granada photo
The trip to Morocco was phenomenal. What we saw, who we talked with, where we traveled - all opened my eyes to a completely different world. I reveled in the amazing colors and scents in the marketplace, and enjoyed how unique this world is, even though it is only separated from Spain and Europe by 14 kilometers of sea.
– Stacey Martell
Pacific University

academic program/courses

The Central College Abroad program in Granada is a Spanish language immersion program that allows for flexibility in course work for both Spanish and non-Spanish majors. The academic program includes:

Just like their home institutions, students can choose the right combination of courses to complete their academic schedule. Students must enroll in at least 12 regular semester hours per semester. Students wishing to take more than 18 semester hours may do so only with prior approval from the resident director.

Required courses
These courses, facilitated in Granada by the resident director and program faculty, are the foundation on which your academic program is built, providing the cultural and historical context of Granada for a broader understanding of your overall experience. The following required courses are taught in English:

Granada Seminar
Through lectures and guided visits to places of interest in the city, the Granada Seminar provides students with additional background in Spanish civilization and culture, including history, sport, dance, cuisine and everyday life.

Orientation to Spain
Includes two weeks of intensive language instruction (a preparation course for the semester), excursions to historical and cultural sites in Granada, and personalized advising with the resident program director. Students take a placement exam at the end of the two-week orientation before enrolling in classes at the Center for Modern Languages.

We also require that students enroll in a phonetics course to improve their Spanish listening and speaking skills. The following course meets on a weekly basis and is taught in Spanish by a local professor.

Contrastive Spanish/American English Phonetics
Through guided practice of listening and pronunciation skills, students learn to better understand and articulate the sounds of the Spanish language. Classes focus on speech patterns particular to the region of Andalucía. (Optional for intensive language students).

Affilliate university electives

The Granada program is designed so that students enroll in one of three programs at the University of Granada's Center for Modern Languages based on their language level. Options include the Intensive Language Program, the Language and Culture Program, or the Hispanic Studies Program.

Students with near-native language skills may take up to two classes at the University of Granada with other Spanish students.

Please see our affiliate university information to find out which program would best fit you.

Internships and Service-learning

On Central’s study abroad programs, learning begins in the classroom, but continues in many different settings outside the traditional educational environment — offering you a more in-depth cross-cultural experience. Students can choose from either a service-learning or an internship option, both for academic credit. Central College Abroad programs offer these experiences as a way to more fully immerse yourself in the language and culture.

Please see our section on internships and service-learning to discover your hands-on options.