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The Spain Program is designed for those seeking to develop considerable fluency in Spanish while studying the historical and contemporary cultural diversity of Spain through a variety of disciplines such as history, art and literature.
The program is based in Granada, Andalucía. While Granada has been an urban center since about the 5th century BCE, much of its cultural and historical legacy comes from the Nazrid emirate during the 13th‐16th centuries, a community in which cultural diversity (Christian, Jewish and Muslim) thrived. Contemporary Granada is the epicenter of the emerging Andalusian Renaissance in which the city is again celebrating its multicultural inheritance and continuing diverse demography, including viable populations Romani, North Africans and Latin Americans.
Students will live with and take all meals with Spanish families in Granada throughout the program. Living with host families enhances the language acquisition process and reinforces the cultural immersion experience.
There will be many opportunities to travel to various locations in Spain, both with the group and independently. Group day excursions in and around Granada will include the Alpujarras region, as well as the cities of Córdoba and Sevilla. Overnight trips may include Madrid and the Castilian region, Barcelona/Catalunya and Mérida/Extremadura. A trip to Andalusian Morocco is also planned.
Students accepted for participation in the program are required to participate in orientation sessions prior to departure. Orientation will prepare the students for the cross-cultural experience and may include readings, films, lectures, discussions with former participants, and information related to health and diet. Students receive 1 semester hour credit for the orientation after successfully completing the program.
Students will earn a total of 18 semester hour credits for successful completion of the program. All courses will be taught in Spanish by faculty from the University of Valencia. Courses may include:
The Field Study allows students to become observers and active participants in a very important aspect of Valencia life, the falla. The fallas are a very important part of the culture and social fabric of Valencia. They are the major festival of the city in the spring and the associations that organize the fallas work together all year throughout the city. Student involvement in the fallas provides insights into the function of the festival in Valencian society and integrates them into a community of people working together. In addition, the field study serves as an excellent language immersion experience for the students
The program will cost the same as one semester of on-campus charges. The program covers academic and educational costs, and includes field excursions and other group activities as well as room and board while on the academic portion of the program. A deposit of $350 is required after acceptance into the program, which is a part of the total cost. Students on financial aid may apply their aid to one Earlham or GLCA-recognized off-campus program during their college career.
Each student will need to plan for additional money to cover round-trip airfare, personal expenses such as books, passport, and costs for the independent travel period during breaks. A passport is necessary for travel to Spain.
Students are responsible for arranging flights to and from Spain.
The language requirement for the program is Spanish 301 or the equivalent. It is strongly suggested that students take or audit Spanish 456 (Peninsular narrative) offered in the fall semester. Undergraduate students in good academic standing may apply. Majors from all disciplines are welcome.
