Maastricht Science Programme

MSC

Maastricht Science College
Type	Problem-based learning & Research-Beased Learning
Established	2010
Dean	Founding dean: Louis Boon (currently on sabbatical )
Location	Maastricht , Limburg , Netherlands
Affiliations	Maastricht University
Website	http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/msc

Maastricht Science College (abbreviated as MSC) is an English language, internationally oriented, liberal arts and sciences college Founded in 2010, it will welcome its first students in September 2011. The Maastricht Science College is unique in its kind. It is the only Liberal Arts and Sciences college in the world whith absolutely no obligatory courses. Students are entirely free to design the program of their choice by choosing courses from an extensive offer of natural science courses. The college is part of Maastricht University (Template:Lang-nl) and offers an honours programme with a high workload for motivated students.

History

The Maastricht Science College was formed in 2010, and will receive its forst students in the academic year of 2011/12. The MSC will be one of the few not health related science programs in Maastricht. Maastricht University, of which the MSC is part, was founded in 1976, making it one of the youngest universities in the Netherlands, and currently has about 12,000 students and more than 3,000 employees.

Academics

Education at University College Maastricht, is fully taught in English. After graduation from the MSC, students obtain a providing [Bachelor of Science]] degree. The College is a liberal arts college which is defined by Encyclopædia Britannica Concise as a "college or university curriculum aimed at imparting general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities, in contrast to a professional, vocational, or technical curriculum."

Classes are small, with an emphasis on independent learning via a group process structured through the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method and Research-Based Learning (RBL). RBL is a new method of learning. Students are stimulated to learn by participating in undergraduate research.

Curriculum structure

At the Maastricht Science College (MSC) students are entirely free to construct their own curriculum by choosing courses from a broad offering of natural science courses in the fields of:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Biomaterials
• Neuroscience
• Entrepreneurship

Courses (a full overview can be viewed here) are additionally structured in a 100 to 300-level structure, indicating an increasing level of complexity and required previous knowledge. Per semester, students choose 4 courses (of 5 ECTS) In addition to courses, students are required to choose twoskills trainings (of 2,5 ECTS). Thirdly, students are required to take one 'project' (of 5 ECTS) per semester. A BSc at the MSC will comprise a total of 180 ECTS. Students subsequently enrol in a maximum of 30 ECTS per semester, or 60 ECTS for a full year.

Students create their own curriculum, with help of academic advisors, by choosing courses from the courses on offer. The aim of this curriculum is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own academic preferences and talents and acquire all the expertise and skills to enter a high-quality Master programme.

Internships

A good scientist does not merely have a lot of theoretical knowledge, but does also have the skills to aquire new knowledge, and to apply this knowledge. Through RBL, skills trainings and projects, students get a lot of hands-on experience with science. In addition students get the oppurtunity to condict an internship in industry, or in university, in their second or third year.

External links

• Maastricht Science College homepage