CMU-Q Micro Course Takes Macro Look at Neurological Disorders

Students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar dove deep into the mysteries of the mind during a spring 2025 micro course.

The class, Biology for Life Special Topics Micro: Understanding the Demented and Delusional Brain, was taught by Ken Hovis, teaching professor of biological sciences and MCS assistant dean for Educational Initiatives. He covered a range of neurological disorders from schizophrenia to chronic traumatic brain injury.

"It helped me develop a greater appreciation for neuroscience and the incredible work in the field," said Amna Al Quradghi, a CMU-Q senior in biological sciences. "I liked how the content provided valuable insights into the brain without becoming overwhelming. Overall, it was a great learning experience."

Multiple micro courses happen at CMU-Q annually. During these courses, professors based in Pittsburgh travel to Doha for a week to teach then spend the two more weeks instructing students virtually.

Hovis taught full-time in Doha from 2011 through 2016, and he has been teaching micro courses since 2020. He said that micro courses offer the students in Doha the opportunity to connect with professors based in Pittsburgh.

"It's really valuable and important because we are able to offer courses that they couldn't take otherwise. In some cases, it lets students do neuroscience minors," he said.

CMU-Q offers degrees in biological sciences, business administration, computer science and information systems. The curriculum and degree programs in Doha are identical to those offered at the Pittsburgh campus, and students are awarded the same diploma.

All CMU-Q faculty members are appointed through their respective colleges on the Pittsburgh campus. Some are based in Qatar, and others are based in Pittsburgh but regularly teach in Doha, like Hovis. He teaches three micro courses, and students can take them in any order to achieve a neuroscience minor.

Micro courses, when taken together or in combination with a mini course, can count for full credits. Students who took the mini course Neurobiology of Disease in Fall 2024 with Emily Drill, associate teaching professor at the Pittsburgh campus, could take the micro with Hovis to qualify for a full neuroscience credit.

"It really gives the students a richer experience," Drill said. "There are students who want to minor in neuroscience there, but with the small number of faculty, they have limited opportunities. This allows us to offer elective courses that typically aren't available."

Gordon Rule, professor and interim department head of biological sciences, has been involved with the Biological Sciences program at CMU-Q since its inception and taught at CMU-Q each fall from 2011 to 2021. Recently, he has taught micro courses on immunology, immunotherapy, and protein-based therapeutics He said micro courses foster a connection between the Pittsburgh and Doha campuses.

"It's a way for faculty from the Pittsburgh campus to interact with the students on the Qatar campus," Rule said. "Students seem to be really interested in getting to know the faculty, so teaching in Qatar is a very rewarding experience in terms of faculty student interactions."

Hovis said that the department is planning on offering similar combinations of mini and micro courses to provide students in Doha with more opportunities for electives as well as a greater range of topics for minis.

"It's a great initiative," Hovis said. "It provides a diversity of classes, and the students really appreciate it."