Students spend eight weeks living, studying, and interning in one of Europe’s most vibrant commercial centers. This intensive program, which takes place at the Instituto Internacional en España, combines a professional internship with a liberal arts course. All students have the unique opportunity to experience life in a Spanish homestay.
Requirements & Considerations
- Open to students who have completed a minimum of five semesters of college-level Spanish language or the equivalent
- Admission requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Required Courses
Students enroll in one of the following courses and the internship course. Each course carries four credits. Students must enroll for a total of eight credits.
Note: Course offerings vary and may not be offered every summer. Electives taught in Spanish carry a language pre-requisite of 5 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent.
Required Course List
- CAS LS 241 Cultures of Spain: Past and Present (4)
- An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. Instruction begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students’ fluency increases. Course content is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and others.
- Syllabus
- CAS LS 312 Spanish Through Cultural Destinations: Madrid en Vivo (4)Effective
Fall '23- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- 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.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 364 Art and Architecture in Madrid: 1561–Today (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity and Innovation
- 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.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 350 Introduction to Analysis of Hispanic Texts: Exploring Madrid through Literature (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Development of techniques for reading and interpreting Hispanic literary texts; reading of lyric poetry, drama, and fictional narrative.
- Taught in Spanish
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS SP 345 Contemporary Spanish Politics (4)
- This course aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of recent Spanish history and it’s political systems. Following chronological order, the major historical and political events will be explained, without losing perspective of their social and economic consequences, while always trying keeping an eye on the big picture and changes that the country has undergone in the last decades.
- Taught in Spanish
- Syllabus
Internship Area
Please note that the following are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed. Certain placements may require fluency in the target language.
Internship Areas
- Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Study marketing techniques, media, and consumer behavior while working in the marketing/PR department of a Spanish company, multinational firm, or advertising agency. Previous internship placements have included OM Premium, Procter & Gamble, Elipse Iniciativas, IFEMA (convention center), and JBan.
- Arts/Arts Administration
- Study the current art market in Madrid. Learn about the funding bodies that support the arts and work in one of Madrid’s art galleries, museums, preservation projects, or local arts centers. Past internship placements have included Galería Durán, Museo de Artes Decorativas, and Sotheby’s.
- Business/Economics
- Study the current economic, political, and social issues affecting Spain and work in an organization with an economic dimension. Past internship placements have included American Express, AFI, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Vista Capital.
- Film/Radio/Television
- Study communications and society in Madrid and work for one of the radio and television stations or film production companies. Past internship placements have included Boca a Boca Films, Eco Casting, Madrid Film, Lua, Dos Mundos TV, and Rioja Films.
- Hospitality/Tourism
- Study Spanish culture and the Spanish tourism industry. Students intern in hotels, restaurants, and the travel industry. Past internships have included Groupo Zena, Hotel Villa Real, Forocio, and CEA.
- Journalism
- Study news media in the context of the political, cultural, and social life of Madrid by participating in the daily life of a newspaper, magazine, publishing house, or a broadcast news organization. Past internship placements have included The Broadsheet, Rolling Stone, In Madrid, Lips, and Associated Press Bureau Madrid.
- International Organizations/NGOs
- Work in social activist organizations, environmental organizations, human rights organizations, and associated government departments. Past internship placements have included Amigos de la Tierra, World Tourism Organization (WTO), Hombre y Tierra, and Mundo Cooperante.
- Politics/International Relations
- Study the issues and institutions of Madrid’s political culture and work in a political setting, including Parliament, party organizations, lobbying groups, or political public relations agencies. Past internship placements have included Embassy of México (commercial office), Embassy of the United States (commercial office), Office of European Commission, INCIPE, and UNICEF.
- Pre-law
- Study the history and practice of the Spanish law in Madrid and participate in the daily life of an NGO working in human rights and immigration law. Past internship placements have included Bufete J. Ruiz and Hombre y Tierra.
- Health/Human Services
- Study health care and human services issues and participate in the daily work life of hospital rehabilitation, therapy, or education programs; health center administration; social service departments; community care centers; or social activist organizations. Past internship placements have included Cento de Mujeres Progesistas, Hospital de la Zarsuela, Interlab, Centro Dato, and PharmaGen.
Internship Course
Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and a four-credit internship course, which includes a classroom component. Placements are contingent upon the student’s past experience, professional interest, and available opportunities in any given semester; flexibility is essential. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
Internship Courses
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
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- Individual in CommunityThis course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
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- COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising/Public Relations (4)
- CAS AH 505 Internship in Arts/Architecture (4)
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics (4)
- COM FT 493 Internship in Film/TV (4)
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration (4)
- COM JO 412 Internship in Journalism (4)
- CAS PO 401/IR 451 Internship in Politics (4)
- CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law (4)
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations (4)
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health/Human Services (4)
Housing & Student Services
Local Homestay
- Individual bedrooms in local family home. Each room has a bed, a desk, and some storage space. Linens are provided and washed regularly. Kitchen access is not guaranteed. Students will have the ability to reheat food.
- Board included: All meals (3 meals per day/ 7 days per week) will be provided by the host family. A packed lunch will be provided by the host family if the student is unable to commute home for lunch.
- Host families provide laundry, internet.
Program Dates
- Summer Term: Mid-May to early-July
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Summer Semester
- Applications Open December 1
- Applications Deadline March 1
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- Summer 2024 Tuition and Fees: $10,115
Cost includes tuition, housing, board, field trips, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses for Summer 2024
- Grants and Scholarships available
- BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Atlantic group flight that is not included in the program fee. We recommend that students take this flight.
