Located in the heart of Spain and boasting a population of over 3 million, Madrid serves as the nation’s capital and center of political power. The city is known for its vibrant social scene and rich cultural life and is home to a number of world-class museums and art galleries, including the Museo del Prado. Given its central location, Madrid is ideally suited for students to explore Spain’s diverse regions as well as Portugal, its neighbor on the Iberian Peninsula.
The Madrid program is based at Suffolk University’s Madrid campus, where students will take four courses taught in Spanish. The curriculum is designed to develop the student’s linguistic skills as well as to introduce them to the literature and culture of Spain.
Students on this program take four courses. In addition to a course taught by the HWS Faculty Director, students will take an interdisciplinary course entitled “Madrid Hoy”, organized by the Faculty Director and featuring a number of guest lecturers. Two additional courses will be selected from a list of offerings from Suffolk faculty members (one of which must be a language course). Courses that have previously been offered include:
The Madrid program is of particular interest to students majoring or minoring in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, or students who wish to further enhance their Spanish language skills.
This program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in good social and academic standing who have a minimum GPA of 2.5. In addition, prior to participation in the program, Spanish majors are required to have no less than a B in Advanced Grammar; non-majors no less than a B in Intermediate Spanish. Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.
Students are placed in homestays in order to provide the most intensive language-immersion experience possible. The Faculty Director and Suffolk staff members keep in close contact with participants and are available for assistance as needed.
A variety of excursions linked to courses will be organized. On previous programs, excursions were organized to Andalucia, Barcelona, Segovia, and Toledo. There are opportunities to visit historic sites and participate in cultural activities in and around Madrid, including theater, concerts, and museums.
Students will be charged standard HWS tuition and room fees, a 2/3 board fee, and a $500 administrative fee. This will cover credit for a four-credit semester, course-related excursions, and homestay with partial board. Students should bring the remaining 1/3 board to cover meals not included. Additional expenses not covered include airfare, visa, books and other course related materials, and personal expenses (entertainment, some local ground transportation and independent travel). We estimate airfare for this program at $700-$800 from the East Coast, visa at $100 and books and course-related materials at $250. It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of personal expenses because student spending habits differ considerably. We would suggest a minimum of $1,000. However, students on a tight budget should be able to manage with less. If you are concerned about finances, we strongly encourage you to talk to the CGE staff who can offer information and advice based on your specific situation.
NOTE: The information contained in this brochure is subject to change. Please see the CGE for more information.