Spain offers a wide variety of cultures and landscapes. In the north we find Galicia, the País Vasco and Cataluña each region characterized by a different language and by different local customs. The central regions are known for speaking what is considered the "standard" form of Castilian, for their hardy foods and their austerity. In the south, there are the hot, whitewashed towns of Andalucia, with their particular accent and folklore.
Located in the central region of Spain, Madrid has been a crossroads for many people throughout its long history. It is an exciting city full of contrasts, at once both popular and sophisticated; traditional and modern; sprawling yet small. For all its size, Madrid has been unable to diminish the Spaniards' individuality and overwhelming sense of the human quality of life. It is a city where people look for their entertainment in nightlife, movie houses, theaters, parks, museums, and in that most famous Spanish institution, the "cafe."
Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is a public university under the jurisdiction of the Spanish Government. It was founded in 1989. The university has an enrollment of approximately 13,500 students, who are taught by 1,205 university lecturers, and served by 450 members of the administrative staff. The university has three campuses in the environs of Madrid. Marist Abroad Program students attend courses on the Getafe campus.
Getafe is a town with a population of over 150,000 located to the south of Madrid. It is approximately 10 km. from the Madrid city center. The university campus has modern buildings surrounded by wide green spaces. There is easy access from the centre of Madrid by both train and bus - the ride is approximately 20 minutes.
Through homestays, optional internships, academic excursions, a language partner program, and direct enrollment at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, students come to know intimately the culture and society of Spain.
Students may study in Madrid for one semester earning 15 credits, or for an academic year to earn 30 credits. A full academic year is strongly encouraged.
The internship is open to advanced students of Spanish only.
The Program is administered by an on-site resident director who orients and advises students, arranges host family accommodation, internships, academic excursions, and acts as liaison with the Carlos III University.
Internships are optional. An internship is appropriate for students with an advanced command of Spanish, and who are in their second semester of an academic year in Spain. Students normally intern for 12-15 hours per week in a Spanish business or organization, and earn 3 credits. Additional credits may be earned according to the number of hours interned during the semester. Placements are individually arranged to fit a student's academic focus, career objectives, and personal background.
The internship placement process begins with the application, where students identify learning goals and objectives that may be fulfilled through an internship experience. A final decision on placement occurs after the resident director interviews the student and discusses the various options available. This process helps to assure that a student will be matched with the appropriate internship.
Students are evaluated at the end of the semester by an on-site supervisor. A faculty supervisor at Marist College determines the grade based on the on-site evaluation, the student's journals, and other written assignments. An outline of the internship course requirements is available from the Marist Abroad Program Office.
The Course in Hispanic Studies (Curso de Estudios Hispanicos) program at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is designed to broaden knowledge of Spanish language and culture. The program also provides an opportunity for students to integrate into Spanish university life, and thoroughly learn about contemporary Spanish and European society.
Classes currently offered in the Hispanic Studies program:
In addition to the Hispanic Studies courses, and regular University classes, students may also enroll in specialized 1 or 2 credit humanities courses that full-time students at the university are required to take. These humanities courses cover specific subjects in a variety of fields. They are an excellent way of sharing university life with Spanish students. Enrollment in humanities courses is subject to space availability.
Students may earn 15 credit hours per semester. Detailed course descriptions are available from the Marist Abroad Program Office.
The program fosters cultural immersion into Spanish language and culture by placing students in homestays in Madrid. Homestays provide a privileged and valuable learning experience in which students are able to form personal relationships with their Spanish hosts and achieve an understanding of the rituals of Spanish life unavailable to tourists and participants in many other study abroad programs. In their evaluations, returning students usually rate the homestay as one of the best aspects of their abroad experience. In the homestay students are entitled to three meals a day, a daily shower, and a small load of clothing washed a week. In selecting homestays, the program emphasizes cleanliness, quality and quantity of food, general conditions of the apartment and location.
Fall semester: Early September to Mid-December
Spring semester: Early February to late May/early June
A full academic year is strongly encouraged.
The program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors at accredited colleges or universities who have reached the level of intermediate to advanced Spanish. Applicants must be in good academic standing and should have a minimum GPA of 2.8. Students desiring internships should have appropriate experience in the field in which they wish to intern.
The application requires an official transcript of all college-level work, an essay, a writing sample in Spanish, and two academic recommendations, including one from the most recent Spanish-language instructor, among other forms.
Applications are available from the Marist Abroad Program Office, or may be downloaded at www.marist.edu/international/forms.html
