Program Info
Study Abroad in Granada: Courses
View and print all course descriptions
Recommended credits are shown in parentheses. Add/drop is permitted during the first 3 days of class. Please note that courses are subject to change at the discretion of the University of Granada.
INTENSIVE SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM (SESSIONS 1, 2, 3 OR 4)
All students take a Spanish language course. Sessions 2 and 3 Beginner level students may also opt to take the 1.5-credit Conversation Practice course.
Sessions 2 and 3 Intermediate, Advanced and Superior level students can opt to take the Conversation Practice course or a 1.5 credit subject course (taught in Spanish) from the Spanish Language and Culture Program shown below. When choosing electives please bear in mind that there may be scheduling conflicts.
Spanish Language Courses
Spanish 101 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Beginner A1
This level is for students who have no previous knowledge of
Spanish. During this course, students will be able to understand
and express themselves in everyday situations and those
related to the personal experiences of the learner, with basic
language recourses. Students will be able to exchange simple
and direct information. Included topics are: the present tense
indicative or regular and irregular verbs, demonstrative and
possessive adjectives, pronunciation and intonation, uses of
“ser”, “estar” and “hay”, frequent reflexive verbs and definite
and indefinite articles.
Spanish 102 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Elementary A2
Students who have studied Spanish only in high school, or 1 or
2 semester(s) in college generally place in this level. During this
course, students will be able to understand and express themselves
in everyday situations and those related to the personal
experiences of the learner, with basic language recourses.
Students will be able to exchange simple and direct information.
Included topics are: forms and uses of the gerund, forms
and uses of “gustar”, “encantar”, “interesar”, the differences
between “ser” and “estar”, the preterit perfect tense, positive
imperative and expressions of cause and excuse.
Spanish 103 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Pre-Intermediate A2+
A bridge level between the Elementary and Intermediate
levels, this course concentrates on increasing students’ oral
and written skills. Students who have studied 1 or 2 semesters
in high school generally place in this level. Students will be able
to ask for and give personal information, compare, express
opinions, security and insecurity and judgments. Grammar
topics include: demonstrative and possessive pronouns, direct
and indirect object pronouns, the preterit, the imperative and
the imperfect tenses.
Spanish 201 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Intermediate B1.1
Students who have studied Spanish throughout high school
and continued with 1 or 2 semester(s) in college, or students
who have 2 or 3 semesters in college, usually place in this level.
During this course, students will be able to understand and
express themselves in general situations that require the interchange
of information and show personal attitudes about a
multitude of familiar themes, not exclusively related to personal
experience. Specific content includes: contrasting uses of the
indefinite and the indicative perfect, morphology and uses of
the indicative imperfect, “hace”, impersonal “se”, “parecerse”,
and possessive adjectives and pronouns, making hypothesis.
Spanish 202 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Upper Intermediate B1.2
Students who have studied Spanish throughout high school
and continued with 2 or 3 semesters in college, or students
who have four semesters in college, usually place in this
level. Focus is on communication skills and grammar. During
this course, students will be able to understand and express
themselves in general situations that require the interchange of
information and show personal attitudes about a multitude of familiar themes, not exclusively related to personal experience.
Specific content includes: morphology and uses of the future
and conditional tenses, morphology and uses of the present
subjunctive, giving advice, morphology and uses of
the imperfect subjunctive.
Spanish 301 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Advanced B2.1
Students with at least 5 semesters of college Spanish, experience
living in a Spanish-speaking country or Spanish study on
a regular basis since elementary school usually place in this
level. During this course, students will be able to understand
and express themselves in multiple situations not necessarily
familiar to them that will require exchanging information and
personal opinions with complex linguistic structures. Specific
content includes: uses of the imperfect, preterit, conditional,
imperative and subjunctive, correlation of the tenses in specific
communicative situations—arguments, debates, degrees of
possibility, cause, consequence, etc., direct and indirect object
pronouns, and the impersonal “se”.
Spanish 302 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Upper Advanced B2.2
Students with at least 5 semesters of college Spanish, experience
living in a Spanish-speaking country or Spanish study on a
regular basis since elementary school usually place in this level.
During this course, students will be able to understand and express
themselves in multiple situations not necessarily familiar
to them that will require exchanging information and personal
opinions with complex linguistic structures. Specific content
includes: use of the subjunctive in forming opinions, values
and attitudes, marginal uses of the imperfect: dreams, fiction,
virtuosity, use of the compound conditional in the formulation
of hypothesis, and phonetic characteristics of Spanish.
Spanish 401 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Superior C1.1
Students with at least 6 semesters of college Spanish place
into this level. During this course, students will be able to
understand and express themselves correctly and with fluidity
in situations familiar to them and communicate adequately in
situations that are not familiar to them through linguistically
complex structures. Specific topics include: specific uses of
the infinitive, gerund, participle, conditional and future tenses,
particularities in the use of “ser” and “estar” and the passive
voice. Cultural content includes themes such as: “20th Century
Spanish History”, “The Cultural legacy: Christian, Jews and
Moors”, and “Gastronomy: The Mediterranean Diet”.
Spanish 402 (5) | Intensive Spanish Language–Proficiency C2
Bilingual students generally place into this level. During this
course, students will be able to understand and express themselves
correctly and with fluidity in situations familiar to them
and communicate adequately in situations that are not familiar
to them through linguistically complex structures. Specific topics
include: prepositional patterns of verbs; problematic prepositions;
proverbs and sayings; lexical adaptations on different
socio-linguistic levels, and varied conversational recourses.
Cultural content includes themes such as: “The Family Structure”,
“Principle Political, Cultural and Ideological Tendencies in
Today’s Spain”, “Bullfighting” and “Flamenco”.
Spanish 110/210/310/410 (0.5) (1.5) (Not available in Session 1) | Conversation Practice
Open to students at all levels. Students increase their communicative
competence through intensive practice in speaking
Spanish. Emphasis on pronunciation and vocabulary through
discussion of contemporary topics such as newspapers, magazines,
literary texts, songs and television commercials.
SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE PROGRAM (SESSIONS 2, 3, 4 OR 2 + 4 COMBINED)
This program is offered to students with an Intermediate and above level of Spanish. You can take any combination of courses adding up to 6 credits. All classes are taught in Spanish.
3-Credit Spanish Language Courses
Spanish 203 (3) | Spanish Language Intermediate B1
Students who have studied Spanish throughout high school and
continued with 1 or 2 semester(s) in college, or students who have
2 or 3 semesters in college, usually place in this level. During this
course, students will be able to understand and express themselves
in general situations that require the interchange of information
and show personal attitudes about a multitude of familiar
themes, not exclusively related to personal experience. Specific
content includes: contrasting uses of the indefinite and the indicative
perfect, morphology and uses of the indicative imperfect,
“hace”, impersonal “se”, “parecerse”, and possessive adjectives
and pronouns, making hypothesis. This course meets for 45 hours.
Spanish 303 (3) | Spanish Language Advanced B2
Students who have studied Spanish throughout high school
and continued with 2 or 3 semesters in college, or students who
have 4 semesters in college, usually place in this level. Focus on
communication skills and grammar. During this course, students
will be able to understand and express themselves in general
situations that require the interchange of information and show
personal attitudes about a multitude of familiar themes, not
exclusively related to personal experience. Specific content
includes: morphology and uses of the future and conditional
tenses, morphology and uses of the present subjunctive, giving
advice, morphology and uses of the imperfect subjunctive. This
course meets for 45 hours.
Spanish 403 (3) | Spanish Language Superior C
Students with at least 5 semesters of college Spanish, experience
living in a Spanish-speaking country or Spanish study on a
regular basis since elementary school usually place in this level.
During this course, students will be able to understand and
express themselves in multiple situations not necessarily familiar
to them that will require exchanging information and personal
opinions with complex linguistic structures. Specific content
includes: uses of the imperfect, preterit, conditional, imperative,
and subjunctive, correlation of the tenses in specific communicative
situations - arguments, debates, degrees of possibility,
cause, consequence, etc., direct and indirect object pronouns,
and the impersonal “se.” This course meets for 45 hours.
3-Credit Subject Courses
Art/History 303 (3) | General History and History of Art in Spain
Follows the development of Spanish art from its Arabic origins
to the present including Moslem, Visigothic, Mozarabic, Romanesque,
Mudejar, Gothic, and the Renaissance and Baroque
periods. Emphasis is placed on the Spanish masters: Velázquez,
Goya, Picasso and Dalí. After a brief introduction to Spain’s history,
this course covers aspects of contemporary history of Spain.
It reviews the political, social and economic problems from 1900
to 1975: Alfonso XII, the Civil War, and the Franco regime. This
course also covers the post-Franco transition to Democracy
including the Constitution of 1978.
Geography/History 303 (3) | Geography and History of Spain
Topics include Spain’s climate and vegetation, the development
of towns, and the current distribution of population, agriculture
and industry, internal communications, foreign trade, tourism
and the evolution of the Spanish economy. After a brief introduction
to Spain’s history, this course covers aspects of contemporary
history of Spain. It reviews the political, social and economic
problems from 1900 to 1975: Alfonso XII, the Civil War, and the
Franco regime. This course also covers the post-Franco transition
to Democracy including the Constitution of 1978.
Literature 303 (3) | Spanish and Latin American Literature
Traces the major movements and principal authors of Spanish
literature. Movements and periods studied include: Medieval
romances, the Siglo de Oro, Romanticism, 20th century. Genres
such as drama, poetry and novels are studied. Authors and works
such as La Celestina, El Lazarillo de Tormes, Miguel de Cervantes’
Don Quijote, Lope de Vega, and García Lorca are studied.
This course pursues literary trends of Latin American countries
throughout the 20th century. Authors and portions of works such
as Azuelo’s “Los de abajo”, Pablo Neruda, Jorge Luis Borge’s “Ficciones”,
Isabel Allende and Laura Esquivel are studied.
Religion/Sociology 310 (3) | Spanish and Islamic Civilization and Culture
Discusses the importance and the effect of Islamic rule on Spain’s
history, tradition, language, and culture. Topics include: the concept
of Islam, the message of the Koran, Andalucia under Islamic
rule, North African dynasties in Andalucia, the Nazari dynasty
of Granada, cultural, literary, and artistic aspects of Islam, and
Islamic architecture and symbols as exemplified by the Alhambra.
Spanish civilization and contemporary society are examined
through themes such as the relationships between professional,
labor and cultural sectors, the aging of the population, gypsies,
bullfighting, holidays, gastronomy and flamenco. Audio-visuals,
newspapers, magazines and texts are used.
Sociology 311 (3) | Spanish and Latin American Civilization and Culture
Spanish civilization and contemporary society are examined
through themes such as the relationships between professional,
labor and cultural sectors, the aging of the population, gypsies,
bullfighting, holidays, gastronomy and flamenco. Audio-visuals,
newspapers, magazines and texts are used. Basic elements of Hispano-American culture are addressed to provide an understanding
of its complexity. Topics include: the American geographic
environment, racial distribution and historical evolution,
demographics and problems of growth, family structure and
daily life, social groups and their behavior, political tendencies,
current ideologies, dependence, underdevelopment, external
debt, art and folklore.
1.5-Credit Subject Courses
Art 301 (1.5) | History of Art in Spain
Follows the development of Spanish art from its Arabic origins
to the present including Moslem, Visigothic, Mozarabic, Romanesque,
Mudejar, Gothic, and the Renaissance and Baroque
periods. Emphasis is placed on the Spanish masters: Velázquez,
Goya, Picasso and Dalí.
Geography 301 (1.5) | Geography of Spain
Topics include Spain’s climate and vegetation, the development
of towns, and the current distribution of population, agriculture
and industry, internal communications, foreign trade, tourism
and the evolution of the Spanish economy.
History 301 (1.5) | History of Spain
After a brief introduction to Spain’s history, this course covers
aspects of contemporary history of Spain. It reviews the political,
social and economic problems from 1900 to 1975: Alfonso XII,
the Civil War, and the Franco regime. This course also covers the
post-Franco transition to Democracy including the Constitution
of 1978.
Literature 301 (1.5) | Spanish Literature
Traces the major movements and principal authors of Spanish
literature. Movements and periods studied include: Medieval
romances, the Siglo de Oro, Romanticism, 20th century. Genres
such as drama, poetry and novels are studied. Authors and works
such as La Celestina, El Lazarillo de Tormes, Miguel de Cervantes’
Don Quijote, Lope de Vega, and García Lorca are studied.
Literature 302 (1.5) | Latin American Literature
This course pursues literary trends of Latin American countries
throughout the 20th century. Authors and portions of works such as Azuelo’s “Los de abajo”, Pablo Neruda, Jorge Luis Borge’s
“Ficciones”, Isabel Allende and Laura Esquivel are studied.
Spanish 315 (1.5) | The Diversity of Spanish in the World
Designed for students who already have a sufficient fluency in
the Spanish language and who wish to become more expressive
in the “everyday” language. Special attention is paid to vocabulary,
the semantic differences of words in Spain and in Latin
America, gestures, phrases, slang and sign language. Themes
are practiced through oral discussion, written essays, and audio
tapes transcribed by the students.
Spanish 317/417 (1.5) | An Introduction to Business Spanish
Offers a realistic and lively approach to situations students might
encounter in careers, especially if interested in improving their
knowledge of the Spanish business world from a cross-cultural
perspective. Students develop oral and written communication
skills and pursue topics with materials used in business.
Religion/Sociology 308 (1.5) | Islamic Culture in Spain
Discusses the importance and the effect of Islamic rule on Spain’s
history, tradition, language, and culture. Topics include: the concept
of Islam, the message of the Koran, Andalucia under Islamic
rule, North African dynasties in Andalucia, the Nazari dynasty
of Granada, cultural, literary, and artistic aspects of Islam, and
Islamic architecture and symbols as exemplified by the Alhambra.
Sociology 306/406 (1.5) | Spanish Civilization and Culture
Spanish civilization and contemporary society are examined
through themes such as the relationships between professional,
labor and cultural sectors, the aging of the population, gypsies,
bullfighting, holidays, gastronomy and flamenco. Audio-visuals,
newspapers, magazines and texts are used.
Sociology 309 (1.5) | Latin American Civilization and Culture
Basic elements of Hispano-American culture are addressed to
provide an understanding of its complexity. Topics include: the
American geographic environment, racial distribution and historical
evolution, demographics and problems of growth, family
structure and daily life, social groups and their behavior, political
tendencies, current ideologies, dependence, underdevelopment,
external debt, art and folklore.
