Advanced Humanities & Social Sciences
2010/2011 Year - Academics

Academic Focus

The Advanced Humanities & Social Sciences Program at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) offers you the opportunity to acquire and improve your Spanish language skills, while increasing your knowledge about the Spanish culture through electives offered in both English and Spanish. During the semester, you will enroll in one language course and up to three electives, instructed in either Spanish or English. At least one of the electives must be instructed in Spanish. Your electives will help you gain insight into the history, literature and sociology of Spain while allowing you to earn credits toward your major or graduation requirements.

This program also features an Integrated Studies option, where students may select up to two courses from Pompeu Fabra University's regular course listing. This will allow you to experience partial immersion into the Spanish university system by taking content courses with host national students. Classes at Pompeu Fabra are taught in a wide variety of subject areas, including History, Literature, Biology, Computer Science, Law, and Political Science. Most courses are instructed in Spanish, though some may also be instructed in English. Those students planning to take courses in Spanish must be at the advanced language level.

Spanish language courses meet for a total of 90 contact hours each semester, and are generally worth 6 credits in the U.S. semester system. Liberal Arts electives meet for 45 contact hours, and are generally worth 3 credits in the US semester system. UPF courses range in contact hours and recommended credits, though most meet for 45 - 60 contact hours, or 3 - 4 credits, per semester. All students must enroll in a total of 3 - 4 courses each semester. Year students are not required to take a second Spanish language course in the spring, but may do so if they wish.

Program Goals

Students will acquire, entirely immersed within a Spanish University, level-appropriate Spanish skills in grammar, aural and reading comprehension, and oral and written expression. They will also develop and apply appropriate cognitive, behavioral, affective, ethical, intercultural and communicative skills for analyzing and evaluating targeted cultural concepts and issues in the Humanities and Social Science fields while simultaneously identifying and articulating salient cultural differences in the host country’s approach to such issues, all considered within the larger context of globalization. Students successfully achieving these objectives will strengthen communicative and language skills, develop cognitive abilities, and acquire targeted global learning.

Schedule Summary

Through formal and informal learning connected to the host university, city, people and culture; and by applying appropriate cognitive, affective, behavioral, ethical and intercultural tools; students will develop and articulate:

• discipline-based knowledge in the humanities, sciences or social sciences;
• analytic insight into salient cultural differences in the host country’s approach to targeted concepts and issues within these fields, all considered within the larger context of globalization;
• Spanish language and intercultural communication skills; and
• (for Integrated Studies students) level-appropriate Spanish language skills for study in these fields.

Course Registration

Students must register for courses prior to departure for Barcelona. A course selection form will be sent to you upon acceptance to the program and should be turned in with your program confirmation, or no later than the application closure date for your program. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so it is in your best interest to submit your course selection form as soon as possible.

You will be given a language placement exam on the first day of class. Though you will register for courses prior to your departure for Spain, final registration for language classes will not take place until after your language level has been assessed. Note that registration in your electives is final, regardless of your final language placement. You will receive further information regarding registration deadlines after acceptance to the program. To aid in the registration process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to departure. Any changes to your course selection after registrations have been finalized must be coordinated through the onsite director.