As you study the human mind and behavior, what better way to learn more about yourself and others than living and learning abroad in Salamanca?
Designed for Psychology majors or minors, our Psychology Program is a collaboration between IES Abroad and the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, a prestigious university well known for its Psychology Studies. Courses will be taken at the IES Abroad Salamanca Center and Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, and will be taught in English. You’ll be able to practice your Spanish skills with a mandatory language course while in Salamanca.
Salamanca and beyond will be your classroom. The program also offers a variety of cultural activities and field trips to enhance the student experience. Get involved in activities like language exchange gatherings and “escape room” with local students, open mic, movie nights, pot luck with host families, yoga workshops, salsa and flamenco dance lessons, cooking classes, paella dinner, sport events, and local theater performances that will enrich your academic experience in Salamanca.
While adding study abroad to your résumé is impressive enough, adding an education internship during the spring semester is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive market. Service learning placements, which vary depending on level of Spanish, are also available in the fall semester if you would like to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society.
We want you to feel at home in Salamanca, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From internships to cultural activities, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.
For students enrolled in IES Abroad courses only
For students enrolled in Partner University courses
Schedules for final exams or coursework deadlines are not available until students are on-site. All students must depart IES Abroad housing the day after their last final exam. For that reason, it is recommended that students purchase airline tickets with open-ended or flexible return date policies.
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 Psychology, Spanish language, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.
You enroll in 15–19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. Credits awarded for supplementary university courses vary.
Craft your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional components:
*Please note that service learning placement options vary depending on level of Spanish.
Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (UPSA)www.upsa.es UPSA was originally founded in the 13th century but closed in the mid-1800s. In 1940, the school was re-established and has continued to broaden its academic offerings with new opportunities for degrees and fields of study.
Courses
The following English-taught courses in psychology are confirmed for 2018-19:
Affective and Sexual Development (Fall)
Positive Psychology: Coping Skills, Positive Emotions and Strengths of Character (Spring)
Gender, Equality and Sexuality in Spain (Semester TBD)
*Syllabi for these courses will be posted here soon.
Location & Commute Time UPSA is five minutes away from Salamanca's historic Plaza Mayor and has numerous departments and university schools spread out among the Salamanca campus. UPSA also has departments and schools in Madrid and throughout twelve Spanish provinces.
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 Salamanca, it will feel like home.
*Homestays – The homestay option for this program is only available for students who petition for this or need this option because it is mandatory for their home school. Otherwise, housing will be in the university residence hall.
Residence Halls – All rooms are singles with an en-suite bathroom and a shared kitchenette. The residence hall features a weight room, laundry facilities, computer lab, study area, and game room. IES Abroad provides you with 14 meals per week. You'll receive a meal card to use in various university dining halls. Placement in the residence hall is limited.
Part of making you feel at home in Salamanca 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 the field trips that take you places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
The program begins with a mandatory orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Salamanca staff, your fellow students, and the city of Salamanca. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, 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 semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
You will participate in a one-credit Spanish language orientation course that includes intensive classes in Spanish conversation and colloquial usage.
Past orientation activities have included dance classes, a soccer tournament with Spanish students, and an excursion to Segovia, known for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture and for having one of the best preserved Roman aqueducts in all of Europe. You also visit the charming Romanesque town of Zamora and the famous wine region of Toro. The program is designed to integrate you into every aspect of life in Salamanca.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Salamanca through our cultural events, such as:
Orientation Leaders and MentorsParticipate in activities organized by Spanish volunteer students from our partner universities. Whether it's an international potluck, a pickup game of soccer, or a tour of the city's best restaurants you will gain a unique perspective into student life in Salamanca and create lifelong friendships.
University Clubs & EventsInvolvement in sporting clubs and student societies can be a great opportunity to meet local students. Club and event availability for IES Abroad students at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca varies each semester; during your orientation, you will learn about the different opportunities available during your semester in Salamanca.
Even though your adventure starts in Salamanca, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of the Iberian Peninsula. Each trip is fully or partially subsidized by IES Abroad. Here are a few possible destinations.
Camino de Santiago5 Days | FallExperience one of the oldest and most unique pilgrimage routes in Europe that ends at the site of the remains of St. James, one of the 12 apostles.
Sevilla & Granada3 Days | FallExplore the famous cathedral in Sevilla and the Alhambra in Granada—the greatest monument of Moorish architecture in Spain.
Segovia1 Day | Fall & SpringSegovia is known for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture and for having one of the longest and best preserved Roman aqueducts in all of Europe.
Zamora1 Day | Fall & SpringTour a winery and see the largest collection of Romanesque churches in all of Europe.
Portugal3 Days | SpringVisit the oldest Portuguese University in Coimbra, the monastery of Jeronimos in Lisbon, and the Basilica of Fatima.
Sanabria Lake3 Days | SpringHike through this natural park with local guides and explore the history and the legend of this lake on the Helios Cousteau, the first solar-wind powered boat.
Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
About the Center
The IES Abroad Salamanca Center is located in the core of the city, near the Plaza Mayor and the historic campuses of the Universidad de Salamanca and Universidad Pontificia. Features include:
faculty-spotlight-rev3-black resized.png Read our interview with Dr. José Ramón Matito Fernández!
Originally from the United States, Barbara Liberatore has been living and working in Salamanca for over 20 years. She is fluent in Spanish and Italian. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and her Master’s degree in Italian Studies from Brown University where she also held a teaching assistantship. Barbara brings to IES Abroad more than 20 years of experience in teaching, management, and supervision in international education. She taught in Brown University’s Summer Intensive English Program for many years, worked as Assistant Director for the University of Rhode Island’s Summer Study Abroad Program in Salamanca, and directed other study abroad programs there before beginning with IES Abroad.
IES Abroad StaffMaría Ángeles Tabárez de DiosAcademic and Administrative Coordinator
David Artime HolgadoStudent Affairs Coordinator
Yolanda LópezHousing Coordinator
Fees coming soon.
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