Located in the heart of Spain and boasting a population of over 3 million, Madrid serves as the nation's capital and center of political power. The city is known for its vibrant social scene and rich cultural life and is home to a number of world-class museums and art galleries, including the Museo del Prado. Given its central location, Madrid is ideally suited for students to explore Spain's diverse regions as well as Portugal, its neighbor on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Madrid program is based at Suffolk University's Madrid campus, where students will take four courses taught in Spanish. The curriculum is designed to develop the student's linguistic skills as well as to introduce them to the literature and culture of Spain.
Spanish Cinema
In this course, students will examine the production of the major
Spanish filmmakers from Buñuel to Almodóvar. In order to
benefit from the site, the course will also include a segment on
directors whose films will be playing in Madrid during the semester.
Through film screenings, class discussions, and readings on film
theory and film history, class participants will trace the evolution
of Spanish cinema through Franco's military dictatorship and under
the new democratic system. Themes of exile and censorship, gender and
sexuality, religion and sin, love and death, among others, will be
explored in the context of Spanish society and in relation to other
artistic manifestations of Spanish culture.
Seminar: Contemporary Spain
This course aims to provide students with an intellectual space to
read, speak, and write about the events and the issues that make up
the cultural fabric of contemporary Spain. Through analysis of text,
and the media's coverage of current events, students will gain a
deeper understanding of the place that will be their "home" for a
semester. An overview of the civil war and the Franco period will
serve as an introduction to the principal focus of the course: Spain
since 1975. The meaning of key events of the transition to democracy,
such as Tejero's coup in 1981, will be analyzed in the context of
Spain's pathway to modernity. Major themes that will be discussed
are: the role of religion and the Catholic Church; family values and
the sexual revolution; racial configurations in contemporary society;
and Spanish changing traditions in the context of "globalization."
Topics such as the monarchy; the sequels of Franco's regime; gypsies,
ethnicity and immigration; linguistic diversity and national
identity, among others, will be coordinated with the calendar of
excursions included in the program. Students will keep a journal
which will include academic writing as well as personal reflections
on the off-campus experience. The class will consist of lectures and
group discussions that will be designed with an understanding of the
students' different linguistic abilities. Class projects, such as
interviewing Spaniards on current issues, will be designed to make
use of the site and to foster a more intimate connection between the
program participants and their environment.
Two additional courses will be selected from a list of offerings from Suffolk faculty members (one of which may be a language course). Courses that previously have been offered include:
The Madrid program is of particular interest to students majoring or minoring in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, or students who wish to further enhance their Spanish language skills.
This program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in good social and academic standing who have a minimum GPA of 2.5. Students must have completed 5 semesters of college-level Spanish (or the equivalent), including at least 1 course at Level II, or must receive permission from the program director. Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.
Students are placed in homestays in order to provide the most intensive language-immersion experience possible. The Faculty Director and Suffolk staff members keep in close contact with participants and are available for assistance as needed.
A variety of excursions linked to courses will be organized. On previous programs, excursions were organized to Andalucia, Barcelona, Segovia, and Toledo. There are opportunities to visit historic sites and participate in cultural activities in and around Madrid, including theater, concerts, and museums.
Students will be charged standard HWS tuition and room fees, a 2/3 board fee, and a $500 administrative fee. This will cover credit for a four-credit semester, course-related excursions, and homestay with partial board. Stu- dents should bring the remaining 1/3 board to cover meals not included. Additional expenses not covered include airfare, visa, books and other course related materials, and personal expenses (entertainment, some local ground transportation and independent travel). We estimate airfare for this program at $700-$800 from the East Coast, visa at $150 and books and course-related materials at $250. It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of per- sonal expenses because student spending habits differ considerably. We would suggest a minimum of $1,500 above and beyond meal expenses. However, students on a tight budget should be able to manage with less. If you are concerned about finances, we strongly encourage you to talk to the CGE staff who can offer information and advice based on your specific situation.
NOTE: The information contained in this brochure is subject to change. Please see the CGE for more information.
