Madrid Spanish & European Studies Summer Curriculum
Curriculum
This six-week program takes place at the Instituto Internacional where students enroll in two courses. All students must enroll in one Language Course and one Elective Course.
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Language Courses
Students will be placed in one of the following language courses depending on their proficiency level.
CAS LS 211 Third-Semester Spanish
Prerequisite: two terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Completes study of grammatical structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Reading in Hispanic civilization and of contemporary short stories. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
CAS LS 212 Fourth-Semester Spanish
Prerequisite: three terms of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture with frequent compositions.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Individual in Community
CAS LS 312 Spanish Through Cultural Destinations: Madrid en Vivo/Paseando por Madrid
Students will further develop their oral and written skills allowing them to flourish within the Spanish-speaking world. They will become familiar with the city of Madrid through immersion in its history, neighborhoods, art, literature, and its cultural and social peculiarities.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Oral and/or Signed Communication
Teamwork/Collaboration
Elective Courses
Students enroll in one of the following electives, which are taught in either Spanish or in English. The language of instruction is determined each term based on enrollment and language level of students. At least one elective course will be taught in English and one in Spanish.
Note: Elective course offerings vary and may not be offered every summer. Electives taught in Spanish carry a language pre-requisite of 5 terms of college-level Spanish or equivalent.
CAS AH 364 Art and Architecture in Madrid: 1561-Today
Taught in Spanish
Survey of architecture, sculpture, and painting in Madrid, and how these fit in the broader frame of European styles and historical context, 1561–present. Key theories in art history are introduced, giving students a broader perspective on critical approaches to art.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Creativity and Innovation
Aesthetic Exploration
CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts
Taught in Spanish.
Development of techniques for reading and interpreting Hispanic literary texts; reading of lyric poetry, drama, and fictional narrative.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Aesthetic Exploration
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
CAS HI 342/RN 353 Camino de Santiago: A Pilgrim’s Way Yesterday and Today
Taught in English/Spanish.
Note: This course is not available in Summer 2026 but will be open Summer 2027.
This course provides a comprehensive approach to the phenomenon of the Camino de Santiago, integrating historical, cultural, social, and contemporary perspectives to offer students a well-rounded understanding of this significant European pilgrimage route.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Historical Consciousness
Writing Intensive
Creativity/Innovation
CAS RN 327/CAS HI 327/CAS JS 357 Sephardic Jewish History
Taught in English
Included in the Hub Social and Racial Justice Pathway.
This course explores the long arc of Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish) Jewish history, from the Jews’ settlement in “Hispania” during ancient Roman times, to their participation in the medieval societies and cultures of Islamic Al-Andalus and the Christian kingdoms, their expulsion and forced conversions in 1492 (Spain) and 1496 (Portugal), and the subsequent development of a global diasporic Sephardi culture that remains vibrant into the present.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Historical Consciousness
The Individual in Community
Teamwork/Collaboration
Fall Only
CAS EC 391 International Trade
Prerequisites: CAS EC 201
This course analyzes the causes and consequences of international trade with a focus on USMCA (formerly NAFTA) and the European Union. Students will be equipped with the tools of trade theory to be able to analyze broader topics related to globalization: multinational production, foreign direct investment, outsourcing, and migration. The course will conclude with a comprehensive analysis of the effects of globalization on the labor market.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Social Inquiry II
Spring Only
CAS LS 421 Language and Gender: A Spanish Perspective
Prerequisites: Any 300-level Spanish language course or placement exam results, and First Year Writing Seminar (e.g. CAS WR 100 or WR 120)
This course explores the relationship between gender and Spanish language, examining how vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and even profanity reveal attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and power. Topics include machismo, feminist linguistic interventions, LGBTQ+ language practices, and the emergence of non-binary Spanish.
