Duke in Spain
6-week summer advanced Spanish language and culture program
Program Alert
The Duke in Spain program is suspended for summer 2021. Please review GEO’s COVID-19 response page for more details: https://globaled.duke.edu/covid-19-response.
Study Spain’s contemporary arts & culture
Apply NowThe 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 the cultural ties of Spain with Europe.
Program Fast Facts
Location: Madrid, Spain
Term: Summer
Dates: May 17 – June 27, 2020
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: Homestay in Private Homes
GEO Advisor: Abigail Grubbs
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Students explore Spanish art and culture during the Duke in Spain program
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Duke in Spain students
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The Duke in Madrid academic center is located in downtown Madrid
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Students chat with program director Marcos Canteli while exploring Asturias
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Examining aqueducts in Mallorca
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Touring examples of Roman architecture in Cordoba
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Overlooking Toledo, the city of three cultures
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Enjoying the northern coast of Spain during an excursion to Asturias
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Looking out over a town in Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands.
ACADEMICS
Students will take two courses, each offering one Duke credit. Both courses are taught in Spanish, with one focusing on literature, and the other on cultural studies and current issues. Duke students may apply the two Spanish courses towards their Spanish major or minor. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted.
SPANISH 333A
Literature and the Visual Arts in Spain
FL, CZ, ALP, 1.0 Duke credit
Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or the equivalent (4th semester of Spanish)
Literature is just one of the many genres and media that artists have used to capture the on-going transformations in our ways of looking at reality. The dialogue between literature, painting, and film will be the main focus of this course.
SPANISH 441A
SPAIN: CULTURAL STUDIES
CCI, CZ, FL, 1.0 Duke credit
Prerequisite: Spanish 204 or the equivalent (4th semester of Spanish)
Intensive course. The main objective of this course is to give an introductory overview of Spanish Contemporary Culture, exploring some key texts and cultural documents.
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
Duke in Spain students will live in carefully-selected homestay families. Each student is individually placed with the selected family. Living with a family fully immerses students into the Spanish lifestyle, language, and culture, providing access to the city in ways that campus life cannot provide. Students will live in a single room with their own bed, desk, and closet. They may share a bathroom with other family members. Duke in Spain host family homes have wireless internet access.
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 check visa requirements for their specific citizenship by contacting the Spanish embassy to find out if any visa requirements or restrictions are in effect.
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 required. 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. Please order your card well in advance of your departure.
Costs
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Summer 2020
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,158 | $7,158 |
| Program Fee | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $40 |
| Other Costs | Other Costs | Other Costs |
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $12,308 | $12,348 |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- Meals with host family and while on excursion
- International SOS coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Internet usage
- Laundry
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airfare
- Airport transportation to/from program site
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Visa (if needed)
- Passport
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Textbooks and class materials
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
- Mobile phone
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Upon acceptance to the program, you must submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyGlobalEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $1,500-2,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
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 17, 2020
- Departure: June 27, 2020
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 MyGlobalEd 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 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.
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.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who apply early and meet the prerequisites.
Minimum GPA: There is no minimum GPA.
Non-Duke students: Non-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.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
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 MyGlobalEd:
- Online application.
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- 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.
- One academic letter of recommendation, preferably from a Duke Spanish language professor noting your linguistic and academic abilities.*
*If you have not taken a Spanish course at Duke, please request a letter of recommendation from a non-language professor. Then email Richard Rosa to set up an interview to assess your language level. Recommendation letters from high school teachers will not be accepted.
STUDENT STORIES
Meet with a GEO advisor
Not sure where to start? Prefer to talk to someone? Schedule an appointment with a GEO advisor to get personalized recommendations and answers to your questions.