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Academic Program

Students may choose to study on the Granada program for the academic year, fall or spring semester, or during the summer. The fall program runs from early September through the third week in December (15 weeks.) The spring program runs from late January to late May (17 weeks.) Those studying the full academic year also take one course during the January term between semesters.

All courses are taught in Spanish by Spanish professors. Following the orientation period, students take a Spanish level test administered by the University of Granada to determine their placement during the semester. Students are placed in one of eight levels (Beginning A or B, Intermediate A or B, Advanced A or B or Superior A or B) based on the test and an evaluation by the on-site program director. Due to the intensive nature of the language training, each level (A+B) typically corresponds to at least three semesters of language classes on an American campus, assuming four semester hours per course.

There are two types of programs from which a student may choose: intensive language and culture or language and liberal arts courses.

The intensive language and culture option is open to students at any level. Students receive 15 hours of instruction weekly in Spanish language, culture and civilization. All beginning level students must choose this option. Students who place beyond the beginning level may choose between this option and the language and liberal arts program. This second program is offered at two levels: Curso de Lengua y Cultura Española and Estudios Hispánicos.

While placement is determined by the Center for Modern Languages level test, the Curso de Lengua y Cultura Española program is designed for students who typically have completed the third or fourth semester of a college-level Spanish course (four semester hours per course). Students at this level are required to take two courses in Spanish language and grammar, plus three courses from the Curso de Lengua y Cultura Española offerings.

The Estudios Hispánicos program is designed for students who typically have completed the 5th semester or higher of a college-level Spanish course (four semester hours per course). These students take one Spanish language course and choose four courses from the Estudios Hispánicos offerings.

All Lengua y Cultura and Estudios Hispánicos courses are worth three semester hours each. Courses meet four hours per week for twelve weeks during the fall semester and three hours per week for 15 weeks during the spring semester. Students who are at a near-native level may choose up to two courses from the University of Granada Facultad de Filosofía y Letras and complete their schedule with courses from the Estudios Hispánicos offerings.

With the exception of Spanish grammar and conversation classes, most classes are lecture-based with 30 to 35 students.

Students meet weekly for small-group tutorials that provide language support and instruction in colloquial Spanish, which is vital for successful interaction both in the classroom and in the course of daily life. Students explore the richness of the Spanish language and focus on idiosyncrasies of Spanish as spoken in Granada.