ancient history to life by providing a powerful backdrop for exploring Greek and Roman ideas of personhood and identity.
The Villa Borghese Museum sparks thoughtful discussion on the nature of care, compassion, and the classical ideals behind the question: What makes a good doctor?"
A visit to the Vatican Museum invites reflection on the relationship between art, spirit, and science and exploring ethical questions at the heart of modern neuroscience.
Standing beneath the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica explores how global bioethics, multicultural perspectives, and religious traditions shape our understanding of life, care, and moral responsibility.
FAQS
If you are a US citizen, you will not need a visa to travel to Italy.
Learn more at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html
Yes! Students are responsible for thier own passports and must be up to date. The University of Houston Passport for Coogs office offers passports for all students.
According to the U.S Department of State Travel Advisory, Italy is at a Level 2.
Learn more at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/italy-travel-advisory.html
