Madrid, Spain

Summer Abroad - Madrid, Spain

Immerse yourself in Spanish language, history, and culture during this six-week intensive program in Madrid, Spain's cultural and political capital.

Summer 2023 applications are now closed.

Application Open

October 31, 2022

Early Application Deadline

January 15, 2023

Final Application Deadline

March 10, 2023

Thursday, May 18, 2023 Recommended arrival in Madrid
Thursday, May 18, 2023 Program housing check-in date
Friday, May 19, 2023 On-site orientation
Monday, May 22, 2023 Classes start
Friday, June 23, 2023 Classes end
Saturday, June 24, 2023 Program housing last checkout date

All students register for a total of two course units (c.u.)*. Course offerings are subject to change. The minimum requirement to participate in the program is successful completion of SPAN 0400, 0305, 0340 (or equivalent) by the start of the program.

Advanced Spanish II: Grammar and Composition

SPAN 1200 (1 c.u.)

Spanish 1200 is an advanced-level language course that emphasizes the acquisition of the tools necessary for successful written expression in Spanish. These tools include a solid knowledge of the major points of Spanish grammar, an ample vocabulary, control of the mechanics of the language (spelling, punctuation, etc.), and a thorough understanding of the writing process. Throughout the semester, students will use these tools to analyze authentic texts and to produce a variety of written assignments. By the end of the course, students will have developed their awareness of the norms of standard Spanish and learned to incorporate these features into their own writing. The class will be conducted in Spanish and students are expected to speak in Spanish at all times. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.

Foundations of Spanish Culture and Civilization

SPAN 1300 (1 c.u.)

A general introduction to the study of Spanish culture, this course is designed to help students understand the historical foundations of contemporary Spanish society, its values, and its institutions. The focus is on the main events of Spanish history and the origins and continuity of social and political institutions from pre-modern Spain up to the beginning of the modern era. This course is offered in the Penn-in-Madrid summer program.

Modern and Contemporary Spanish Literature

SPAN 3430 (1 c.u.)

This course, which complements SPAN 3500, will introduce students to the intersectionality of the main literary, historical, and social currents in modern and contemporary Spain

Madrid: Art and Society

(Term title for Studies in Modern and Contemporary Spanish Culture)

SPAN 3500 (1 c.u.)

This course offers a survey of Spanish modern and contemporary art history, with a special focus on Madrid. (Additionally, we will see some architectonic and artistic examples in various other Spanish cities that students are likely to visit, such as Barcelona, Sevilla, or Toledo). Its main objective is to provide students with a useful tool to explore and understand the city in which they will be living and studying during these weeks. As an introduction, we will examine Madrid’s origins and its important mannerist, baroque, and neoclassic heritage, framing the transformation of the city into the kingdom’s capital during the Hapsburg and early Bourbon reigns. But the core of our course will be the 19th and 20th centuries: Romanticism, Real-Naturalism, Modernism, the Avant-Garde, the impact of the Franco dictatorship on Spanish arts, and its later evolution after the return to constitutional monarchy in 1975. Students will have a very active role in the development of the course, both inside and outside the classroom –touring and reporting on neighborhoods, museums, and important landmarks.

Students will live in dormitory style housing.

Tuition and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and may change without notice.

  • Tuition for summer 2023: 2022 tuition $4,830/c.u. 2023 tuition will be updated once available.
  • Program fee for summer 2023: 2,860
    • Penn Summer Abroad deposits ($500) will be credited to students’ accounts when final program costs are posted
    • Includes administrative costs, cancellation insurance, accommodations, and cultural activities

Payment is due according to Penn’s Student Registration and Financial Services billing schedule.

Download: Cost Sheet (PDF)

Penn Summer Abroad disclaimer

The running of all 2023 Penn Summer Abroad programs is dependent on approval from the Committee on Travel Risk Assessment (CTRA). Please be advised, CTRA approval may also be rescinded at any time prior to the running of the program. Programs may also be canceled independently of the CTRA process. Any of these scenarios would result in your summer 2023 Penn Summer Abroad Program not moving forward. All PSA students are strongly encouraged to consider the consequences if their summer 2023 program is canceled for any reason. Cancellations carry financial risks as well as academic risks, including the potential impact on academic progress.

For up-to-date information about safety and COVID-19 protocols, please visit the Penn Coronavirus website.

Contact Information

For details about the program, courses, or location including academic advising, travel dates, housing, and orientation:

Óscar E. Montoya

Program Director
Dr. Óscar E. Montoya
University of Pennsylvania
Tel: (215) 898-5626
omontoya@sas.upenn.edu

For assistance with the application, financial questions, pre-departure, or other general information:

Penn Summer Abroad Office

Penn Summer Abroad Office
College of Liberal and Professional Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Fisher-Bennett Hall, Room 101
3340 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19104-3335
Tel: (215) 898-7326
summerabroad@sas.upenn.edu


*Academic credit is defined by the University of Pennsylvania as a course unit (c.u.). A course unit (c.u.) is a general measure of academic work over a period of time, typically a term (semester or summer). A c.u. (or a fraction of a c.u.) represents different types of academic work across different types of academic programs and is the basic unit of progress toward a degree. One c.u. is usually converted to a four-semester-hour course.