Granada - Study in Granada | IES Abroad

Why Granada?

Many travelers who visit Granada insist it’s the must-see city in all of Spain. With one of the clearest windows into Spain’s unique historical symbiosis of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, Granada is also a youthful city with a vibrant student life that will make meeting new friends even easier—Granada awaits!

What You'll Study

Our curriculum takes full advantage of Andalusia and all southern Spain has to offer. The program offers two unique program options that are designed to improve your Spanish proficiency: the Intermediate Spanish Program and Advanced Spanish Program.

Students placed in the Intermediate Program take IES Abroad courses in both English and Spanish. The Advanced Program courses are conducted entirely in Spanish, including study at the Universidad de Granada. Both options introduce you to Spain’s Moorish heritage and Jewish past, and its continuing links to North Africa through Islamic and Contemporary North African Studies. Advanced students can also experience Arabic language courses of all levels, at the Universidad de Granada. You can also add international work experience to your résumé while earning credit by participating in an internship placement and accompanying academic seminar.

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Daily Life

Granada will also be your classroom. Explore the last capital of Moorish Spain: visit the Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, and the Generalife, an impressive garden just nearby. When you’re not learning about the history of this fascinating city, enjoy tapas with new friends, visit the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains for a ski trip and observe Granada’s treasured Spanish-Muslim art.

We want you to feel at home in Granada, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing to cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.

Learn more about daily life in Granada from 2018 Study abroad Film Festival Semi-Finalist Andie Ayala in her film, Soy Fanny.

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

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 a variety of courses that help you explore and better understand Spanish language, history, and culture, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. World-class professors and course options at the prestigious Universidad de Granada enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class. Meet one of these professors, Hala Jadid al Kash, in this faculty spotlight interview.

While in Granada, you take 15–19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. Craft your own academic experience according to the program in which you enroll by selecting from the following required and optional components:

Intermediate Program (2 semesters of college-level Spanish)

IES Abroad Spanish course (required, 6 credits)
IES Abroad English-taught area studies courses (9–12 credits)

Advanced Program (4 semesters of college-level Spanish)

IES Abroad Spanish course (required, 4 credits)
IES Abroad Spanish-taught area studies courses (3–15 credits)
Universidad de Granada courses (3–6 credits)

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.

Art History
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AH 331 - Islamic Art and Architecture of Spain and its Impact	Fall, Spring	English	3
AH 335 - Islamic Art and Architecture of Spain and its Impact	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Anthropology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN 362 - The Spanish Experience of the Other	Fall	Spanish	3
HL/AN 357 - Health, Culture and Global Society	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Biological Sciences
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
BL/ES 325 - Mediterranean Ecosystems	Fall, Spring	English	3

Communications
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
CM 367 - The Role of Social and Mass Media in Political Change in the Arab World	Spring	Spanish	3
CM 377 - The Role of Media in Social and Political Change in the Middle East and North Africa	Fall, Spring	English	3
CM 389 - Special Topics: The Role of Media in Social and Political Change in the Middle East and North Africa	Fall	English	3
CM/IF 275 - Management of Digital Identities and Technologies	Fall, Spring	English	3

Cultural Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
US/CU 389 - Special Topics: Granada, City of Arts and Urban Culture	Spring	Spanish	3

Economics
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
EC 332 - Spain and the European Union	Spring	Spanish	3
IR/EC 356 - Spain and the International Economic Institutions	Fall	Spanish	3

Environmental Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
BL/ES 325 - Mediterranean Ecosystems	Fall, Spring	English	3

Fine Arts
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
FA 218 - Watercolor Workshop: Landscape in Granada	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Film Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
FS 348 - History of Spanish Cinema	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
WS/FS 321 - Images of Women in Mediterranean Film	Fall	English	3

Health Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HL/AN 357 - Health, Culture and Global Society	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

History
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
RL/HS 344 - Islamic Civilization in Spain and North Africa until 1492	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
RL/HS 372 - Memory and Identity of Sephardic Jews	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Information Systems
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
CM/IF 275 - Management of Digital Identities and Technologies	Fall, Spring	English	3

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN 395 - Internship Seminar	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

International Relations
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IR 330 - The Arab World and the West	Fall, Spring	English	3
IR/EC 356 - Spain and the International Economic Institutions	Fall	Spanish	3
PO/IR 384 - Democracy, Populism and Public Opinion in the European Union	Spring	English	3

Literature
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT 359 - Lorca and the Andalusian Literary Tradition	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
LT 360 - Contemporary Spanish Theatre	Spring	Spanish	3
WS/LT 362 - Women in Mediterranean Literature	Spring	English	3

Music
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
MS 361 - Flamenco: History and Dance	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Political Science
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO 331 - The Mediterranean Policy Of Spain And The European Union	Fall	Spanish	3
PO/IR 384 - Democracy, Populism and Public Opinion in the European Union	Spring	English	3
SO/PO 385 - Democracy, Gender and Multiculturalism	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
SO/PO 389 - Special Topics: Democracy, Gender and Multiculturalism	Fall	Spanish	3

Psychology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PS 360 - Cross Cultural Psychology	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Religious Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
RL/HS 344 - Islamic Civilization in Spain and North Africa until 1492	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
RL/HS 372 - Memory and Identity of Sephardic Jews	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Sociology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
SO/PO 385 - Democracy, Gender and Multiculturalism	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3
SO/PO 389 - Special Topics: Democracy, Gender and Multiculturalism	Fall	Spanish	3

Spanish
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
SP 301 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	Spanish	6
SP 303 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad Level II	Fall, Spring	Spanish	6
SP 351 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 352 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad II	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 353 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad III	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 401 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad I	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 403 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad II	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4

Urban Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
US/CU 389 - Special Topics: Granada, City of Arts and Urban Culture	Spring	Spanish	3

Women's Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
WS/FS 321 - Images of Women in Mediterranean Film	Fall	English	3
WS/LT 362 - Women in Mediterranean Literature	Spring	English	3

Partner Institution(s)

About Universidad de Granada
www.ugr.es
The Universidad de Granada is the third largest university in Spain. It was founded by Charles V in the early 16th century and evolved from the Quaramic Madrasah, founded in 1349. It is a dynamic and forward-thinking institution, offering diverse opportunities that attract the highest number of exchange students from universities all over Europe. The new Campus de la Salud, created by the Andalusian government and the Universidad de Granada, brings together the private sector and university faculties for health care research. The university sponsors many programs, sports clubs, and cultural activities, such as concerts and film series.

Courses
All IES Abroad Granada students are registered as students of the Universidad de Granada. If you enroll in the advanced program, you are strongly encouraged to take at least one course there. Course offerings vary from semester to semester.

Courses are available in the following disciplines.

To get an idea of what courses may be available, search courses by grado (degree) on the University's Grados site.

Anthropology
Arabic Language
Art History
Biology
Business
Computer Science
Economics
Education
Environmental Studies
Geography
Health Sciences
History
Language
Literature
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology

Location and Commute Time
The UGR has seven campuses; the Central Campus, The Health Campus and the Campuses of Cartuja, Fuentenueva, and Aynadamar in Granada. There are two additional campuses in the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla. All local Granada campuses are 10-15 minutes walking from the IES Abroad Granada Center, except the Cartuja Campus (15 minutes away by bus).

Internships

Interning abroad as part of your study abroad experience will help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive market. It’s an exhilarating challenge, and we’re here to help guide you in securing your placement and succeeding in your internship.

Participating in an internship abroad helps you:

Add international experience to your résumé
Gain real work experience and skills
Build your confidence

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.

Available Fields:
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—new internships are always being added.

Applied Economics
Cultural Management
Education
Health Sciences
International Relations
Social Services
Tourism

Field Trips & Events

Even though your adventure starts in Granada, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. The one- and two-day trips are included in your program fee. Our breathtaking five-day trip to Morocco is partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations.

Cabo de Gata
1-2 Days | Fall & Spring
Hike through this gorgeous national park, characterized by its volcanic rock formations and beaches

Córdoba
1 Day | Fall & Spring
Visit the great Mosque of Córdoba, the House of Sepharad, and other local sites.

Seville and Ronda
2 Days | Fall & Spring
Visit the Cathedral, the Alcazares, and the historic quarter in Seville. Ronda is a quaint city perched above the cliffs with a breathtaking view of the Guadalerín River.

La Alpujarra
1 Day | Fall & Spring
Hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and their unspoiled Medieval villages.

Morocco
5 Days | Fall & Spring
Cross the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco. Travel to Tangier, Assilah, Rabat, the Rif Mountains, and Chefchaouen. While in Morocco, you will truly experience Moroccan culture by staying with local families and interacting with local university students and professors.

Daily Life

Part of making you feel at home in Granada 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 field trips that take you places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.

Orientation

The program begins with a mandatory 10-day orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Granada staff, your fellow students, and the city of Granada. Local university students join as orientation leaders who will help you to better understand the culture and make you feel like a local.

Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.

The IES Abroad Granada Center staff organizes local tours around the city. In addition, you spend two days in Málaga during orientation, take a one-day trip to an Andalusian National Park, and a two-day trip to Ronda and Seville. During this time, you also receive intensive Spanish language instruction.

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 Granada, it will feel like home.

Homestays – Live in a Spanish home and eat two meals a day with your hosts while your program is in session. With locations throughout Granada, homestays may offer single or double rooms. In some cases, more than one IES Abroad student may be placed in each home.

Dorm House – This small, family-run housing opportunity located in the heart of Granada includes 18 meals (Monday through Saturday), with no meals on Sundays and holidays. In the Dorm House, you’ll have a single room with a shared bathroom. This housing option is suitable for independent-minded students with a high level of Spanish language, who are comfortable being proactive when meeting Spanish students and integrating into local student culture. Placements are limited.

Colegios Mayores – Each Colegio Mayor has its own unique social and academic environment, as well as a deep sense of belonging. This single sex housing option includes up to 18 meals per week, and typically has rooms with single occupancy and a shared bath. It is ideal for outgoing students with a high level of Spanish language who want to integrate into local student culture, participate in Colegio activities, and are willing to abide by the rules of the Colegio. Placements are limited.

Residence Hall - An independent Residence Hall in the heart of Granada which provides 17 meals per week, and it features common spaces and a basic gym. Placements are limited.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Granada through our cultural and volunteering activities, such as:

Reading La Agenda - the IES Granada activity blog with interesting suggestions to enjoy yourself like a local every week! Music, sports, exhibitions, movies...
Participating in workshops (cooking, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, leather, ceramics...)
Helping in local organizations: food bank, planting trees, teaching English...
Joining the local youth center and clubs
Attending open mic nights

University Clubs & Events
The University of Granada sponsors many programs, sports clubs, and cultural activities, such as concerts and film series. All IES Granada students, even those who do not register for courses at the University, receive a Universidad de Granada student identity card. This entitles you not only to enroll in courses at the University, but also allows you to participate in university clubs and sports programs, and all other activities appropriate to your period of study in Spain.

Get to Know Your New City

Take in a 360° View

Get a bird’s eye view of the city and surrounding area (including spectacular views of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada), while listening to musicians play guitar at the Mirador de San Nicolás.

Gain a New Perspective

Get involved with the small community through volunteer work.

Trek Sierra Nevada

Granada is at the foothills of this iconic mountain range, making it the perfect place to set off from on a hike.

Practice Your Language Skills

Befriend a local university student through your intercambio language partner.

Just Explore

The sunny Andalusia region has so much to offer. Outside of beautiful Granada, Seville, Málaga, and Gibraltar are all worth exploring.

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: Spring 2020
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Spring 2020	$11,535	$3,230	$230	$14,995

Term: Fall 2019
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Fall 2019 Academic Year	$11,535 $20,750	$3,230 $6,460	$230 $455	$14,995 $27,665

Scholarships & Aid

Program-Specific Scholarships

Dr. William Louis Gaines Need-Based History or International Relations Scholarship

Up to $1,875; awarded to 4-6 students each year

This scholarship is named in honor of Dr. William Louis Gaines, President of IES Abroad from 1974-1992. Dr. Gaines was dedicated to strengthening IES Abroad's academic framework, broadening the scope of IES Abroad locations, and securing the financial foundation of the organization.

Open to students majoring in History or International Relations.

William E. & Mary M. Dwyer Need-Based Spanish Scholarship

Ranges up to $1,000; awarded to 4-6 students each year

These scholarships are intended for students interested in studying in a Spanish-speaking country.

Kathleen Kervin Diamond Endowed Scholarship

Up to $2,000 each; awarded to 4-6 students each year

Kathleen Diamond is a consultant, entrepreneur, and business leader in the language services industry. In 1979, she founded Language Learning Enterprises, Inc. (LLE®), a full-service language company based in Washington, D.C. She is recognized as an early pioneer in Telephone Interpreting, launching LLE-LINK in the early 1990s. Over the next 20 years, under her leadership, the company grew into a dynamic, multimillion dollar corporation, serving a wide range of clients, in both the private and public sectors, across the United States, and worldwide. In 2009, Ms.

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

Learn More

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

Our Center

The IES Abroad Granada Center is ideally located in the heart of Granada on Plaza Nueva. It has a spectacular view of the Alhambra and is close to several schools of the Universidad de Granada. Features include:

High-speed Internet, printing, and scanning access
A beautiful terrace overlooking the city and Alhambra
Several classrooms, a student lounge, and a library
Traditional Andalusian patio and fountain

faculty-spotlight-rev3-black resized.png

Read our interview with Hala Jadid al Kash!

Our Staff

Javier Martínez de Velasco, Ph.D.

Center Director

Dr. Javier Martínez de Velasco has been the Director of the Granada Program since 2005. He received his doctorate in Hispanic Literature from the University of Kansas with a concentration in International Theater, and his Bachelor’s in English Philology from Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. He was a professor at Central Washington University, including the William O. Douglas Honors College, from 1994 to 2002, teaching Hispanic and Latin American Literature and Spanish. He developed a Spanish language program for Spanish Speakers at CWU and directed CWU’s Summer Program with the University of La Coruña in Galicia, Spain. As a complement to his academic work, he is an accomplished theater director.