Spain

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St. Lawrence University offers students the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year in Spain. Program participants will begin their studies with an immersive orientation. The program takes place in Madrid where students they live in homestay families and participate in program-related excursions, Spanish classes, and elective courses. The program is open to students from beginner to advanced Spanish levels. 

  • Based in Madrid.
  • Fall or Spring semester.
  • Academic year- option. Students must meet with Caitlin Hatz to discuss program courses. 
  • Program can accommodate 15 students per semester, including academic year students.
  • Pre-requisites: 2.8 GPA; 1 Spanish class on-campus prior to departure. 
  • Open to beginner and advanced level Spanish speakers, a perfect opportunity to improve language skills for post graduate opportunities in a number of fields. 
  • Elective courses taught in both Spanish or English. Language courses taught in Spanish. 
  • Live with homestay families.
  • Apply Early Decision for this Program: SLU students who submit their applications to this program in full before December 6th will have their $50 application fee waived and will receive an automatic $100 in additional financial aid. 

Apply to Study in Spain

Location     Academics     Co-Curricular     Housing     Calendar     Orientation      Program Contacts

Location

The program is based in  Madrid and will include components in other areas of Spain.  

Madrid, Spain’s capital, is a city of four million, and boasts a dynamic cultural and social life. Madrid also provides easy access to more traditional small towns and villages in Segovia and Salamanca. Also within easy reach of Madrid are the historical cities of Avila, El Escorial, Toledo, and the Guadarrama mountains -- popular for skiing, hiking and other sports. Students often comment that "there isn't time to see and do everything in Spain."

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Academics

The Program Director is a member of the St. Lawrence University faculty. The director teaches one SLU unit course related to his/her area of expertise in the context of Spain. In addition to organizing and supervising the academic and co-curricular program, the Director advises students, teaches in fall and spring, helps students with cultural adjustment issues, and is responsible for the work placement course.

In addition to one required Spanish-language course, students all enroll in the Director's course and select three elective courses from the list provided below. These classes are taught in both Spanish or English by faculty from the Universidad de Compultense in Madrid. These professors are well acquainted with US college courses as they teach within the Reunidas program, which is a U.S.-based consortium housed within the Compultense. These courses will be offered if there is sufficient student enrollment.

The courses take full advantage of being in Madrid and Spain, with excursions to several places in Spain, field work in various city neighborhoods, the chance to attend a variety of theatrical performances, and visits to the Prado and other museums.

Students participating in the Spain semester program can receive up to four units toward the Estudios hispanicos major (provided they do some coursework in Spanish) and up to 2 or more units towards the minor (provided some work is done in Spanish).  If students want to take  their elective courses in English they may receive units towards their Estudios hispanicos major or minor, only if they complete their classwork (papers, exams, oral presentations, etc.) in Spanish, and this is dependent upon individual faculty approval. 

Required Courses:

Director course (taught in English and theme changes each year) – SPAN/Environmental Studies Special Topics 3000: Biodiversity of Spain: Threats and Solutions from Farm to Fork (1 unit; Fulfills ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY distribution requirement)

This course will introduce students to the incredible biodiversity of Spain, part of a global biodiversity hotspot and one of the most important places for endemic plant species on the planet. We will first situate Spain’s biodiversity within a global biogeographic context, exploring where and why patterns of biodiversity exist through an evolutionary, geological, and ecological lens. We will then discuss the unique ecoregions of Spain and learn about each region’s key plant and animal species, including their particular adaptations to their environment. Next, we will address the status of and threats to Spain’s biodiversity within the context of the global biodiversity crisis and assess the role of agriculture as the major contributor to biodiversity loss worldwide. A key focus will be on exploring biodiversity-friendly agricultural systems and how consumers can play a role in supporting these systems. The class will entail field trips to preserves and other natural areas, as well as to farms, markets, and restaurants that promote alternative food systems that encourage biodiversity-friendly food production.

Spanish Language Course – (1 unit)

Elective Courses (3 courses between English or Spanish tracks)

ELECTIVES TAUGHT IN ENGLISH 

Classes are taught in English, both fall and spring.

*ELECTIVES TAUGHT IN SPANISH*

FALL SEMESTER 2024-2025

SPRING SEMESTER 2024-2025

ND 480: Internship with Seminar
(1 unit; For full-year students only)

This is a semester-long internship for academic year participants that is conducted during the spring semester. Every attempt is made to match the internship assignment to the individual's interests. If there are no internships available, full-year students will take 3 electives instead of 2 or will do an independent study with the Director. 

The internship period complements the class work of the regular courses taken during the program and is designed to be a challenging personal and professional experience. During the internship, students remain under the supervision of the program and continue to reside with the Spanish families. They participate in a seminar and carry out required writing assignments and oral presentations. They are also required to participate in several cultural activities such as visits to museums, films, theater or book presentations in the city of Madrid. The final grade for the internship is based on work submitted for the seminar, the evaluation of the internship supervisor of the host organization, and the program director's evaluation of the student's work in the seminar and at the sponsoring organization.

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Co-curricular

Field trips, cultural events and other activities organized by the program complement the classes and are planned with the goal of furthering the students' understanding of Spanish culture. Recent field trips have been to Valencia on the east coast of Spain, Extremadura, Andalucía, and to Bilbao in the north. 

In addition to field trips to various parts of Spain, the program organizes group visits within the capital itself. The cost of all scheduled group activities is included in the comprehensive fee. Students are also reimbursed, according to program guidelines, for attendance at cultural activities of their own choosing.

English conversation groups are available between program participants and local university students in an effort to bring both groups together. Students are encouraged to do volunteer work in Madrid. 

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Housing

The home stays with Spanish families constitute one of the most fulfilling experiences offered by the program, as they provide a pleasant and supportive atmosphere for the students. Homes are located throughout Madrid and are usually within a fifty-minute commute from school. Family make-up and homes vary in background and composition. Students are expected to be sensitive to cultural differences and open to understanding and sharing fully in the life of the Spanish family. When possible, the program includes families in program activities. All meals are taken with the family.

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Calendar

The Fall semester typically begins in late August and ends in mid-December. The Spring semester typically begins in early/mid-January and ends in mid-May.

Fall 2024

August 

Friday 23: Departure from U.S.

Saturday 24-25: Orientation In Malaga

Monday 26- Thursday Sept. 5: Intensive Language Course

September

Friday 6: Transportation to Madrid

Monday 9-Tuesday 10: Madrid Orientation 

Wednesday 11: Classes Begin

Friday 20: Scheduled Academic Visit

Saturday 28- Sunday 29: Program Excursion

October

Monday 7- Wednesday 10: Mid-Term Exams

Thursday 11- Sunday 20: Fall Break & National Holidays

Monday 21: Classes Resume 

November

Friday 1: National Holiday

Saturday 9: Holiday in Madrid 

Friday 15: Scheduled Academic Visit 

Friday 29: Last Day of Classes 

December

Monday 2- Thursday 5: Final Exams

Friday 6: National Holiday; End of Program for Fall Students 

Saturday 7: Fall Students Depart for the U.S.;  Christmas Break for Academic Year Students 

Spring 2025

January

Monday 6: National Holiday 

Tuesday 7: Internship Begins for Academic Year Students 

Friday 17: Spring Students Departure from U.S.

Saturday 18: Arrival in Spain

Sunday 19: Orientation begins in Malaga

Monday 20-Thursday 30: Intensive Language Course in Malaga

February

Monday 3- Tuesday 4: Orientation in Madrid

Wednesday 5: Classes begin in Madrid

March

Monday 3-Thursday 6: Mid-Term Exams

Friday 14-Sunday 16: Program Excursion

April

Friday 11- Monday 21: Spring Break

Tuesday 22: Classes Resume

Wednesday 30: Last Day of Classes

May

Thursday 1-Friday 2: National Holiday 

Monday 5-Thursday 8: Final Exams

May 10: Return to the U.S.

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Orientation

Pre-departure: The CIIS office organizes in depth orientation sessions on-campus prior to the students participation in the program. This includes a program specific session(s) in which the students will learn more about the program, local culture, academic expectations, and any other important information. There is also an orientation session lead by the CIIS office on culture shock, and what to expect, as well as safety and security while abroad.

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Program Contacts

If you are interested in learning more about the Spain program please contact one of the following people.

CIIS Coordinator: Caitlin Hatz, Director of Off-Campus Programs- Questions about program academics, eligibility, program logistics, and other off-campus opportunities.

Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Pedro Ponce - Questions about academics

Apply to Study in Spain

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