The Catholic University of America

Barcelona, Spain
The Liberal Arts and Business Program with IES Abroad

Dates
Introduction
The City
Facilities
Academics & Curriculum
Accommodation & Meals
Program Costs
Eligibility
How To Apply
Application Deadlines
Contact

View of Barcelona

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

Introduction
The IES Abroad Barcelona Liberal Arts & Business Program welcomes students interested in experiencing the excitement of life in Barcelona while learning Spanish or improving your Spanish skills. Barcelona's artistic heritage and Catalonian culture provide an excellent backdrop for immersing in Spanish Culture, as well as international relations and business.

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 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. Students will be grouped into a language proficiency-based track that determines your course enrollment options: Beginning, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, and Advanced level Spanish.

Students will also enroll in Area Studies courses, taught in English, such as Art, Communications, Economics, History, International Relations, Psychology, Political Science, Religious Studies, 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 breakfast and dinner, Monday through Friday.
  • 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 or residence hall (no meals in apartment)
• 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. Knowledge of the Spanish language is not 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
• 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

map of Barcelona