CUAbroad

Barcelona, Spain
The Advanced Spanish Studies Program with IES Abroad

Dates
Fall semester: September 1 - Mid-December, 2009
Spring semester: January 7 - Mid-May, 2010

Introduction
The IES Abroad Barcelona Advanced Spanish Studies Program invites students with advanced Spanish language skills the opportunity to study Spanish among students of a similar skill level while living in one of Spain's most vibrant cities. While living with local residents and traveling to exciting locations in Spain and Morocco, students will gain a better understanding of Spanish langauge, life, and culture.

The City
Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous province of Catalonia, and one of the most prosperous areas in contemporary Spain. A major cultural center since the Middle Ages, it styles itself Catalan, Spanish, European, and international. Barcelona has been home to prominent 20th century artists like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, and the experimental works of the modernist architect Antoni Gaudi, and is also considered Spain's business capital.

Facilities
The IES Abroad Barcelona Center is located in the heart of downtown Barcelona, near Plaza Catalunya. It is within walking distance of many historic Barcelona sites, and offers wireless Internet access. The IES Abroad Center also has many desktop computers for you to use during Center hours.

The IES Abroad Center contains a small library with research materials and access to online collections of complete books, journals, and articles for student use. Students enrolled at outside universities have borrowing privileges at the university libraries.

Academics and Curriculum
Students will enroll in 15 credits, equivalent to a full time course load a CUA. After taking an online Spanish language assessment, students will be grouped into a language proficiency-based track that determines your course enrollment options: Advanced I, Advanced II, and Spanish for Heritage Speakers and Bilinguals.

Students may also enroll in Area Studies courses, taught in Spanish, such as Art, Communications, History, International Relations, Literature, and more. Hispanic Studies courses are also available through local universities. A listing of the course options can be found on IES Barcelona's Course Offerings website.

To supplement the students' studies,various field trips, study tours, and extracurricular activities are organized throughout the semester.

Accommodation and Meals
Students may choose between three housing options in Barcelona:

• Homestay with a local Spanish Family. This includes 14 meals per week.
• Student Apartment, living with three to five other students. All apartments have fully equipped kitchens, and no meals are provided. Additional fees may apply.
• Residence Hall, living with one or two international or Spanish students. Meal plan options are available, and vary, depending on the residence. Additional fees may apply.

Program Costs
CUA tuition and a $5,000 program fee to cover most overseas expenses. Round-trip airfare, some meals, passport, visa, field trips and excursions, required cell phone, and personal expenses are not included. Contact CUAbroad for an estimated cost breakdown sheet.

What's included
• Tuition
• Housing and some meals if in homestay
• IES Abroad on-site staff support
• On-site orientation and all pre-departure advising and services in the US.
• Emergency evacuation insurance
• An official CUA transcript for non-CUA participants

Note on IES Abroad and cell phones: Since IES Abroad is first and foremost committed to student safety and security, we require you to have a cellular phone while enrolled in our programs. Throughout the program's entirety, you will be required to have your cell phone turned on, charged, and with you at all times to enable IES Abroad staff and/or family to reach you in the event of an emergency. IES Abroad staff members use students' cell phone numbers to broadcast text messages with instructions during emergency situations.

IES Abroad gives you the option of obtaining a cell phone while still in the U.S. or once you arrive at your program location. You choose your own cell phone provider and negotiate the best terms and conditions for the cellular service you choose. Once admitted to an IES abroad program, you will receive further information about acquiring your cell phone.

Eligibility
Applicants must have completed three semesters of college-level study by the time the program begins, enrolled full-time at the time of application and in good academic standing, and not on disciplinary probation. A minimum cumulative G.P.A. requirement is 2.8. A minimum of 4 semesters of Spanish is required.

How to Apply
All applicants must follow the CUAbroad application guidelines and submit the CUAbroad online application with all required supplementary documentation. For details, please click on the How to Apply guidelines link.

Additional application materials to submit to CUAbroad:
• IES Online application
• IES Authorization and Evaluation Form
• IES Foreign Language Assessment Form
• For Students with GPAs lower than 3.0 only, the IES Professor Recommendation Form, and a personal essay addressing your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, and goals for studying abroad.

Application Deadlines
Spring semester: October 1
Fall semester: March 1

Questions? Contact Madison Bolls, CUAbroad Program Manager