Duke in Spain

6-week summer advanced Spanish language and culture program

STUDY A CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL SPAIN

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The Duke in Spain summer program, hosted in the capital city of Madrid, is designed to offer its participants an introduction to the history and culture of Spain through a combination of course work, lectures, visits to cities, villages, and landscapes and other on-site experiences (flamenco events, concerts, nightlife, gastronomic experimentation). It also provides an ideal opportunity to hear and speak Spanish in a number of cultural environments. Academic guidance is provided by Duke Department of Romance Studies Visiting Assistant Professor, Marcos Canteli Vigón. In addition, Spanish professors and lecturers will expose participants to a rigorous understanding of the unique historical experience of Spain both in its imperial history and as a modern nation. Special attention will be paid to examining Madrid as a global epicenter and primary destination site for migrants from Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia. 

Program Fast Facts

Location: Madrid, Spain​​​​​​

Term: Summer I

Dates: May 16, 2024 - June 27, 2024

Application Deadline: February 1

Academic Theme(s): Spanish language, history, and culture

Credit Type: Duke Credit

Eligibility: The program is open to students who have completed four semesters of college Spanish or the equivalent, which will place them above the INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (at Duke, above SPANISH 204). Non-Duke students are welcome to apply.

Duke Affiliation: Co-sponsored by the Duke Department of Romance Studies

Housing: Residence Hall

Primary Contact: Marcos Canteli Vigon

  • Students explore Spanish art and culture during the Duke in Spain program

  • Duke in Spain students

  • The Duke in Madrid academic center is located in downtown Madrid

  • Students chat with program director Marcos Canteli while exploring Asturias

  • Examining aqueducts in Mallorca

  • Touring examples of Roman architecture in Cordoba

  • Overlooking Toledo, the city of three cultures

  • Enjoying the northern coast of Spain during an excursion to Asturias

  • Looking out over a town in Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands.

ACADEMICS

Students enroll in two courses, each for one credit. Classes will be taught exclusively in Spanish. Students must register for both courses. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted for either course. Duke students may apply the two Spanish courses towards their Spanish major or minor.

 

SPANISH 441A
Spain: Cultural Studies
(CCI, FL, CZ) 1 credit

Intensive course. Selected linguistic, literary, social, and political issues. Discussions on the role of the regional autonomies and the place of Spain within the European Union.

Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or the equivalent (4th semester of Spanish)

Instructor: Marcos Canteli Vigon

SPANISH 333A
Literature and the Arts in Modern Spain
(FL, ALP, CZ) 1 credit

Literature is one of the many genres and media artists have used to capture on-going transformations in our ways of looking at reality. This course will focus on the dialogue that exists between literature, painting, and film.

Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or the equivalent (4th semester of Spanish)

Instructor: Richard Rosa

 

EXCURSIONS

In addition to coursework, students will participate on cultural excursions in Madrid, such guided city tours, visits to museums and historical landmarks, and musical performances. In addition, students will participate on several day trips and excursions outside of Madrid. Past locations have included Toledo, Cordoba, Asturias, and Mallorca. 

HOUSING & MEALS

Housing

Residence Hall 

Students live in the residence hall Alojamiento para Estudiantes: Claraval. The residence hall is centrally located, five minutes walking from the Duke in Madrid Center and a one-minute walk to the San Bernardo Metro Station. 

Housing Form 

 After admission to the program, a housing questionnaire will be sent to collect more information about preferences and needs so that the program can best place you in your housing. 

Meals 

Residence Hall 

Students will be responsible for purchasing all their meals on the program. Each suite in the residence hall has a full-kitchen. 

Some meals are provided during program excursions. The program is able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. 

VISA & PASSPORT

VISA

No visa is required of U.S. citizens to participate in this program. However, you must have proof of a return ticket in order to enter Spain.

Non-U.S. citizens should pay special attention to the visa requirements for your specific citizenship by contacting the Spanish embassy. GEO can provide a letter that may be required as part of the visa application process. Please begin the visa process as soon as you have been admitted to the program to ensure you receive your visa in time for the program start date.

PASSPORT

All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IDENTITY CARD

An International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is optional. ISIC is the only internationally recognized form of student ID, endorsed by UNESCO. If purchased in the U.S., the card also carries with it a supplemental insurance policy, which can prove to be very helpful in the event of serious injury. You may purchase this card through www.myisic.com. Processing of the card takes between 4-15 days.

Costs

These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.

Summer 2024

  Duke Students Non-Duke Students
Tuition $5680 $5680
Program Fee $5400 $5400
Transcript Fee N/A $120
Other Costs See Cost Sheet See Cost Sheet
TOTAL (Estimated) $15,230 $15,350

Explanation of Costs

Financial Aid

Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.

Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.

Scholarships

This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:

DATES

Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.

  • Arrival: May 16, 2024
  • Departure: June 27, 2024

Flights

You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. Once you have a flight itinerary, log in to MyExperientialEd to update your travel registry.

Housing Before/After

You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date

MADRID FACULTY & STAFF

The Duke in Madrid academic center located in downtown Madrid features classrooms, a library and student workspace, a conference room, and staff offices.

The resident director is available year-round for academic or personal assistance. The administrative director and assistant coordinator place participants with families in Madrid and help students resolve everyday problems. Contact information for the staff will be provided upon acceptance.

Richard Rosa

Associate Professor of Romance Studies

Marcos Canteli Vigón

Duke in Madrid Resident Director

Eva Barroso

Duke in Madrid Asst. Coordinator

Nuria García

Duke in Madrid Admin. Director

Katie Lorentson

Duke in Madrid Program Assistant

Mattie Stevens, J.D.

GEO Assistant Director

ADMISSIONS

Deadline: February 1

This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.

Eligibility: Students must have completed Spanish 204 or the equivalent.

PriorityPriority is given to applicants who apply early and meet the prerequisites.

Minimum GPA: There is no minimum GPA.

Non-Duke studentsNon-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.

APPLY NOW

Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.

Submit the following items using MyExperientialEd

  1. Online application.
  2. Transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
  3. Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate on this program, and what you hope to gain from it. This can be written in English or Spanish.
  4. One language recommendation*

*If you have not taken a Spanish course at Duke, please request a letter of recommendation from a non-language professor. Then email marcos.cantelivigon@duke.edu, to set up an interview  to assess your language level. Recommendation letters from high school teachers will not be accepted.

STUDENT STORIES

Viva y Libre (Alive and Free)

"Creative writing, on the spot, in my second language, presented to strangers- home definitely felt 4,000 miles away."
 

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Duke in Spain Strengthened Jen's Love for Spanish

“Prior to the Duke in Spain program, I didn't have a lot of experience reading or writing in academic Spanish. The program allowed me to improve these areas through literary, historical and artistic angles."
 

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Mathilde's Summer of Becoming a Madrileña

"I have been learning the Spanish language for 12 years yet I have never used it outside the classroom. Duke in Spain gave me the opportunity to not only become more comfortable with the language but achieve fluency."
 

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A Spanish Excursion: Brandon Dalla Rosa

"I now realize the importance of mixing and understanding different cultures, and will definitely attempt to integrate that into any future job that I find. To any future students studying abroad, all I can say is to let your mind remain open to any possibilities that may occur, no matter how strange."
 

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