Mathematical beauty in Rome: A study-abroad program for STEM students

Mathematical Beauty in Rome is a five-week summer study-abroad program at UCSD designed specifically for college undergraduates in STEM majors; it has been offered since 2008. Its subject matter is the architectural geometry and structural engineering of great monuments in Rome. The program is comprised of two courses, one that takes place in the classroom and the other that takes place at various sites, using Rome as a living laboratory. Some of the major sites that are studied include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's dome, and the Aqua Claudia Aqueduct. There is a one-week excursion to Florence to study Brunelleschi's dome and to Pisa to study the Leaning Tower. Works of art such as Raphael's School of Athens are also studied for their use of mathematical perspective. The paper presents the motivations and goals of the program, pedagogical methods based on experiential learning, an example of course content on the Colosseum's ground plan geometry, cultural aspects, and assessments.