Spanish in Madrid

Eligibility

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in fine-tuning their language skills while living and studying in a Spanish environment. The use of Spanish is strictly mandatory throughout the duration of the program. Students must complete Spanish 205 or above by spring term 2016. Given the competitive nature of the program, student selection rests on a combination of factors, including performance during the interview, GPA, letters of recommendation, application form, language proficiency, and group dynamics. 

Course of Study: 18 Credits

Students enroll in three regular courses and an additional video project workshop course for a total of 18 credits. All courses count toward a major in Spanish, and they apply toward the Certificate of Advanced Study in Foreign Language and Literature or Foreign Language and Area Studies.

SPAN 221: Filming Madrid (2 credits) S/CR/NC

This course is a ten-week video workshop designed to prepare students to shoot and edit a short video by the end of their term in Madrid. Students will work in teams of four under the guidance of David Redondo, president of Walkabout Creatividad Audiovisual. Video projects need to focus on an aspect of urban life in Madrid.
Instructor: Local Faculty                

SPAN 229: Current Issues in Spanish Politics (4 credits)

This course offers a fresh look of Spain's current political life as seen through the eyes of a committed journalist with hands-on experience in the matter.
Instructor: Fernando Varela, Local Faculty

SPAN 247: Spanish Art Live (6 credits)

This course offers an introduction to Spanish art from el Greco to the present. Classes are taught in some of the finest museums and churches of Spain, including the Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofía, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Toledo Cathedral in Toledo, and the Church of Santo Tomé. To better understand today's art market, students also visit the Estampa Art Fair, the largest platform for the dissemination of contemporaneous multiple art held in Spain.
Instructor: Javier Pérez Segura, Local Faculty

SPAN 349: Theory and Practice of Urban Life (6 credits)

More than a study of the image of Madrid in Spanish literature, this course examines the actual experience of living in a cosmopolitan city through a variety of disciplines, including Urban Studies, Philosophy, Architecture, Sociology, and Spanish poetry and fiction.
Instructor: Humberto Huergo 

Excursions

Cultural activities, speakers, and excursions within Madrid will supplement course work. In addition, there will be an excursion to Toledo (one night and two days), Granada (two nights and three days), and Santiago (three nights and four days) and opportunities for individual travel throughout Spain.