Semester or Year Abroad: Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The University of Kansas (KU) program in Santiago de Compostela, Spain offers students the opportunity to take advanced level Spanish language, literature, and culture courses in a city of great historical and cultural significance. Students earn academic credit, improve their language skills and experience Spanish culture firsthand by living with local students and participating in program activities and excursions.

Santiago de Compostela

For more than a millennium, pilgrims have followed the Camino de Santiago to Santiago de Compostela where, according to legend, Saint James' body miraculously appeared and is now entombed.

Located in the northwest corner of Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela is considered by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. With its Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque buildings, the Old Town of Santiago is one of the world's most beautiful urban areas and boasts such masterpieces as the Cathedral of Santiago and the Hotel de los Reyes Católicos.

Present-day Santiago de Compostela is still a popular pilgrimage site as well as a university town. It is home to approximately 100,000 residents and an additional 30,000 university students. Like much of Galicia, it offers a cool, moist climate with beautiful countryside.

Learn more about Santiago de Compostela at . . .www.santiagoturismo.com/

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC)

The University of Santiago de Compostela dates back to 1495 with the founding of a school for the poor known as the “Grammar Academy.” Today, the University of Santiago de Compostela is home to more than 33,000 students, divided across two campuses: Santiago de Compostela and Lugo. The USC includes 30 centers, nearly 80 academic departments, and more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition, the University houses numerous research institutes, halls of residence, sports and cultural facilities, and libraries.

The University of Santiago de Compostela website is a great resource for students interested in study in Spain. Information is provided on the University, the city of Santiago (including live web cams), the autonomous community of Galicia, and travel and tourism in Spain.

Visit the USC website at www.usc.es.

Grupo de Kansas

The University of Kansas maintains an office located on the USC campus. The Resident Director and program staff advise students on all matters related to academics and housing, and organize excursions and gatherings.

Academic Program

All students will take one high-intermedate or advanced Spanish language course offered through  Cursos Intenacionales (CI) at the University of Santiago de Compostela. Placement is determined by a proficiency exam at the beginning of the semester. The CI class is credited by KU as a three-credit Spanish grammar course and a two-credit conversation course appropriate to each student’s academic level.

In addition to the CI class, students select three courses from the high-intermediate or advanced level. Classes are taught in Spanish by native program faculty, who hold advanced degrees from American and Spanish universities.

Courses offered during the Fall and Spring semesters:

All courses are subject to change.

Fall Semester courses:

212 *	Intermediate Spanish I (3)
216 *	Intermediate Spanish II (3)
270	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization II-A: __ (3)
322 *	Spanish Grammar: Form and Meaning in Context (3)
323	Spanish Composition and Cultural Analysis (3)
328 *	Intermediate Spanish Conversation I (2)
340	Textual Analysis and Critical Reading (3)
370	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization III-A:__ (3)
371	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization III-B:__ (3)
424 *	Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar (3)
428 *	Advanced Spanish Conversation (2)
429	Spanish Phonetics (3)
448	Spanish Language and Culture for Business (3)

Spring Semester courses:

212 *	Intermediate Spanish I (3)
216 *	Intermediate Spanish II (3)
270	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization II-A: __ (3)
322 *	Spanish Grammar: Form and Meaning in Context (3)
323	Spanish Composition and Cultural Analysis (3)
328 *	Intermediate Spanish Conversation I (2)
346	Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures (3)
370	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization III-A:__ (3)
371	Hispanic Language, Culture, and Civilization III-B:__ (3)
424 *	Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar (3)
428 *	Advanced Spanish Conversation (2)
429	Spanish Phonetics (3)
440/453	Hispanic Studies: __/Twentieth-century Spanish Studies (3) (rotating yearly; 440 in 2010; 340 is prereq.)
446	Spanish Culture (3)
448	Spanish Language and Culture for Business (3)

*Denotes that KU course equivalents for courses taught by Cursos Internacionales are determined both by your on-site placement exam results and previous coursework completed.

Click here for course descriptions.

Program Handbook [PDF] (for accepted students)

Group excursions

One or two weekend trips, and one week-long excursion are included in the cost of the program. Group excursions compliment the academic content by providing students the opportunity to view first-hand, the cultural and historic sites of Spain. Destinations on week-long excursions may vary, and typically include two or more of the following sites: Madrid, Toledo, León, Salamanca, Granada, Cordoba, and Sevilla. All excursions are guided by the Resident Director and program faculty.

Accommodations

Students will live in student apartments with Spaniards. Apartments in Spain are comfortable and well equipped, and typically include single or double bedrooms, a bathroom, common living area, and kitchen.

Dates

2009-2010 Academic Year (all dates are tentative)

Fall semester: September 3 - December 19, 2009
Spring semester: early January - mid-May 2010

Eligibility

Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university who have completed a miminum of two semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent (i.e., KU SPAN 111). Students must also hold a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a B average in Spanish, and have strong recommendations from their instructors.

Cost

2009 - 2010 Academic Year

Program Fee : Approximately $8,350 for one semester, or $16,700 for the academic year (approximately $10,612 and $21,175 for non-KU students).

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 9 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $1,970 *

*actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

Additional Costs: airfare, meals, books, passport and visa fees, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1 for Fall and October 1 for Spring.

Non-KU students should check into the resources available to them at their home institution.

Application Procedures

Deadline for Fall: March 1
Deadline for Spring: October 1

Applications are available in the KU Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the application. Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered with prior approval of the program coordinator at the Office of Study Abroad.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

Useful Links

KU Department of Spanish and Portuguese
City of Santiago
University of Santiago
Cursos Internacionales at USC
Santiago Tourism