UA
Barcelona
Program Facts
Program Type: Arizona Abroad
Credit Type: Transfer Credit
Terms Available: Academic Year , Fall , Spring , Summer
GPA: 2.5
Class Eligibility: Junior , Senior , Sophomore
Language of Instruction: English
Application Deadline: Summer 8 Week Internships: February 15 , Summer 3-6 Week Sessions: March 1 , Fall & Academic Year: April 5 , Spring: September 15
Coordinator: Michelle Anderson
Explore UA Barcelona
Fall and Academic Year 2024 applications are currently open! Spring 2025 applications will open sometime in June 2024.
Since enrolling its first class in 1957, our partner, the Institute for American Universities (IAU), has served as a center for education abroad for U.S. undergraduates. IAU has worked with over 700 U.S. public and private colleges and universities, given its high academic standards.
Students will attend classes at IAU’s campus in Barcelona which is centrally located near the downtown Plaça de Catalunya area in the l'Eixample district close to many of Barcelona's famed attractions. The facilities have been completely renovated with modern amenities to suit the needs of the 21st-century college student. IAU Barcelona employs a full-time student affairs and academic affairs staff to advise, place, house, and otherwise support incoming students.
Please note: Spanish language courses at UA Barcelona are transferable to UArizona as elective credits. Students interested in taking courses to satisfy their second language requirement while abroad should contact the Spanish Department directly to discuss their options.
Below are courses that are approved for credit at UArizona. 1 IAU unit is equal to 1 UArizona unit. Courses numbered 100-299 are lower division and 300-499 are upper division. Always keep in mind that course offerings are subject to change.
Students receive transfer credits for the courses they take in Barcelona. Students need to receive at least a C- grade to get credit for the class. Grades received do NOT affect student's UArizona cumulative GPA.
Consider applying for an international internship! UA Barcelona students can participate in an internship while living and studying in Spain. Students will complete an internship placement process where staff from the Institute for American Universities will help match you to an internship opportunity that aligns with your professional goals. If you are considering an internship, apply early so you can begin the placement process. The Transfer Credit & Articulation Office has approved this internship opportunity to transfer to UArizona.
Summer Courses
Architecture
Architectural History of Spain
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course will look at the history of architecture and urban design in Spain. Beginning with a brief introduction of the ancient styles (from the first civilization of the Iberian Peninsula), it will focus on developments in architecture and urban planning in Spain from the first century A.D. until the contemporary period. Special attention will be paid to the 19th and 20th centuries in Barcelona, and several relevant field visits will be made.
Art
Capturing Barcelona Through Photography
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course will explore digital photography as a tool to view different aspects of Spanish society (and ourselves within that society) through various photographic exercises and assignments. Students will receive the tools to read photography and construct an idea through images. At the end of the course the students will produce a portfolio of the work done. Lectures will cover the History of Photography, with a special attention to photo-reportage, Spanish photographers, technical aspects related to photography production. The course introduces technical process of digital photography, from camera operation and the essential techniques of image capture with camera, image management with imaging related software. Classroom discussions and assigned readings will help student develop the critical skills used to understand how photographs function aesthetically and conceptually as how they are used in contemporary society and culture. Extra fee required.
Picasso, Matisse, Dali and the Mediterranean
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The work of these three international artists with distinct cultural roots is explored on an individual basis within the wider framework of European art movements. In each case, students will study the acceptance and/or rejection of tradition, the interaction with Spanish art and artists, and personal experience. The course will also pay special attention to the role of both outside stimuli (war, relationships) and inner forces (imagination).
Art History
History of the Mediterranean Through its Art
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The Mediterranean Basin is the birthplace of some of the most influential cultures in human history. Religious, political, and intellectual ideas and practices have developed in it throughout the ages, and these ideas and practices continue to be essential in present-day western societies. This course studies the history of Mediterranean cultures and societies through art and architecture from Ancient Egypt to the European Renaissance. We will examine how Mediterranean societies expressed their ideas and concerns about the world through the creation of splendid sculpture, painting, and architecture. Field studies will take us to several sites and museums in Barcelona.
Picasso, Matisse, Dali and the Mediterranean
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The work of these three international artists with distinct cultural roots is explored on an
individual basis within the wider framework of European art movements. In each case,
students will study the acceptance and/or rejection of tradition, the interaction with Spanish
art and artists, and personal experience. The course will also pay special attention to the role
of both outside stimuli (war, relationships) and inner forces (imagination)
Business
Advertising and Society
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course introduces students to the linkages between advertising and society. It is premised on the belief that advertising helps shape human attitudes and behaviors, just as the latter two in turn help direct and shape advertising. The emphasis is however firmly on advertising as a shaping agent – how it influences individuals and societies, the dynamic nature of the relationship, and the impacts (both positive and negative) that advertising may have on individuals and societies. It takes a critical and dispassionate view of advertising, rather than a managerial or practitioner’s view. Various criticisms of advertising are flagged, and these are used as a basis for further coverage and discussion of the criticisms and issues raised.
Business Ethics
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course investigates ethical problems in business practice. Topics include personal morality in profit oriented enterprises; codes of ethics; obligations to employees and other stakeholders; truth in advertising; whistleblowing and company loyalty; self and government regulation; the logic and future of capitalism; and the changing responsibilities of the manager in a rapidly globalizing business environment.
Business of Social Media
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is designed to help students understand how business and marketing have (and have not) changed due to the rise of social media and changes in various underlying contextual factors, such as dramatically increased speed of information dissemination across consumers and brands. Note that this course is NOT about specific online social media platforms students may know well from a user perspective (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat). The emphasis of this course is instead on understanding audiences’ social interactions, examining the various social media channels available to marketers, learning how to build social media strategies, and practicing how to track their effectiveness.
Financial Management
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is an introduction to the main areas of corporate finance. Its focus is on developing an understanding of the tools and methodologies available to the financial manager for decision-making in capital budgeting, working capital management, capital structure and profit planning and control.
Global Marketing
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Exploration of basic knowledge of global marketing focusing on the impact of environment on the strategies used by firms and the understanding of consumer behavior management as it relates to the development and implementation of global marketing strategies.
Intercultural Management
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is designed to introduce students to concepts and fundamentals of international management. The course will consider aspects of management within an international and culturally complex environment, while considering the business influences within the global workplace.
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course provides an introduction to Macroeconomics. In Macroeconomics an entire national economy performs in a world of constrained choice is studied. This course provides an overview of the following macroeconomic issues: the determination of output, employment, unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are discussed, as are public debt and international economic issues. This course also introduces basic models of macroeconomics and illustrates principles with the experience of the United States and other economies. The insights of Keynesian and classical theories will be integrated. During the course a variety of simple models will be presented. As macroeconomics is an empirical discipline the course will cover case studies and statistical data interpretation. Special attention will be given to current European developments. By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to understand newspaper and magazine articles on current macroeconomic issues and have an understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in macroeconomic policy-making.
Intermediate Microeconomics
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The objective of the course is to provide an understanding of how fundamental economic theory can be applied to decision making within the firm. Elements of microeconomic theory that support efficient business decisions will be stressed. This course presents a curated set of key topics from microeconomic theory and applies them to businesses and other organizations. These topics include decision-making under uncertainty, economic costs, pricing, and the basics of strategic interactions between competitors. The course should enhance your understanding of how firms maximize profits and markets operate as well as develop your capability in making economic predictions.
International Business Today and Tomorrow
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Businesses face a new dynamic, one that poses significant challenges as well as opportunities–the need to “green” their products and services. Many analysts forecast that environmentally driven businesses will represent one of the world’s major forces and industries in the 21st century. This course also analyses issues of constant change by focusing on the internet and robotics, info-tech and social media in the promotional mix, legal and ethical practice, entrepreneurial activity, socially responsible business and business culture and etiquette.
International Finance
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course extends the principles of finance to the international context. Topics include exchange rate determination, foreign exchange markets, currency derivatives (forwards, futures, swaps, options and money market), and exposure (translation, transaction and economic).
Operations Management
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is an introduction to the concepts, principles, problems, and practices of operations management. Operations Management is one of the key functional areas in any organization or company that deals with the production of goods and services. This course is concerned with the tasks, issues and decisions of those operations managers who have made the services and products on which we all depend. Emphasis is on managerial processes for effective operations in both goods-producing and service- rendering organization. Topics include operations strategy, process design, capacity planning, facilities location and design, forecasting, production scheduling, inventory control, quality assurance, and project management. The topics are integrated using a systems model of the operations of an organization.
Organizational Behavior
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course focuses on the theory and application in the management of organizational behavior. It introduces students to key concepts and models of human behavior in organization and provides information about the essential and practical skills needed to be an effective manager and leader. Topics addressed include self-awareness, learning, motivation, stress, group dynamics, intergroup behavior, ethics, conflict, power, change, leadership, and cultural implications. Behavioral science concepts are applied through self-assessment, case studies, videos, and experiential exercises.
Principles of Marketing
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The purpose of this course is to become familiar with the elements and techniques of Marketing, as well as with the methods used in a real marketing department. The course focuses on the execution of the Marketing plan within the market and consumer research framework and product and price policies. We pretend to offer a global Business Outlook and its fields of performance.
The Business of Social Media
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Over the past decade, new digital platforms have profoundly changed how we live, work, and conduct business. The business world is undergoing fundamental changes in how consumers interact with brands and each other. Social media is changing how business is done around the world in almost every industry. Social media has helped give consumers a voice and connect them with their friends and other like-minded people, and it has also opened up numerous new communication channels available for brands to connect with current and potential audiences. Therefore, the importance of social media’s role in modern marketing efforts can no longer be ignored. It’s an integral component in almost all successful marketing strategies. With this increasing emphasis on integrated social media strategies, the importance for mod-ern businesses to understand the need for a strategic social media presence cannot be understated. From creating an outlet to directly connect with consumers, to providing insight into buying behavior, to boosting SEO rankings, social media has evolved to serve as the glue that binds together and enhances a digital marketing strategy and the overall brand experience for consumers.
Communication
Communication and Gender
Course given in SESSION C (second 3-week session). This course aims to reflect on the importance of the media in the production, reproduction and perpetuation (or change) of gender roles. Students will investigate how socially constructed gender categories inform their daily lives as citizens, consumers and creators of public discourse. The course will also explore the dynamic relationship between gender and other identity categories (race, religion, class, sexuality, nationality, etc.) as well as analyze the contents of the press, radio, television, TV series, movies, and internet from a gender perspective.
Intercultural Communication
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The main differences the course focuses on are nationality, race, class, gender and religion. Students will study and observe how different identities under those categories affect people’s perceptions of themselves as individuals, themselves within their groups, themselves within other groups, and how those perceptions affect the way they communicate and interpret messages. In response to the changes in the way we communicate due to communication, the course will also focus on the impact of technology on intercultural communication as well as the ways that different cultures utilize the various forms of social media platforms.
Media and Conflict
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course examines the role media play in the progression and public perceptions of conflict. Relevant topics will include media and military intervention, portrayals of protest movements, and news and entertainment coverage of crime, rumors, domestic politics, violence, and ethnicity.
English
Writing the City
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The course explores the craft of Creative Writing in relation to the city, and explores the particular challenges of writing about place. We will examine different aspects of the city in relation to Barcelona narratives including the old city, travel, urban spaces, solitude, politics, ethnicity, particular boroughs and characters (both fictional and real) as well as making use of practical exercises and field work.
Fashion & Consumers
Fashion Business and Product Strategy
Course given in SESSION B (first 3-week session). This course is designed to give students an insight into fashion industry practices, providing a strategic view of how fashion products work, and an overview of the whole cycle from textile stage to retail - the moment when the final product reaches the consumer. Students will learn about product processes and strategies, such as product development, materials, planning, sourcing, fashion management, buying, sustainability, fast fashion X slow fashion and market differentiation, through real case studies. The program also proposes a reflection about consumption, fair trade, environmental issues and recycling, debating current and emerging perspectives, design approaches and business strategies.
Film & Television
Spain as seen Through its Movies
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course will investigate the ways in which film narratives interrogate the role of place, space, and culture in understanding Spain today. Students will learn how to critically examine the connection between content (Spain in global context), intertextual elements (theatre, painting, architecture), and overall cinematic form.
Food Studies
Wine and Food Pairing for the Sommelier
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting and wine and food pairing to Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Students will learn how the structure of wine and food complete a pairing. Course includes Field Studies to restaurants, wineries, guest chefs. Extra fee required.
Wine Marketing and Analysis
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting to analyze the quality levels, marketing of wine, import and export, sales positioning, and pricing structures. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Course includes Field Studies to wineries and vineyards. Extra fee required.
Geography
Analyzing and Exploring the Global City
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Multi‐disciplinary course that analyzes the cultural history of Barcelona as a reflection of the political and cultural history of contemporary Spain. Field study excursions and dynamic interaction with city environment are part of the course, which incorporates Urban Studies, Hispanic Studies, Cultural Studies, and Anthropology.
History
Spanish Civilization and Culture
Course given in SESSION B (first 3-week session).This course starts with a view of the Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an allegedly reference in the West.
Internship
Global Internship
Course given as Internship (full 8-week session). This experience is designed to immerse students in a multicultural professional space. A special effort is placed on helping students develop the skills required to enter the professional world and navigate cross-cultural entrepreneurial environments. This hands-on experience is complemented by an academic component, which guides students through the experience and helps them strategically reflect on challenges, accomplishments, and personal and professional development. Students are intentionally placed based on interests and skillsets with the aim to build their professional network through industry specific training. The 3-credit internship placement is 120 hours accompanied by academic, professional development and evaluative components.
Political Science
Nationalism in Comparative Perspective
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course studies the relationship between states and nations in both a theoretical and comparative perspective with a particular focus on the Catalan, Basque and Spanish experiences. It analyzes state- building processes and the development of nationalism, as well as the social, economic and technological conditions behind its emergence, transformation and contrasting discourse. The course aims at providing a solid theoretical background on the subject of nationalism as well as introducing the students into the social and political reality that permeates in Spain’s daily life and shapes Spaniard’s political mind-frames and identities.
Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course examines the historical conception of abnormal psychology and what is culturally considered abnormal behavior. A connection is drawn from the historical foundations of abnormal psychology to present-day assessment, diagnosis, theory, research, causes and treatment of psychological disorders. A critical, interdisciplinary bio-psycho-social framework of understanding abnormal behavior will be used throughout the course. More specifically, biological or genetic causes, environmental causes and social causes for the manifestation and onset of abnormal behaviors will be utilized while the construction of knowledge will also be interrogated. Understanding abnormal behavior through this framework will further assist with the development and utilization of appropriate preventative and intervention measures as well as critical thinking skills that enhance clinical acumen. The instructor will use various forms of instruction throughout the course including lecture, experiential learning, in-class discussion and other activities such as videos, discussions, critical group activities, etc. Moreover, the context students will be taking this course in will be discussed through European influence in the development of Abnormal Psychology. Activities completed outside of class will also incorporate the immersion context.
Human Development in a Cultural Context
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Study of human development from a psychodynamic perspective. The course draws extensively on the theories of such psychoanalytic thinkers as Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion, and Donald Winnicott amongst others. The cultural context is that of a European academic approach to psychology in contrast to the behavioral/cognitive one more prevalent in the United States. Thus there will be no cross cultural comparisons nor will there be any cross theoretical comparisons: the body of theories on Human Development presented here comes from what is commonly referred to as “The English School of Psychoanalysis” whose major theoreticians are Melanie Klein and Wilfred Bion. The course will encourage reflection and debate of what is presented rather than the collecting of more and more facts and theories. The psychodynamic, i.e. psychoanalytic perspective means that emphasis will be placed at all times on the unconscious mind, the inner world and the infantile in the individual, as well as on processes of self reflection (Students should have a minimum of interest or curiosity about these topics to get anything out of the course.) Students should also bear in mind that some of the topics (psychosis, eating disorders, depression) and some clinical cases may be upsetting (even at a theoretical level, as the course is NOT about group therapy) and should weigh that as well in their selection of the course. Overall the emphasis is on identity formation and the attainment of a mind of one’s own.
Human Sexuality
Course given in SESSION C (second 3-week session). Past and present analysis on research and historical underpinnings influencing the cultural evolution of sexuality across cultures will be discussed. Sexual behaviors and identity will be discussed through personal development, culture, biological influences as well as the influence of attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, practices and myths on human sexuality. Course content will also examine sexuality throughout different developmental stages, fertility, reproduction, sexual functioning and privilege, socialization, dating, marriage, family, sexual orientation, non-traditional relationships, contraceptives and sexual responsibility. Interviews and lectures with mental health professionals will be provided as opportunities to students throughout the course to learn more about what perceptions of mental health are in the context the course will be taken in (Barcelona, Spain).
Music Therapy: Exploring the Healing Power of Sound and Music
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Since the beginning of our existence, music has been used in all cultures for healing and medical purposes. This course is an introduction to the power and impact of sound and music in our body, mind and soul, and an invitation to use them wisely. A conscious use of music and sound, with specific purposes, intentions and at specific times, can lead to a better physical condition and healing (better heart rate or lower blood pressure, for instance), to a better understanding of our emotional world and how to release negative emotions, and to always be connected to our intuition and creativity. This course is for people who study Psychology, rehabilitation, therapy, communication and other creative careers who would like to use music as a therapeutic tool.
Positive Psychology and Happiness
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course reviews the history and key concepts of positive psychology and the contributions this new field has made to several traditional research areas in psychology. Areas of controversy (e.g., what is happiness, how should we measure it, what determines it, can and should we deliberately increase it) will be critically examined with consideration given to conflicting viewpoints and their respective empirical support. Throughout the course we will also engage in experiential learning and practical exercises to increase well-being, which will inform our theoretical and empirical understanding of important questions in positive psychology.
Social Psychology
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The study of the ways in which the individual is affected by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Topics include social influence, self and social group identity, interpersonal and intergroup relations, diversity, group behavior, violence, and prosocial behavior.
Retailing and Consumer Science
Consumer Behavior
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course provides students with an understanding of the behavior of consumers in the marketplace, using an interdisciplinary approach that employs concepts from such fields as economics, psychology, social psychology, sociology, and psychoanalysis. Topics include motivation, perception, attitudes,
consumer search, and post-transactional behavior.
Marketing and Distribution Channels
Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). Marketing channels are sets of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption. Marketing and distribution channels management is an essential aspect of commercial activities. Today’s ever more complex and challenging competitive scenario makes it necessary for organizations to know how to effectively select and manage marketing channels creating partnerships capable of generating value and trust and avoiding conflicts. This course will help students how to develop marketing channel plans, enabling an organization to increase sales, margins and the levels of collaboration with channel partners.
Spanish
Beginning Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session) or SESSION B (first 3-week session). Intensive practical introduction to Spanish for those with little or no previous study.
Beginning Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session) or SESSION C (second 3-week session). Intensive practical study of more advanced components of the Spanish language for those who have completed the equivalent of one semester of college‐level Spanish.
Intermediate Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session) or SESSION B (first 3-week session). Continued development of competence in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of one year of college‐level Spanish.
Intermediate Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session) or SESSION C (second 3-week session). Continued development of competence in more advanced elements of reading, writing, speaking and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college‐level Spanish.
Spain as Seen Through its Movies (IN SPANISH)
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course will investigate the ways in which film narratives interrogate the role of place, space, and culture in understanding Spain today. Students will learn how to critically examine the connection between content (Spain in global context), intertextual elements (theatre, painting, architecture), and overall cinematic form.
Spanish Civilization and Culture (IN SPANISH)
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. IN SPANISH. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). This course starts with a view of Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music, and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an alleged reference in the West.
Spanish Honors Seminar: El Nuevo Mundo Hoy
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. IN SPANISH. Course given in SESSION A (full 6-week session). The course aims to provide a sociological, historical, political, cultural and linguistic overview of Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. In the different sessions, students will be able to better understand the historical, anthropological and political elements that have shaped the identity of the different peoples of Latin America until today, for a better understanding of the generalities as well as the particularities of each region (or state). The final objective is to offer a comparative vision based on historiographic elements that explain the current configuration of Latin identities in the continent, including the United States of America. The classes will be co-taught by professors from different parts of Central and South America in order to offer a more complete and plural vision of the course content.
Fall Courses
Architecture
Architectural History of Spain
This course will look at the history of architecture and urban design in Spain. Beginning with a brief introduction of the ancient styles (from the first civilization of the Iberian Peninsula), it will focus on developments in architecture and urban planning in Spain from the first century A.D. until the contemporary period. Special attention will be paid to the 19th and 20th centuries in Barcelona, and several relevant field visits will be made.
Barcelona: Emergencies And Urgencies
The studio explores the opportunities of architectural design that aim to improve the context and the way we live in areas under particular distress under the theme of “emergencies and urgencies”. The studio will engage in a multiscale exploration of territorial, infrastructural, and urban/rural frameworks to develop ways to design ecological, community-based settlements under the circumstances of climate emergency. The course is organized around three actions consistent with the three scales of the analysis and design approach: Framing the challenge, Mapping territories/case selection, and Proposing settlements/architecture as the catalyst.
Barcelona: On Representation
The urban-focused housing studio builds upon the accomplishments in architectural design developed in previous semesters through an integrated design approach. The course, located in Barcelona, will develop tools of architectural representation and the recognition of their capacity to frame ideas, interpret graphic information, understand the critical and technical role of systems, and promote conceptual modeling, as a platform for architectural decision-making and thinking. Studio Context: Parc de la Barceloneta.
Site, Form And Space: The Collective And Domestic Domains
The course explores the design of buildings and sites, from concept to form and space. Investigates domestic and public domains and implications of habitation and civic life. Studio Context. The studio site is situated in Barcelona. The design starts setting up the basis of contextual knowledge, the fundamentals, that not only describe a physical situation but also a cultural and social environment. The fact that the city has so many historical layers is a strong design device. The overlapped data and content are sometimes information, sometimes culture, sometimes a feeling, and many times contradictory altogether. The description of the site palimpsest is a personal intellectual task (second representation). The sites will be selected around historic neighborhoods in Barcelona.
The Unfinished Barcelona: Urban Housing In Poblenou
The urban-focused housing studio builds upon the accomplishments in architectural design developed in previous semesters through an integrated design approach. The course, located in Barcelona, will develop tools of architectural representation and the recognition of their capacity to frame ideas, interpret graphic information, understand the critical and technical role of systems, and promote conceptual modeling, as a platform for architectural decision-making and thinking. Studio Context: Poblenou and the 22@ district.
Art
Capturing Barcelona Though Photography
This course is designed to introduce photography as a fine art and a means of personal expression. The emphasis in this course is on the elements of composition and editing for a final quality black and white image. Areas of concentration include: creativity, composition, analyzing/critiquing the work of others and the use of computer/digital imaging/editing. Extra fee required.
Picasso, Matisse, Dali and the Mediterranean
Understanding early 20th century art through an investigation of its sources in the Mediterranean myth and reality.
Art History
History of the Mediterranean Through its Art
The Mediterranean Basin is the birthplace of some of the most influential cultures in human history. Religious, political, and intellectual ideas and practices have developed in it throughout the ages, and these ideas and practices continue to be essential in present-day western societies. This course studies the history of Mediterranean cultures and societies through art and architecture from Ancient Egypt to the European Renaissance. We will examine how Mediterranean societies expressed their ideas and concerns about the world through the creation of splendid sculpture, painting, and architecture. Field studies will take us to several sites and museums in Barcelona.
Business
Advertising and Society
This course introduces students to the linkages between advertising and society. It is premised on the belief that advertising helps shape human attitudes and behaviors, just as the latter two in turn help direct and shape advertising. The emphasis is however firmly on advertising as a shaping agent – how it influences individuals and societies, the dynamic nature of the relationship, and the impacts (both positive and negative) that advertising may have on individuals and societies. It takes a critical and dispassionate view of advertising, rather than a managerial or practitioner’s view. Various criticisms of advertising are flagged, and these are used as a basis for further coverage and discussion of the criticisms and issues raised.
Financial Management
This course is an introduction to the main areas of corporate finance. Its focus is on developing an understanding of the tools and methodologies available to the financial manager for decision-making in capital budgeting, working capital management, capital structure and profit planning and control.
Global Marketing
Exploration of basic knowledge of global marketing focusing on the impact of environment on the strategies used by firms and understanding of consumer behavior management as it relates to the development and implementation of global marketing strategies.
Intercultural Management
This course is designed to introduce students to concepts and fundamentals of international management. The course will consider aspects of management within an international and culturally complex environment, while considering the business influences within the global workplace.
Intermediate Macroeconomics
This course provides an introduction to Macroeconomics. In Macroeconomics an entire national economy performs in a world of constrained choice is studied. This course provides an overview of the following macroeconomic issues: the determination of output, employment, unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are discussed, as are public debt and international economic issues. This course also introduces basic models of macroeconomics and illustrates principles with the experience of the United States and other economies. The insights of Keynesian and classical theories will be integrated. During the course a variety of simple models will be presented. As macroeconomics is an empirical discipline the course will cover case studies and statistical data interpretation. Special attention will be given to current European developments. By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to understand newspaper and magazine articles on current macroeconomic issues and have an understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in macroeconomic policy-making.
Intermediate Microeconomics
The objective of the course is to provide an understanding of how fundamental economic theory can be applied to decision making within the firm. Elements of microeconomic theory that support efficient business decisions will be stressed. This course presents a curated set of key topics from microeconomic theory and applies them to businesses and other organizations. These topics include decision-making under uncertainty, economic costs, pricing, and the basics of strategic interactions between competitors. The course should enhance your understanding of how firms maximize profits and markets operate as well as develop your capability in making economic predictions.
International Business Today and Tomorrow
Businesses face a new dynamic, one that poses significant challenges as well as opportunities–the need to “green” their products and services. Many analysts forecast that environmentally driven businesses will represent one of the world’s major forces and industries in the 21st century. This course also analyses issues of constant change by focusing on the internet and robotics, info-tech and social media in the promotional mix, legal and ethical practice, entrepreneurial activity, socially responsible business and business culture and etiquette.
International Finance
The International Finance module provides an understanding of finance in the international context. In a globally integrated world, it has become imperative to trade, invest and conduct business operations internationally. The course exposes the students to the opportunities and risks associated with international finance. As the world has become more integrated due to deregulation of financial markets, product innovation and technology, capital markets have kept pace with this integration. The study of international finance has therefore become essential and builds upon the understanding of theoretical concepts of finance and their adaptation to the international context. The course coverage includes historical perspectives and foundations of international finance, the foreign exchange markets and exchange rate determination, exposure management, financial management of a multinational firm. The course also helps students examine the current economic landscape through topical discussions of current economic and political development and their impact on international finance.
Operations Management
This course is an introduction to the concepts, principles, problems, and practices of operations management. Operations Management is one of the key functional areas in any organization or company that deals with the production of goods and services. This course is concerned with the tasks, issues and decisions of those operations managers who have made the services and products on which we all depend. Emphasis is on managerial processes for effective operations in both goods-producing and service- rendering organization. Topics include operations strategy, process design, capacity planning, facilities location and design, forecasting, production scheduling, inventory control, quality assurance, and project management. The topics are integrated using a systems model of the operations of an organization.
Organizational Behavior
This course focuses on the theory and application in the management of organizational behavior. It introduces students to key concepts and models of human behavior in organization and provides information about the essential and practical skills needed to be an effective manager and leader. Topics addressed include self-awareness, learning, motivation, stress, group dynamics, intergroup behavior, ethics, conflict, power, change, leadership, and cultural implications. Behavioral science concepts are applied through self-assessment, case studies, videos, and experiential exercises,
Principles of Marketing
The purpose of this course is to become familiar with the elements and techniques of Marketing, as well as with the methods used in a real marketing department. The course focuses on the execution of the Marketing plan within the market and consumer research framework and product and price policies. We pretend to offer a global Business Outlook and its fields of performance.
Statistical Inference in Management
In this course students will learn the fundamentals of statistical inference. Students will receive a broad overview of the goals, assumptions and modes of performing statistical inference. Students will be able to perform inferential tasks in highly targeted settings and will be able to use the skills developed as a roadmap for more complex inferential challenges.
The Business of Social Media
Over the past decade, new digital platforms have profoundly changed how we live, work, and conduct business. The business world is undergoing fundamental changes in how consumers interact with brands and each other. Social media is changing how business is done around the world in almost every industry. Social media has helped give consumers a voice and connect them with their friends and other like-minded people, and it has also opened up numerous new communication channels available for brands to connect with current and potential audiences. Therefore, the importance of social media’s role in modern marketing efforts can no longer be ignored. It’s an integral component in almost all successful marketing strategies. With this increasing emphasis on integrated social media strategies, the importance for mod-ern businesses to understand the need for a strategic social media presence cannot be understated. From creating an outlet to directly connect with consumers, to providing insight into buying behavior, to boosting SEO rankings, social media has evolved to serve as the glue that binds together and enhances a digital marketing strategy and the overall brand experience for consumers.
Communication
Communication and Gender
This course aims to reflect on the importance of the media in the production, reproduction and perpetuation (or change) of gender roles. Students will investigate how socially constructed gender categories inform their daily lives as citizens, consumers and creators of public discourse. The course will also explore the dynamic relationship between gender and other identity categories (race, religion, class, sexuality, nationality, etc.) as well as analyze the contents of the press, radio, television, TV series, movies, and internet from a gender perspective.
Intercultural Communication
The main differences the course focuses on are nationality, race, class, gender and religion. Students will study and observe how different identities under those categories affect people’s perceptions of themselves as individuals, themselves within their groups, themselves within other groups, and how those perceptions affect the way they communicate and interpret messages. In response to the changes in the way we communicate due to communication, the course will also focus on the impact of technology on intercultural communication as well as the ways that different cultures utilize the various forms of social media platforms.
Media and Conflict
This course examines the role media play in the progression and public perceptions of conflict. Relevant topics will include media and military intervention, portrayals of protest movements, and news and entertainment coverage of crime, rumors, domestic politics, violence, and ethnicity.
English
Writing the City
The course explores the craft of Creative Writing in relation to the city, and explores the particular challenges of writing about place. We will examine different aspects of the city in relation to Barcelona narratives including the old city, travel, urban spaces, solitude, politics, ethnicity, particular boroughs and characters (both fictional and real) as well as making use of practical exercises and field work.
Fashion & Consumers
Fashion Business and Product Strategy
This course is designed to give students an insight into fashion industry practices, providing a strategic view of how fashion products work, and an overview of the whole cycle from textile stage to retail - the moment when the final product reaches the consumer. Students will learn about product processes and strategies, such as product development, materials, planning, sourcing, fashion management, buying, sustainability, fast fashion X slow fashion and market differentiation, through real case studies. The program also proposes a reflection about consumption, fair trade, environmental issues and recycling, debating current and emerging perspectives, design approaches and business strategies.
Film & Television
Spain as Seen through its Movies
This course will investigate the ways in which film narratives interrogate the role of place, space, and culture in understanding Spain today. Students will learn how to critically examine the connection between content (Spain in global context), intertextual elements (theatre, painting, architecture), and overall cinematic form.
Food Studies
International Wine Trade
The "International Wine Trade" course provides students with an understanding of the business aspects of the global wine trade. Subjects include business planning, finance, supply chain management, wine as an alternative investment and how the media affects the pricing and buyer/seller cycle of wine industry. Extra fee required.
Wine and Food Pairing
This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting and wine and food pairing. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Students will learn how the structure of wine and food complete a pairing. Course includes Field Studies to restaurants, wineries, guest chefs. Extra fee required.
Wine Marketing and Sensory Analysis
This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting to analyze the quality levels, marketing of wine, import and export, sales positioning, and pricing structures. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Course includes Field Studies to wineries and vineyards. Extra fee required.
Geography
Analyzing and Exploring the Global City
This interdisciplinary course examines the emergence of this unique city as Spain’s gateway to the Mediterranean, and analyzes its history and evolution. Students will explore the role of population dynamics, industrial change and globalization in shaping the city and the lives of its inhabitants, examining the ways in which the interplay of urbanism, politics, and society has addressed challenges of social, political, and technological change in the past and today. The course also traces the changing nature of Barcelona’s relationship with the rest of Spain, Europe, and the wider world. Topics will include the city’s history and how its past is narrated; innovations in art and architecture; nationalism and independentism; the role of major events such as the 1992 Olympics as a catalyst for urban regeneration; the impacts of gentrification, tourism, and the recent economic crisis on the city and its inhabitants; and future scenarios of
urban change.
History
Spanish Civilization and Culture
This course starts with a view of the Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an allegedly reference in the West.
Internship
Global Internship
This experience is designed to immerse students in a multicultural professional space. A special effort is placed on helping students develop the skills required to enter the professional world and navigate cross-cultural entrepreneurial environments. This hands-on experience is complemented by an academic component, which guides students through the experience and helps them strategically reflect on challenges, accomplishments, and personal and professional development. Students are intentionally placed based on interests and skillsets with the aim to build their professional network through industry-specific training. The 3-credit internship is a total of 135 hours.
Philosophy
Business Ethics
This course investigates ethical problems in business practice. Topics include personal morality in profit-oriented enterprises; codes of ethics; obligations to employees and other stakeholders; truth in advertising; whistleblowing and company loyalty; self and government regulation; the logic and future of capitalism; and the changing responsibilities of the manager in a rapidly globalizing business environment.
Ethics in Society
From the perspective of selected topical issues of politics and society, students will be encouraged to develop an enhanced critical awareness of how major political and social thinkers in the past have treated the relationship between individual and society. The course will thus include the study of prominent texts in moral and political philosophy (from Plato and Aristotle to authors of the twentieth century), but it will also aim directly to improve students’ analytical skills for understanding conflicts that commonly arise in the practice of citizenship, while also helping them to develop a finer appreciation the significance of social change and of cultural diversity, in an emergent global society.
Political Science
Global Environmental Politics
Exploration of the main environmental problems facing the international community today with an analysis of the roles of states, international organizations, multinational corporations, and civil societies in the causation and solution process.
Nationalism in Comparative Perspective
This course studies the relationship between states and nations in both a theoretical and comparative perspective with a particular focus on the Catalan, Basque and Spanish experiences. It analyzes state- building processes and the development of nationalism, as well as the social, economic and technological conditions behind its emergence, transformation and contrasting discourse. The course aims at providing a solid theoretical background on the subject of nationalism as well as introducing the students into the social and political reality that permeates in Spain’s daily life and shapes Spaniard’s political mind-frames and identities.
The Political Economy of European Integration
This course will introduce students to the main issues of economics and politics of European integration by using an economic approach. The course addresses key economic questions that arise from the process of integration. This course draws on a core textbook, articles from journals and other documents. Student will be oriented in the most up to date policy discussion about European integration. By the end, students will be able to apply and relate conceptual and theoretical knowledge underpinning the course of the economic and political process of European integration.
Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
This course examines the historical conception of abnormal psychology and what is culturally considered abnormal behavior. A connection is drawn from the historical foundations of abnormal psychology to present-day assessment, diagnosis, theory, research, causes and treatment of psychological disorders. A critical, interdisciplinary bio-psycho-social framework of understanding abnormal behavior will be used throughout the course. More specifically, biological or genetic causes, environmental causes and social causes for the manifestation and onset of abnormal behaviors will be utilized while the construction of knowledge will also be interrogated. Understanding abnormal behavior through this framework will further assist with the development and utilization of appropriate preventative and intervention measures as well as critical thinking skills that enhance clinical acumen. The instructor will use various forms of instruction throughout the course including lecture, experiential learning, in-class discussion and other activities such as videos, discussions, critical group activities, etc. Moreover, the context students will be taking this course in will be discussed through European influence in the development of Abnormal Psychology. Activities completed `outside of class will also incorporate the immersion context.
Cross-Cultural Psychology
Course given in SESSION B (first 3-week session). This course offers an understanding of how culture influences our behavior from a cultural psychology perspective. Through the lenses of cultural psychology, we consider how embedded culture is in our lives, how vital a cultural perspective is in understanding the lives of others and the importance of a cultural lens in academic psychology. It is a unique opportunity for you to combine academic learning with personal development, as well as understand the influence of your culture on your behavior, your intercultural interactions and your cultural adjustment during your study abroad period and eventually your personal and professional life on returning home. Being in a new cultural context while learning about cultural psychology promotes self-awareness and learning and brings many concepts to life.
Human Development in Cultural Contexts
Study of human development from a psychodynamic perspective. Draws extensively on the theories of such psychoanalytic thinkers as Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilifred Bion, and Donald Winnicott.
Human Sexuality
Past and present analysis on research and historical underpinnings influencing the cultural evolution of sexuality across cultures will be discussed. Sexual behaviors and identity will be discussed through personal development, culture, biological influences as well as the influence of attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, practices and myths on human sexuality. Course content will also examine sexuality throughout different developmental stages, fertility, reproduction, sexual functioning and privilege, socialization, dating, marriage, family, sexual orientation, non-traditional relationships, contraceptives and sexual responsibility. Interviews and lectures with mental health professionals will be provided as opportunities to students throughout the course to learn more about what perceptions of mental health are in the context the course will be taken in (Barcelona, Spain).
Music Therapy: Exploring the Healing Power of Sound and Music
Since the beginning of our existence, music has been used in all cultures for healing and medical purposes. This course is an introduction to the power and impact of sound and music in our body, mind and soul, and an invitation to use them wisely. A conscious use of music and sound, with specific purposes, intentions and at specific times, can lead to a better physical condition and healing (better heart rate or lower blood pressure, for instance), to a better understanding of our emotional world and how to release negative emotions, and to always be connected to our intuition and creativity. This course is for people who study Psychology, rehabilitation, therapy, communication and other creative careers who would like to use music as a therapeutic tool.
Positive Psychology and Happiness
This course reviews the history and key concepts of positive psychology and the contributions this new field has made to several traditional research areas in psychology. Areas of controversy (e.g., what is happiness, how should we measure it, what determines it, can and should we deliberately increase it) will be critically examined with consideration given to conflicting viewpoints and their respective empirical support. Throughout the course we will also engage in experiential learning and practical exercises to increase well-being, which will inform our theoretical and empirical understanding of important questions in positive psychology.
Social Psychology
The study of the ways in which the individual is affected by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Topics include social influence, self and social group identity, interpersonal and intergroup relations, diversity, group behavior, violence, and prosocial behavior.
Religious Studies
The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
This course is a comparative study of the three Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It examines the shared aspects as well as the distinct elements of these religions, and shows that sometimes these traditions work together and sometimes they are at odds with each other. The course first introduces the three Abrahamic religions emphasizing their common source. Then it compares them along thematic lines, and finally it examines the way these three major traditions impact the modern West and the Middle East specifically. Among the themes to be discussed are: Abraham, scripture and tradition, law, the creation, God, worship, mysticism, the house of God, the tradition of head covering, homosexuality, Jerusalem, and the end of times.
Retailing and Consumer Science
Consumer Behavior
This course provides students with an understanding of the behavior of consumers in the marketplace, using an interdisciplinary approach that employs concepts from such fields as economics, psychology, social psychology, sociology, and psychoanalysis. Topics include motivation, perception, attitudes, consumer search, and post-transactional behavior.
Marketing and Distribution Channels
Marketing channels are sets of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption. Marketing and distribution channels management is an essential aspect of commercial activities. Today’s ever more complex and challenging competitive scenario makes it necessary for organizations to know how to effectively select and manage marketing channels creating partnerships capable of generating value and trust and avoiding conflicts. This course will help students how to develop marketing channel plans, enabling an organization to increase sales, margins and the levels of collaboration with channel partners.
Sociology
Nationalism in Comparative Perspective
This course studies the relationship between states and nations in both a theoretical and comparative perspective with a particular focus on the Catalan, Basque and Spanish experiences. It analyzes state- building processes and the development of nationalism, as well as the social, economic and technological conditions behind its emergence, transformation and contrasting discourse. The course aims at providing a solid theoretical background on the subject of nationalism as well as introducing the students into the social and political reality that permeates in Spain’s daily life and shapes Spaniard’s political mind-frames and identities.
Sports in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe: A Cultural Approach
Sport is an integral part of Spanish society that affects all levels of life from social institutions to government and law.? A recent example of this is the Catalan government deciding to ban bullfighting – an age-old tradition that demands great respect in other parts of Spain. This course uses sport as a prism to understand the Spanish society. We begin with a theoretical foundation of sport and society, then delve more specifically into sports in Spain and Catalonia covering topics such as history, politics, gender, gambling, racism, media influence, violence, and identity.
Spanish
Beginning Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Intensive practical introduction to Spanish for those with little or no previous study.
Beginning Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Intensive practical study of more advanced components of the Spanish language for those who have completed the equivalent of one semester of college-level Spanish.
Conversation
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. A course designed for students who wish to enhance their command of spoken Spanish, including building vocabulary and expanding the use of more advanced grammatical structures. This course does not accept students who already have high intermediate or advanced oral proficiency in the language. A brief interview with the instructor is required for admission.
Intermediate Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Continued development of competence in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of one year of college-level Spanish.
Intermediate Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Continued development of competence in more advanced elements of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college-level Spanish.
Spain as Seen Through its Movies (IN SPANISH)
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. This course will investigate the ways in which film narratives interrogate the role of place, space, and culture in understanding Spain today. Students will learn how to critically examine the connection between content (Spain in global context), intertextual elements (theatre, painting, architecture), and overall cinematic form.
Spanish Civilization and Culture (IN SPANISH)
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. This course starts with a view of the Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an alleged reference in the West.
Spanish Honors Seminar: El Nuevo Mundo Hoy
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. You need to be enrolled in the Spanish Honors Program to enroll in this course. The course aims to provide a sociological, historical, political, cultural and linguistic overview of Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. In the different sessions, students will be able to better understand the historical, anthropological and political elements that have shaped the identity of the different peoples of Latin America until today, for a better understanding of the generalities as well as the particularities of each region (or state). The final objective is to offer a comparative vision based on historiographic elements that explain the current configuration of Latin identities in the continent, including the United States of America. The classes will be co-taught by professors from different parts of Central and South America in order to offer a more complete and plural vision of the course content.
Spring Courses
Architecture
Architectural History of Spain
This course will look at the history of architecture and urban design in Spain. Beginning with a brief introduction of the ancient styles (from the first civilization of the Iberian Peninsula), it will focus on developments in architecture and urban planning in Spain from the first century A.D. until the contemporary period. Special attention will be paid to the 19th and 20th centuries in Barcelona, and several relevant field visits will be made.
Barcelona: Emergencies And Urgencies
The studio explores the opportunities of architectural design that aim to improve the context and the way we live in areas under particular distress under the theme of “emergencies and urgencies”. The studio will engage in a multiscale exploration of territorial, infrastructural, and urban/rural frameworks to develop ways to design ecological, community-based settlements under the circumstances of climate emergency. The course is organized around three actions consistent with the three scales of the analysis and design approach: Framing the challenge, Mapping territories/case selection, and Proposing settlements/architecture as the catalyst.
Barcelona: On Representation
The urban-focused housing studio builds upon the accomplishments in architectural design developed in previous semesters through an integrated design approach. The course, located in Barcelona, will develop tools of architectural representation and the recognition of their capacity to frame ideas, interpret graphic information, understand the critical and technical role of systems, and promote conceptual modeling, as a platform for architectural decision-making and thinking. Studio Context: Parc de la Barceloneta.
Site, Form And Space: The Collective And Domestic Domains
The course explores the design of buildings and sites, from concept to form and space. Investigates domestic and public domains and implications of habitation and civic life. Studio Context. The studio site is situated in Barcelona. The design starts setting up the basis of contextual knowledge, the fundamentals, that not only describe a physical situation but also a cultural and social environment. The fact that the city has so many historical layers is a strong design device. The overlapped data and content are sometimes information, sometimes culture, sometimes a feeling, and many times contradictory altogether. The description of the site palimpsest is a personal intellectual task (second representation). The sites will be selected around historic neighborhoods in Barcelona.
The Unfinished Barcelona: Urban Housing In Poblenou
The urban-focused housing studio builds upon the accomplishments in architectural design developed in previous semesters through an integrated design approach. The course, located in Barcelona, will develop tools of architectural representation and the recognition of their capacity to frame ideas, interpret graphic information, understand the critical and technical role of systems, and promote conceptual modeling, as a platform for architectural decision-making and thinking. Studio Context: Poblenou and the 22@ district.
Art
Capturing Barcelona Though Photography
This course is designed to introduce photography as a fine art and a means of personal expression. The emphasis in this course is on the elements of composition and editing for a final quality black and white image. Areas of concentration include: creativity, composition, analyzing/critiquing the work of others and the use of computer/digital imaging/editing. Extra fee required.
Picasso, Matisse, Dali and the Mediterranean
Understanding early 20th century art through an investigation of its sources in the Mediterranean myth and reality.
Art History
History of the Mediterranean Through its Art
The Mediterranean Basin is the birthplace of some of the most influential cultures in human history. Religious, political, and intellectual ideas and practices have developed in it throughout the ages, and these ideas and practices continue to be essential in present-day western societies. This course studies the history of Mediterranean cultures and societies through art and architecture from Ancient Egypt to the European Renaissance. We will examine how Mediterranean societies expressed their ideas and concerns about the world through the creation of splendid sculpture, painting, and architecture. Field studies will take us to several sites and museums in Barcelona.
Business
Advertising and Society
This course introduces students to the linkages between advertising and society. It is premised on the belief that advertising helps shape human attitudes and behaviors, just as the latter two in turn help direct and shape advertising. The emphasis is however firmly on advertising as a shaping agent – how it influences individuals and societies, the dynamic nature of the relationship, and the impacts (both positive and negative) that advertising may have on individuals and societies. It takes a critical and dispassionate view of advertising, rather than a managerial or practitioner’s view. Various criticisms of advertising are flagged, and these are used as a basis for further coverage and discussion of the criticisms and issues raised.
Financial Management
This course is an introduction to the main areas of corporate finance. Its focus is on developing an understanding of the tools and methodologies available to the financial manager for decision-making in capital budgeting, working capital management, capital structure and profit planning and control.
Global Marketing
Exploration of basic knowledge of global marketing focusing on the impact of environment on the strategies used by firms and understanding of consumer behavior management as it relates to the development and implementation of global marketing strategies.
Intercultural Management
This course is designed to introduce students to concepts and fundamentals of international management. The course will consider aspects of management within an international and culturally complex environment, while considering the business influences within the global workplace.
Intermediate Macroeconomics
This course provides an introduction to Macroeconomics. In Macroeconomics an entire national economy performs in a world of constrained choice is studied. This course provides an overview of the following macroeconomic issues: the determination of output, employment, unemployment, interest rates, and inflation. Monetary and fiscal policies are discussed, as are public debt and international economic issues. This course also introduces basic models of macroeconomics and illustrates principles with the experience of the United States and other economies. The insights of Keynesian and classical theories will be integrated. During the course a variety of simple models will be presented. As macroeconomics is an empirical discipline the course will cover case studies and statistical data interpretation. Special attention will be given to current European developments. By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to understand newspaper and magazine articles on current macroeconomic issues and have an understanding of the tradeoffs inherent in macroeconomic policy-making.
Intermediate Microeconomics
The objective of the course is to provide an understanding of how fundamental economic theory can be applied to decision making within the firm. Elements of microeconomic theory that support efficient business decisions will be stressed. This course presents a curated set of key topics from microeconomic theory and applies them to businesses and other organizations. These topics include decision-making under uncertainty, economic costs, pricing, and the basics of strategic interactions between competitors. The course should enhance your understanding of how firms maximize profits and markets operate as well as develop your capability in making economic predictions.
International Business Today and Tomorrow
Businesses face a new dynamic, one that poses significant challenges as well as opportunities–the need to “green” their products and services. Many analysts forecast that environmentally driven businesses will represent one of the world’s major forces and industries in the 21st century. This course also analyses issues of constant change by focusing on the internet and robotics, info-tech and social media in the promotional mix, legal and ethical practice, entrepreneurial activity, socially responsible business and business culture and etiquette.
International Finance
The International Finance module provides an understanding of finance in the international context. In a globally integrated world, it has become imperative to trade, invest and conduct business operations internationally. The course exposes the students to the opportunities and risks associated with international finance. As the world has become more integrated due to deregulation of financial markets, product innovation and technology, capital markets have kept pace with this integration. The study of international finance has therefore become essential and builds upon the understanding of theoretical concepts of finance and their adaptation to the international context. The course coverage includes historical perspectives and foundations of international finance, the foreign exchange markets and exchange rate determination, exposure management, financial management of a multinational firm. The course also helps students examine the current economic landscape through topical discussions of current economic and political development and their impact on international finance.
Operations Management
This course is an introduction to the concepts, principles, problems, and practices of operations management. Operations Management is one of the key functional areas in any organization or company that deals with the production of goods and services. This course is concerned with the tasks, issues and decisions of those operations managers who have made the services and products on which we all depend. Emphasis is on managerial processes for effective operations in both goods-producing and service- rendering organization. Topics include operations strategy, process design, capacity planning, facilities location and design, forecasting, production scheduling, inventory control, quality assurance, and project management. The topics are integrated using a systems model of the operations of an organization.
Organizational Behavior
This course focuses on the theory and application in the management of organizational behavior. It introduces students to key concepts and models of human behavior in organization and provides information about the essential and practical skills needed to be an effective manager and leader. Topics addressed include self-awareness, learning, motivation, stress, group dynamics, intergroup behavior, ethics, conflict, power, change, leadership, and cultural implications. Behavioral science concepts are applied through self-assessment, case studies, videos, and experiential exercises,
Principles of Marketing
The purpose of this course is to become familiar with the elements and techniques of Marketing, as well as with the methods used in a real marketing department. The course focuses on the execution of the Marketing plan within the market and consumer research framework and product and price policies. We pretend to offer a global Business Outlook and its fields of performance.
Shopper Data and Business Research
Build essential skills required to identify market opportunities, change a process, and solve business problems. Explore the principles and methods of business research, use of shopper data, and commonly used business research techniques within the retail sector. Topics include identification of the research question, development of a research plan, market and consumer research methods, data collection, sampling, data analysis, and research presentations.
Statistical Inference in Management
In this course students will learn the fundamentals of statistical inference. Students will receive a broad overview of the goals, assumptions and modes of performing statistical inference. Students will be able to perform inferential tasks in highly targeted settings and will be able to use the skills developed as a roadmap for more complex inferential challenges.
The Business of Social Media
Over the past decade, new digital platforms have profoundly changed how we live, work, and conduct business. The business world is undergoing fundamental changes in how consumers interact with brands and each other. Social media is changing how business is done around the world in almost every industry. Social media has helped give consumers a voice and connect them with their friends and other like-minded people, and it has also opened up numerous new communication channels available for brands to connect with current and potential audiences. Therefore, the importance of social media’s role in modern marketing efforts can no longer be ignored. It’s an integral component in almost all successful marketing strategies. With this increasing emphasis on integrated social media strategies, the importance for mod-ern businesses to understand the need for a strategic social media presence cannot be understated. From creating an outlet to directly connect with consumers, to providing insight into buying behavior, to boosting SEO rankings, social media has evolved to serve as the glue that binds together and enhances a digital marketing strategy and the overall brand experience for consumers.
Communication
Communication and Gender
This course aims to reflect on the importance of the media in the production, reproduction and perpetuation (or change) of gender roles. Students will investigate how socially constructed gender categories inform their daily lives as citizens, consumers and creators of public discourse. The course will also explore the dynamic relationship between gender and other identity categories (race, religion, class, sexuality, nationality, etc.) as well as analyze the contents of the press, radio, television, TV series, movies, and internet from a gender perspective.
Intercultural Communication
The main differences the course focuses on are nationality, race, class, gender and religion. Students will study and observe how different identities under those categories affect people’s perceptions of themselves as individuals, themselves within their groups, themselves within other groups, and how those perceptions affect the way they communicate and interpret messages. In response to the changes in the way we communicate due to communication, the course will also focus on the impact of technology on intercultural communication as well as the ways that different cultures utilize the various forms of social media platforms.
Media and Conflict
This course examines the role media play in the progression and public perceptions of conflict. Relevant topics will include media and military intervention, portrayals of protest movements, and news and entertainment coverage of crime, rumors, domestic politics, violence, and ethnicity.
English
Writing the City
The course explores the craft of Creative Writing in relation to the city, and explores the particular challenges of writing about place. We will examine different aspects of the city in relation to Barcelona narratives including the old city, travel, urban spaces, solitude, politics, ethnicity, particular boroughs and characters (both fictional and real) as well as making use of practical exercises and field work.
Fashion & Consumers
Fashion Business and Product Strategy
This course is designed to give students an insight into fashion industry practices, providing a strategic view of how fashion products work, and an overview of the whole cycle from textile stage to retail - the moment when the final product reaches the consumer. Students will learn about product processes and strategies, such as product development, materials, planning, sourcing, fashion management, buying, sustainability, fast fashion X slow fashion and market differentiation, through real case studies. The program also proposes a reflection about consumption, fair trade, environmental issues and recycling, debating current and emerging perspectives, design approaches and business strategies.
Film & Television
Spain as Seen through its Movies
This course will investigate the ways in which film narratives interrogate the role of place, space, and culture in understanding Spain today. Students will learn how to critically examine the connection between content (Spain in global context), intertextual elements (theatre, painting, architecture), and overall cinematic form.
Food Studies
International Wine Trade
The "International Wine Trade" course provides students with an understanding of the business aspects of the global wine trade. Subjects include business planning, finance, supply chain management, wine as an alternative investment and how the media affects the pricing and buyer/seller cycle of wine industry. Extra fee required.
Wine and Food Pairing
This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting and wine and food pairing. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Students will learn how the structure of wine and food complete a pairing. Course includes Field Studies to restaurants, wineries, guest chefs. Extra fee required.
Wine Marketing and Sensory Analysis
This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting to analyze the quality levels, marketing of wine, import and export, sales positioning, and pricing structures. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Course includes Field Studies to wineries and vineyards. Extra fee required.
Geography
Analyzing and Exploring the Global City
This interdisciplinary course examines the emergence of this unique city as Spain’s gateway to the Mediterranean, and analyzes its history and evolution. Students will explore the role of population dynamics, industrial change and globalization in shaping the city and the lives of its inhabitants, examining the ways in which the interplay of urbanism, politics, and society has addressed challenges of social, political, and technological change in the past and today. The course also traces the changing nature of Barcelona’s relationship with the rest of Spain, Europe, and the wider world. Topics will include the city’s history and how its past is narrated; innovations in art and architecture; nationalism and independentism; the role of major events such as the 1992 Olympics as a catalyst for urban regeneration; the impacts of gentrification, tourism, and the recent economic crisis on the city and its inhabitants; and future scenarios of
urban change.
History
Spanish Civilization and Culture
This course starts with a view of the Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an allegedly reference in the West.
Internship
Global Internship
This experience is designed to immerse students in a multicultural professional space. A special effort is placed on helping students develop the skills required to enter the professional world and navigate cross-cultural entrepreneurial environments. This hands-on experience is complemented by an academic component, which guides students through the experience and helps them strategically reflect on challenges, accomplishments, and personal and professional development. Students are intentionally placed based on interests and skillsets with the aim to build their professional network through industry-specific training. The 3-credit internship is a total of 135 hours.
Philosophy
Business Ethics
This course investigates ethical problems in business practice. Topics include personal morality in profit-oriented enterprises; codes of ethics; obligations to employees and other stakeholders; truth in advertising; whistleblowing and company loyalty; self and government regulation; the logic and future of capitalism; and the changing responsibilities of the manager in a rapidly globalizing business environment.
Ethics in Society
From the perspective of selected topical issues of politics and society, students will be encouraged to develop an enhanced critical awareness of how major political and social thinkers in the past have treated the relationship between individual and society. The course will thus include the study of prominent texts in moral and political philosophy (from Plato and Aristotle to authors of the twentieth century), but it will also aim directly to improve students’ analytical skills for understanding conflicts that commonly arise in the practice of citizenship, while also helping them to develop a finer appreciation the significance of social change and of cultural diversity, in an emergent global society.
Political Science
Global Environmental Politics
Exploration of the main environmental problems facing the international community today with an analysis of the roles of states, international organizations, multinational corporations, and civil societies in the causation and solution process.
Nationalism in Comparative Perspective
This course studies the relationship between states and nations in both a theoretical and comparative perspective with a particular focus on the Catalan, Basque and Spanish experiences. It analyzes state- building processes and the development of nationalism, as well as the social, economic and technological conditions behind its emergence, transformation and contrasting discourse. The course aims at providing a solid theoretical background on the subject of nationalism as well as introducing the students into the social and political reality that permeates in Spain’s daily life and shapes Spaniard’s political mind-frames and identities.
The Political Economy of European Integration
This course will introduce students to the main issues of economics and politics of European integration by using an economic approach. The course addresses key economic questions that arise from the process of integration. This course draws on a core textbook, articles from journals and other documents. Student will be oriented in the most up to date policy discussion about European integration. By the end, students will be able to apply and relate conceptual and theoretical knowledge underpinning the course of the economic and political process of European integration.
Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
This course examines the historical conception of abnormal psychology and what is culturally considered abnormal behavior. A connection is drawn from the historical foundations of abnormal psychology to present-day assessment, diagnosis, theory, research, causes and treatment of psychological disorders. A critical, interdisciplinary bio-psycho-social framework of understanding abnormal behavior will be used throughout the course. More specifically, biological or genetic causes, environmental causes and social causes for the manifestation and onset of abnormal behaviors will be utilized while the construction of knowledge will also be interrogated. Understanding abnormal behavior through this framework will further assist with the development and utilization of appropriate preventative and intervention measures as well as critical thinking skills that enhance clinical acumen. The instructor will use various forms of instruction throughout the course including lecture, experiential learning, in-class discussion and other activities such as videos, discussions, critical group activities, etc. Moreover, the context students will be taking this course in will be discussed through European influence in the development of Abnormal Psychology. Activities completed `outside of class will also incorporate the immersion context.
Cross-Cultural Psychology
This course offers an understanding of how culture influences our behavior from a cultural psychology perspective. Through the lenses of cultural psychology, we consider how embedded culture is in our lives, how vital a cultural perspective is in understanding the lives of others and the importance of a cultural lens in academic psychology. It is a unique opportunity for you to combine academic learning with personal development: understand the influence of your culture on your behavior, your intercultural interactions and your cultural adjustment during your study abroad period and eventually your personal and professional life on returning home. Being in a new cultural context while learning about cultural psychology promotes self-awareness and learning and brings many concepts to life. Development of cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence is facilitated.
Human Development in Cultural Contexts
Study of human development from a psychodynamic perspective. Draws extensively on the theories of such psychoanalytic thinkers as Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilifred Bion, and Donald Winnicott.
Human Sexuality
Past and present analysis on research and historical underpinnings influencing the cultural evolution of sexuality across cultures will be discussed. Sexual behaviors and identity will be discussed through personal development, culture, biological influences as well as the influence of attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, practices and myths on human sexuality. Course content will also examine sexuality throughout different developmental stages, fertility, reproduction, sexual functioning and privilege, socialization, dating, marriage, family, sexual orientation, non-traditional relationships, contraceptives and sexual responsibility. Interviews and lectures with mental health professionals will be provided as opportunities to students throughout the course to learn more about what perceptions of mental health are in the context the course will be taken in (Barcelona, Spain).
Music Therapy: Exploring the Healing Power of Sound and Music
Since the beginning of our existence, music has been used in all cultures for healing and medical purposes. This course is an introduction to the power and impact of sound and music in our body, mind and soul, and an invitation to use them wisely. A conscious use of music and sound, with specific purposes, intentions and at specific times, can lead to a better physical condition and healing (better heart rate or lower blood pressure, for instance), to a better understanding of our emotional world and how to release negative emotions, and to always be connected to our intuition and creativity. This course is for people who study Psychology, rehabilitation, therapy, communication and other creative careers who would like to use music as a therapeutic tool.
Positive Psychology and Happiness
This course reviews the history and key concepts of positive psychology and the contributions this new field has made to several traditional research areas in psychology. Areas of controversy (e.g., what is happiness, how should we measure it, what determines it, can and should we deliberately increase it) will be critically examined with consideration given to conflicting viewpoints and their respective empirical support. Throughout the course we will also engage in experiential learning and practical exercises to increase well-being, which will inform our theoretical and empirical understanding of important questions in positive psychology.
Social Psychology
The study of the ways in which the individual is affected by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. Topics include social influence, self and social group identity, interpersonal and intergroup relations, diversity, group behavior, violence, and prosocial behavior.
Religious Studies
The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
This course is a comparative study of the three Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It examines the shared aspects as well as the distinct elements of these religions, and shows that sometimes these traditions work together and sometimes they are at odds with each other. The course first introduces the three Abrahamic religions emphasizing their common source. Then it compares them along thematic lines, and finally it examines the way these three major traditions impact the modern West and the Middle East specifically. Among the themes to be discussed are: Abraham, scripture and tradition, law, the creation, God, worship, mysticism, the house of God, the tradition of head covering, homosexuality, Jerusalem, and the end of times.
Retailing and Consumer Science
Consumer Behavior
This course provides students with an understanding of the behavior of consumers in the marketplace, using an interdisciplinary approach that employs concepts from such fields as economics, psychology, social psychology, sociology, and psychoanalysis. Topics include motivation, perception, attitudes, consumer search, and post-transactional behavior.
Marketing and Distribution Channels
Marketing channels are sets of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption. Marketing and distribution channels management is an essential aspect of commercial activities. Today’s ever more complex and challenging competitive scenario makes it necessary for organizations to know how to effectively select and manage marketing channels creating partnerships capable of generating value and trust and avoiding conflicts. This course will help students how to develop marketing channel plans, enabling an organization to increase sales, margins and the levels of collaboration with channel partners.
Sociology
Nationalism in Comparative Perspective
This course studies the relationship between states and nations in both a theoretical and comparative perspective with a particular focus on the Catalan, Basque and Spanish experiences. It analyzes state- building processes and the development of nationalism, as well as the social, economic and technological conditions behind its emergence, transformation and contrasting discourse. The course aims at providing a solid theoretical background on the subject of nationalism as well as introducing the students into the social and political reality that permeates in Spain’s daily life and shapes Spaniard’s political mind-frames and identities.
Sports in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe: A Cultural Approach
Sport is an integral part of Spanish society that affects all levels of life from social institutions to government and law.? A recent example of this is the Catalan government deciding to ban bullfighting – an age-old tradition that demands great respect in other parts of Spain. This course uses sport as a prism to understand the Spanish society. We begin with a theoretical foundation of sport and society, then delve more specifically into sports in Spain and Catalonia covering topics such as history, politics, gender, gambling, racism, media influence, violence, and identity.
Spanish
Beginning Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Intensive practical introduction to Spanish for those with little or no previous study.
Beginning Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Intensive practical study of more advanced components of the Spanish language for those who have completed the equivalent of one semester of college-level Spanish.
Conversation
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. A course designed for students who wish to enhance their command of spoken Spanish, including building vocabulary and expanding the use of more advanced grammatical structures. This course does not accept students who already have high intermediate or advanced oral proficiency in the language. A brief interview with the instructor is required for admission.
Intermediate Spanish I
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Continued development of competence in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of one year of college-level Spanish.
Intermediate Spanish II
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. Continued development of competence in more advanced elements of reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college-level Spanish.
Spanish Civilization and Culture
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. IN SPANISH. This course starts with a view of the Spanish history, and then examines the different cultures within Spain: Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician; focusing mainly on language, nationality, and political implications. The rest of the course will travel throughout the various aspects of the Spanish Civilization, understanding civilization as lifestyle and society (family, immigration, youth, economic crisis, politics…), and also the various artistic ways of expression (painting, architecture, literature, music and cinema). By using concepts from these various subjects, students will study how Spain changed from being a polarized country to an allegedly reference in the West.
Spanish Honors Seminar: El Nuevo Mundo Hoy
Please note: This course transfers as general elective credit and cannot fulfill second language requirements or be used in the Spanish major or minor, per the Spanish Department’s policy. You need to be enrolled in the Spanish Honors Program to enroll in this course. The course aims to provide a sociological, historical, political, cultural and linguistic overview of Spanish-speaking countries in the Americas. In the different sessions, students will be able to better understand the historical, anthropological and political elements that have shaped the identity of the different peoples of Latin America until today, for a better understanding of the generalities as well as the particularities of each region (or state). The final objective is to offer a comparative vision based on historiographic elements that explain the current configuration of Latin identities in the continent, including the United States of America. The classes will be co-taught by professors from different parts of Central and South America in order to offer a more complete and plural vision of the course content.
Apply for an international internship! UA Barcelona students can participate in an internship while living and studying in Spain. If you are considering an internship, apply early so you can begin the placement process.
Terms available: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Credit available: This internship has been approved by Transfer Credit & Articulation to transfer as 3 credits of ELCR Upper Division Elective.
Hours: Internships are 135 hours per semester (45 hours per credit)
Second Language Requirement: None. Proficiency in a second language is not a requirement although if you do have some language fluency in Spanish you may have more internship placement options.
Placement process: The staff at Institute for American Universities will help find an internship placement for you that aligns with your professional goals during your application process. The process will require you to submit an up-to-date resume and complete an interview that will help establish your goals and give you an opportunity to discuss your intended career industry.
Global Tracks indicate courses that have been pre-approved by your major/minor department at a designated Arizona Abroad Location. If your major does not have a Global Track, that’s okay! You can choose from any of the classes in the Academics section (above) in coordination with your academic advisor. Global Tracks at this Arizona Abroad Location include:
- Business Majors
- Business Minors
- Communication
- Family Studies & Human Development
- Global Studies
- Personal & Family Financial Planning
- Retailing and Consumer Science
Check out the Global Tracks website to see your options.
Location
Gothic architecture, vibrant art, and delicious cuisine—discover it all in the bustling capital of the Catalonia region of Spain. Not far from the border of France, Barcelona features sophisticated shopping, world-renowned museums, and serene views of the Mediterranean Sea. UA Barcelona at the Institute for American Universities offers a central location in the downtown Plaza de Cataluña area within walking distance to the Gothic quarter and metro lines.
Good to Know:
LGBTQ+ Equality Index rating: Spain rates 80/100 (with 100 being the most equal) on Equaldex’s LGBTQ+ Equality Index.
Global Peace Index rating: Spain ranks 32/163 in the Global Peace Index. The lower the score, the more peaceful the country.
Languages spoken: Castilian Spanish 74% (official nationwide); Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2% (each official regionally)
Housing
Students choose whether to live with a Spanish family or with other students in apartments or condo-style student residences. If you choose the homestay option, you will experience traditional Spanish cooking with daily breakfast and six dinners per week. If you choose an apartment, you may request roommates on the housing questionnaire through IAU's application portal. Students who select condo-style student residences will live in student residences used by IAU, local and international students. Meals are not included in apartment or condo-style student residence housing but a shared kitchen is provided. Please note, participants are required to utilize the housing provided by the program. Also, housing placements and types of housing are subject to change depending on availability. Locations of housing will also vary depending on student preferences and availability. For more information, visit IAU's housing website. Air conditioning is not common, so it should be an expectation that this will not be available in accommodations in Spain.
Financial Information & Scholarships
Please visit this LINK for more information on billing/withdrawal policies, Study Abroad scholarships through our office, other Scholarship Opportunities, and Financial Aid. Students are also encouraged to check their specific college and department websites for funding opportunities.
Summer Cost
Below are the estimated costs of the program depending on which session you choose to join.
- 8-weeks Internship Session: arrive May 20, depart July 13
- You take 6 credits (Internship course + one academic class). You pay Main Campus UA Summer tuition for 6 credits.
- Program Cost (this includes housing, orientation, activities, student support, excursions and other IAU fees): $3,525; homestay option includes breakfast and six dinners per week; apartments/condo-style student residence options do NOT include any meals but students will have access to a shared kitchen
- $50 Study Abroad Application Fee
- Mandatory Geo Blue International Health Insurance at a rate of $3 a day
- Application Deadline is February 15.
- 6-weeks (Session A): arrive May 30, depart July 13
- You take 6 credits (2 courses). You pay Main Campus UA Summer tuition for 6 credits.
- Program Cost (this includes housing, orientation, activities, student support, excursions and other IAU fees): $3,025; homestay option includes breakfast and six dinners per week; apartments/condo-style student residence options do NOT include any meals but students will have access to a shared kitchen
- $50 Study Abroad Application Fee
- Mandatory Geo Blue International Health Insurance at a rate of $3 a day
- Application Deadline is March 1.
- 3-weeks: Session B: arrive May 30, depart June 22 OR Session C: arrive June 20, depart July 13
- You take 3 credits (1 course). You pay Main Campus UA Summer tuition for 3 credits.
- Program Cost (this includes housing, orientation, activities, student support, excursions and other IAU fees): $2,200; homestay option includes breakfast and six dinners per week; apartments/condo-style student residence options do NOT include any meals but students will have access to a shared kitchen
- $50 Study Abroad Application Fee
- Mandatory Geo Blue International Health Insurance at a rate of $3 a day
- Application Deadline is March 1.
- Additional fees of $150 per course will be assessed for each course in the following disciplines: Wine Studies, Food, and Photography, including cross-listed courses. These extra fees will be billed directly to the students by IAU.
- Please check the IAU Calendar for more information on dates of the program.
- Other estimated costs include but are not limited to transportation (air & local), visa (if required), meals, books and supplies
- Please note these are estimated costs only, program costs are subject to change.
- UA Study Abroad scholarships are available based on eligibility.
- Once students are accepted by UArizona, they will be asked to start an application through IAU's portal.
- Students can choose between homestay, apartments, or condo-style student residences for housing. Participants are required to utilize the housing provided by the program. Housing placements and types of housing are subject to change depending on availability. For more information, visit IAU's housing website. Air conditioning is not common, so it should be an expectation that this will not be available in accommodations in Spain.
- Click on Summer Budget buttons below to see estimated budgets for the different sessions.
- Please use this Budget Book to create your own personalized budget.
Estimated 8 Week Summer Budget
Estimated 6 Week Summer Budget
Estimated 3 Week Summer Budget
Additional Excursions
Fall and Academic Year 2024 applications are currently open! Spring 2025 applications will open sometime in June 2024.
Spring 2024 Dates (Check the IAU Calendar for more information on the dates of the program.)
- UAbroad Application Deadline: September 15
- Early Start program arrival (optional, see below): January 15
- Regular program arrival: January 22
- Departure: April 27
Fall 2024 Dates (Check the IAU Calendar for more information on the dates of the program.)
- UAbroad Application Deadline: April 5
- Early Start program arrival (optional, see below): September 3
- Regular program arrival: September 9
- Departure: December 13
Spring 2025 Dates (Check the IAU Calendar for more information on the dates of the program.)
- UAbroad Application Deadline: September 15 (Applications NOT yet open)
- Early Start program arrival (optional, see below): January 13
- Regular program arrival: January 25
- Departure: April 26
Semester Cost
Below are the estimated costs of the program.
- You pay your Main Campus UA Tuition & Fees to study abroad and receive all of the financial aid you use on main campus
- Program Cost (this includes housing, orientation, activities, student support, excursions and other IAU fees): $6,665 per semester at UA Barcelona
- $50 Study Abroad Application Fee
- Mandatory Geo Blue International Health Insurance at a rate of $3 a day (approximately $360 a semester)
- Additional fees of $150 per course will be assessed for each course in the following disciplines: Wine Studies, Food, and Photography, including cross-listed courses. These extra fees will be billed directly to the students by IAU.
- Students can choose between homestay, apartments or condo-style student residences for housing. Participants are required to utilize the housing provided by the program. Housing placements and types of housing are subject to change depending on availability. For more information, visit IAU's housing website. Air conditioning is not common, so it should be an expectation that this will not be available in accommodations in Spain. Please note: homestay option includes breakfast and six dinners per week. Apartment option does NOT include any meals but students will have access to a shared kitchen. Under certain circumstances, an additional fee for apartments applies.
- Early start program (optional) is $500 and allows students to arrive one week early to adjust and participate in cultural activities ahead of program. The one credit is NOT transferrable to UArizona.
- Other estimated costs include but are not limited to transportation (air & local), visa, meals, books and supplies
- Please note these are estimated costs only, program costs are subject to change.
- UA Study Abroad scholarships are available based on eligibility.
- Once students are accepted by UArizona, they will be asked to start an application through IAU's portal.
- Click on the Spring or Fall Budget buttons below to see an estimated budget for the program.
- Please use this Budget Book to create your own personalized budget.
Additional Excursions
Request More Information
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