Designed for students with at least 3 and not more than 4 semesters of Spanish (or equivalent), this semester or academic year program helps students make rapid progress in the language as they take area studies courses related to Europe and Spain. Housing in Spanish-speaking homes, as well as supplementary visits and excursions, help to promote program objectives of linguistic development and cultural immersion. This program is administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) on behalf of an academic consortium of which the University of Iowa is a member. UI participants on the program join a group of students from other U.S. colleges and universities.

Academic Program

The Language and Culture program is designed for students who have completed 3-4 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent and have achieved a high intermediate or low advanced level of proficiency prior to participation. Students who successfully complete the program will have advanced approximately two semesters to a level equivalent to high intermediate or low advanced, depending on their level upon entry, their effort and attitude, and the complementary elective classes that they choose.

Established in 1985, the Language and Culture program gives students the ability to take electives in Spanish, which are carefully designed to progressively advance their ability to understand and communicate concepts and ideas related to university level academic work in areas such as Hispanic studies, art history, cinema, international management, and political science.

All students take an intensive Spanish language course during the first three weeks of the program, then continue the semester with two Spanish language courses and two area studies courses taught in Spanish.

UI students earn resident credit which may be applied toward the following General Education Areas: Foreign Language, Foreign Civilization & Culture, Humanities and Historical Perspectives. Credit earned on this program may satisfy requirements for the International Business Certificate; some courses may satisfy requirements for the Spanish major or minor.

Program Dates

This program's calendar follows the typical U.S. academic calendar closely (early September to mid-December and mid-January to late May).

For More Information

Please come to the Office for Study Abroad Resource Room for a CIEE program catalog that contains much more detailed information than available on our webpage.

University of Alicante

The University of Alicante is one of Spain's newest universities, offering its 30,000 students the benefits of a modern campus complete with Mediterranean style buildings. Program participants have full access to its facilities and its artistic and cultural events, such as sports, film screenings and lecture series. Students are encouraged to participate in a conversational exchange with regularly-enrolled Spanish university students.

Alicante

The city of Alicante, capital of the Costa Blanca, is situated on the Mediterranean Sea in the Southeastern corner of Spain. The city combines historic monuments such as the Moorish Castle of Santa Barbara, the 18th century Town Hall and the fortress of San Fernando, with the modernization which has occurred in the past 30 years. Alicante is a bustling community of nearly 300,000 inhabitants that hosts few foreigners outside of the tourist season in July and August; it thus provides an ideal setting for beginning language learners.

Living Arrangements

Students live in Spanish-speaking homes or off-campus university residences. For students in homestays, all meals are taken in the home. Homestays are the optimal housing arrangement because of their practicality and contribution to the program's objectives of language and cultural immersion. Only one program participant is housed in each home. All meals are also included in the residence hall housing option. The residence halls are in San Vicente, close to the University of Alicante, however, this means that students need to take public transportation to get to the downtown/beach areas of Alicante.

Local Transportation

Housing is located in the Alicante metropolitan area with access to public transportation. Students living in with homestays take public transportation to the University.

Eligibility

For students with 3 or 4 semesters of college Spanish (or equivalent). A minimum grade point average of 2.75 is required. Students must have a passport at the time of application. Students participate in the Language and Culture program for only one semester, but may continue their studies for a second semester in another program, such as CIEE's Liberal Arts Program in Alicante.

Costs

The program fee for spring programs is available by September 15. The program fee for fall and academic year students is available on February 15. This program fee includes an optional on-site airport greet, tuition, housing and all meals, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, travel insurance, and the UI administrative fee. The program fee does not include transportation to Spain, personal expenses, books and supplies, visa and passport expenses and local transportation.

How to Apply

Applications are to be submitted to the UI Office for Study Abroad. Final admissions decisions are made by CIEE in Portland. Well-qualified candidates endorsed by the Office for Study Abroad are seldom rejected. Application forms and further information are available from the Study Abroad, 1111 University Capitol Centre.

Application Deadline

The application deadlines are March 1 for the fall and academic year programs. The application deadline is September 15 for the spring semester.

Orientation Information

All participants attend a pre-departure orientation specific to the program as well as a general study abroad orientation. CIEE also conducts online orientations for their students.

Do you have any photos to share with us? If you do, please contact us at: study-abroad@uiowa.edu.