Co-op Agreements

Granada, Spain

Who?

To participate as a VU student (i.e., you would continue to receive any VU financial aid and the credits you earn would be considered VU rather than transfer credits):

You must have completed Spanish 204 plus at least one other 200-level class by the time you would begin the program.
You must be at least a junior as of the time you participate in the program. (Start inquiring freshman and sophomore years).
You must have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, and a 3.0 in Spanish.
You must be approved by the selection committee (the Spanish faculty and representatives from the International Studies Office).
You must be accepted by the Central College Program.

Note: participation as VU students, with the benefits outlined above, will be limited to four students per academic year.

What?

A fall-semester program of study at the Center for Modern Languages at the University of Granada in Spain. A full-year program is also available for interested students.

The semester begins with a two-week orientation program, designed to improve your oral and written skills, get you acquainted with the city, and to introduce you to Spanish daily life. At the end of this period, a placement test will be given to determine your level of Spanish: Intermediate, Accelerated, Honors, or Superior. The material covered is basically the same at all levels, but the classes are paced differently. Some general categories of study include: Spanish Business, Civilization, Culture, Contemporary Spanish Economics, History, Regional Geography, Literature, and Translation, among others. All students are required to take the Granada Seminar (1 credit) and Phonetics (1 credit), both of which are offered by Central College.

All courses are conducted in Spanish. Students will receive 2 credits for the orientation program, and then enroll in five more courses for 3 credits each. (Total: 12-19 credits)

Additional credit can be earned by doing an internship (2 credit hours).

Where?

Located in the heart of Andalusia, Granada is an ideal vantage point from which to see the rich weaving of Arab and Christian cultures that characterize southern Spain. Home to both the Moorish palace known as the Alhambra and to one of the oldest universities in the country, Granada couples exquisite historical sites with all the attractions of a modern Spanish city.

Students are housed with host families located throughout the city, or limited space may be available in family-run student residences. You may have a roommate who is another program participant. Meals are provided by the host family.

How?

Consult with your academic advisor and with one of the Spanish professors as early as possible. Freshman year is not too early to begin thinking about studying in Spain. With careful planning you can be sure that the courses you take in Granada will meet your major, minor or general education requirements, and that you will complete your degree program in four years.

Obtain a study abroad application form in the International Studies Office (137 Meier Hall). Applications should be submitted by October 1 of the academic year prior to going abroad.

How Much?

Basic Cost: Students pay the Central College program fees plus the VU general fee. Central College’s fees cover tuition, housing, board, and some excursions, and are comparable to the cost at VU.

Air fare: Students can expect to spend in the neighborhood of $1200 to $1400 for travel to and from Spain. Many of the discount flights described in newspapers are not useful for a semester abroad, since they are for short-term stays.

Board: In most cases, meals are included in the total fee, and will be provided by the host family.

Spending Money: Count on spending at least as much as you do in Valpo (probably more), though this amount varies greatly depending on your spending habits and how much you travel. Previous students estimated they spent about $2000 to $3000 per semester. If you buy a Eurail pass, you can expect to spend an extra $533-$1015, depending on what kind of a pass you purchase.

Awards: If you are selected to participate in this program as a VU student (see “Who?” section for details), all financial aid is applicable during the Spain semester, unless it requires on-campus participation (work-study, athletic, and music scholarships).

Contacts:

Prof. Ames Associate Professor of Spanish Meier 117 x 5102
Dr. McGuigan Director, International Studies Meier 137 x 5333
Prof. Zamora-Breckenridge Associate Professor of Spanish Meier 123 x 5283
Prof. Hoult-Saros Associate Professor of Spanish Meier 107 x5120
Prof. Miguel-Pueyo Asst. Professor of Spanish Meier 109 x5398

VU International Studies Office: studyabroad@valpo.edu

Central College:

website: http://www.central.edu/abroad

Apply now!

Download an application in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format. Fill out and return to the International Studies Office. It's that simple!