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Barcelona Summer - Language & Area Studies
$5 Million in Financial Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. We offer unique courses that explore Spanish language learning and area studies courses through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
Beginning and Intermediate Spanish students enroll in:
- A 4-credit Spanish language course plus a 3-credit area studies course taught in English
Advanced Spanish students enroll in:
- A 4-credit Spanish language course plus a 3-credit area studies course taught in Spanish or English
Area studies courses are offered in the following disciplines:
- Anthropology
- Art History
- Communications
- History
- International Business
- Political Science
IES Abroad reserves the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.
Courses
This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 223 - Great 20th Century Artists of Catalonia: Picasso, Dalí and Miró | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| AH/HS 251 - Barcelona: The Cosmopolitan City | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AN/SO 320 - Sports and Society in Spain | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC/CM 329 - Language, Culture and Communication: Hispanic Cultures and their Societies | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH/HS 251 - Barcelona: The Cosmopolitan City | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IB 350 - International Marketing: A European Approach | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC/CM 329 - Language, Culture and Communication: Hispanic Cultures and their Societies | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO 325 - Politics in Spain | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AN/SO 320 - Sports and Society in Spain | Fall, Spring, Summer | English | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| SP 101 - Spanish Language in Context: Novice Abroad I | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 102 - Spanish Language in Context: Novice Abroad II | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 201 - Spanish Language in Context: Novice Abroad III | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 301 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad I | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 302 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad II | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 351 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad I | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 4 |
| SP 444 - Creative Writing Workshop: Short Stories in Spanish | Fall, Spring, Summer | Spanish | 3 |
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Barcelona, our field trips during fall and spring semesters take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. As part of orientation, you’ll participate in a study journey, which is included in your program cost. Additional field trips are partially subsidized by IES Abroad.
Trips are organized by language level and conducted in English or Spanish accordingly. One of these trips is subsidized by IES Abroad. Additional DiscoverIES are partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations:
Costa Brava
3 Days | Summer
Visit Greek and Roman ruins, the medieval city of Girona, and the “dreamland” of Salvador Dalí between Barcelona and the French border.
La Garrotxa
1 Day | Summer
Explore volcanic terrain and hike through the forest of this northeastern county of Catalonia.
Montserrat
1 Day | Summer
Spend the day hiking the mountain of Montserrat.
Note: IES Abroad DiscoverIES destinations,activities and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Course-Related Trips
IES Abroad Barcelona organizes DiscoverIES (course-related trips) that complement what you’re learning in the classroom, and contribute to your general knowledge of Spanish culture and society.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Barcelona is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or our DiscoverIES that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
The program begins with a 1-day orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Barcelona staff, your fellow students, and the city of Barcelona. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, extra curricular activities, and health and safety are covered during this time.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the program with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
A study journey (2 days) is included. Tarragona is a past destination.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Barcelona, it will feel like home.
Homestays – Normally, two or three IES Abroad students live in a home with local residents and students share a double room. You are provided two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) while the program is in session.
Apartments – You live with three or five other IES Abroad students in double rooms. A Barcelona Cultural Companion or tutor cultural may also live in the apartment to help you with cultural integration. Apartments have fully-equipped kitchens, and meals are not provided.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
DiscoverIES
DiscoverIES are a unique blend of course-related and cultural field trips. With this hybrid experience, you have the ability to understand the culture in the context of your coursework.
With 60+ DiscoverIES per semester, you have the exciting opportunity to familiarize yourself with Barcelona through cultural activities led by IES Abroad Barcelona professors. Visit the city’s many influential buildings, learn about its one-of-a-kind history, and become part of the Spanish and Catalan culture.
DiscoverIES are also a great way to meet and spend time with other students on your program, as well as IES Abroad Barcelona staff and professors. These optional activities are either free or highly subsidized.
Some past examples of DiscoverIES may include:
- Discover the Quadrat d’Or, or Golden Square, in a guided tour in the Eixample District, an exceptional area that focuses on Barcelona’s Modernist style (Art Noveau) at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century
- Enjoy a Flamenco workshop, where you’ll learn a few basic dance steps, the history behind the dance and attire, and taste traditional Andalucían fare
- Hike Tibidabo, the tallest mountain in Serra de Collserola, tour the Modernist and Neo-Gothic Sagrat Cor Temple, and visit the oldest amusement park in Spain
- Visit an organic farm and learn about sustainability with an IES Abroad professor
Volunteer Abroad
When you volunteer in Barcelona, you have the chance to make a difference in the local community while meeting new people and gaining a new perspective on the world. If you are passionate about volunteering abroad, just let the on-site staff know at the beginning of your term. Past volunteer opportunities in Barcelona include:
- Entertain children at a cancer center
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen
- Give English lessons to underprivileged young people
- Organize food drives at local supermarkets
- Provide meals for and spend time with the elderly
Get to Know Your New City
Have Fun in the Sun
Spend time strolling and swimming under the sun along Barcelona's four miles of sandy beaches.
Hike Mount Juic
A climb up this hill offers spectacular views of the city. From here, you can also explore several great museums and the beautiful buildings from the 1992 Olympic Games.
Check Out Some Live Music
From huge festivals to hole-in-the-wall venues, playing everything from electronica to punk, there’s more to Barcelona’s music scene than its iconic Rumba Catalana.
Appreciate the Art
Home to numerous works by Pablo Picasso, the surreal sculptures of Joan Miró, and the fantastic, dreamlike architecture of Gaudi, there’s plenty of art—indoors and out—to inspire you.
Eat, Drink, and Eat Some More!
Catalan cuisine consists of savory stews, fresh seafood, delicious jamón, spicy potatoes, olives, and so much more. Wash it down with a cold orxata (a refreshing drink made from the tiger nut plant).
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
| Term | Tuition | Housing | Insurance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2019 | $4,660 | $1,405 | $135 |
$6,200 |
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$5 Million in Financial Aid
Our Center
- High-speed and wireless internet access
- Multimedia classrooms
- Study lounges with printers
- Large outdoor terrace with social and study space
Our Staff
Cèsar Alegre Alsina, Ph.D.
Center Director & AVP for Program Development
Dr. Cèsar Alegre Alsina has been the Director of our Barcelona programs since 2008. He is originally from Barcelona and speaks Spanish, Catalan, and English fluently. He brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education to IES Abroad, including a noteworthy teaching career in the United States, experience in student services, and a strong research portfolio. Before coming to IES Abroad, Dr. Alegre Alsina taught Spanish language, as well as Spanish and Hispanic Culture and Literature at Amherst College for 16 years. He is the author of a book on Hispanic Americans (Scholastic), and has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Hispanic Americans (BRG Oxford) and numerous articles and reviews in American and international journals. Dr. Alegre Alsina received his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University, his Master’s degree in Hispanic Literature at Auburn University, and his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
IES Abroad Staff
IES Abroad Staff
Samanta Ascaso
Academics Department Assistant
Lorena Chinnici
Outside Courses and Customized Programs Coordinator
Head of Registration interim
Elizabeth Ferreiro
Student Activities and DiscoverIES Specialist
Natalia Gil
Academics Department Assistant
Pilar Gracia
Administration Coordinator and DiscoverIES Coordinator
María Mejías
Language Faculty Advisor
Beatriz Moya
Student Affairs Assistant
Salvador Ortiz
Head of Administration and Human Resources
María Paéz
Internship, Service Learning and Volunteering Specialist
Ignasi Pérez
Area Studies Faculty Advisor
Noemí Polo
Student Affairs Coordinator - Health and Safety, Homestays
Ataúlfo Portela
Language Faculty Advisor
María Romero
Assistant Dean of Faculty and Faculty Advisor Coordinator
Olga Sánchez
Head of Student Affairs
Beatriz Taberner
Center Administrator and Orientation Coordinator
Ana Tarife
Internship, Service Learning, and Volunteering Coordinator
Ferran Terés
Student Affairs Coordinator - Apartments
Laura Vázquez
Language Faculty Advisor of Educational Technology
Alex Walker
Assitant Director and Dean of Faculty
Latest from Barcelona
Contact a Past Participant
From budgeting tips to housing insight, 500+ IES Abroad Ambassadors volunteer their study abroad experiences and advice.
