Costa Rica / Ecuador / Granada / Asturias / Barcelona / Bilbao / Other programs / Language Assessments / Contact
Two programs exist specifically to help Spanish majors and minors earn SPAN credit through language and cultural immersion: Illinois in Costa Rica: Spanish, Culture and Community and Illinois in Spain: Spanish Studies in Granada.
Other suitable options for Spanish majors and minors include our programs in Asturias and Barcelona (Spain), as well as Quito (Ecuador). Our Barcelona program is well-suited for students who also want to take coursework in another area like Political Science or Psychology.
Spanish credit is not guaranteed for other study abroad programs in Spanish-speaking countries that are not evaluated directly by Spanish faculty. To request articulation, go to "Study Abroad Course (299) Approvers," scroll to "Spanish" and complete the form.
Advising: Spanish majors and minors participating in the programs listed here are advised in academic matters by the Spanish advisor. For all other matters (finances, accommodation, etc.) students should contact LAS International Programs (las-studyabroad@illinois.edu) or schedule an appointment here (select "LAS International Programs Calendar").
Education abroad is more accessible than you might think. Please consult with your advisors to determine your possibilities.
Departmental scholarships for study abroad are available.
The Safety Abroad website provides detailed information, resources, and tips to students, faculty, and staff traveling abroad.
Residential Programs
Residential programs are supervised and approved by the Department of Spanish & Portuguese, meaning their robust course offerings are all pre-approved and pre-articulated.
A. LATIN AMERICA
Costa Rica
Read more about the semester-long Illinois in Costa Rica: Spanish, Culture and Community
Click here for info about the Summer in Costa Rica program
Students must have completed Spanish 141 (or equivalent) prior to start of program
Fall, spring and summer options
Based in the town of San Joaquín de Flores
Core courses in culture, literature, environmental studies
Students can expect to earn 12-18 hrs. of SPAN credit during semester programs and 6-12 hrs. during the summer program.
Ecuador, Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Read more about Illinois in Ecuador at Universidad San Francisco de Quito - Cumbayá
Fall, spring, and academic year options
The majority of course work will be taught entirely in Spanish
Minimum GPA of 2.50 (3.00 recommended)
Homestays are required
B. SPAIN
Universidad de Granada, Centro de Lenguas Modernas (Spain)
Read more about the semester-long Illinois in Spain: Spanish Studies in Granada
Students must have completed Spanish 141 (or equivalent) prior to start of program
Fall, spring and academic year options
Minimum GPA: 2.5 (3 preferred)
Students can expect to earn 16-19 hrs. of SPAN credit during semester programs.
IFE (Institute for Field Education) in Asturias (Spain)
Read more about IFE in Asturias (Spain)
Fall and spring options
Strongly recommended to have completed at least one semester of 200-level Spanish
Minimum GPA of 3.00
A three-month internship (práctica) is the main feature of this program. Students can expect to return with 19 cr. hrs. of 300-level SPAN credit, which includes the internship and the following coursework: History and Cultural Foundation of Spain and Asturias; Asturias and the Dynamics of Social Transformation; Spanish and Asturias Socioeconomics; Seminar on Intercultural Learning.
Illinois in Spain at Barcelona SAE
Read more about Illinois in Spain at Barcelona SAE
Fall and spring options
Strongly recommended to have completed at least one semester of 200-level Spanish
Minimum GPA of 3.00
Homestay options available
Students can expect to earn 12-15 hrs. of SPAN credit.
Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao (Spain)
[note: this program is not currently running, effective August 2022]
Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
OTHER PROGRAMS
MSID Ecuador – International Development
Link to the program brochure: https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10439
Fall, spring, and academic year options
Field experience is an integral part of all courses. Students spend 7 weeks engaged in coursework in Quito, followed by 6 weeks working as an intern or conducting a research project with a local grassroots organization.
Minimum GPA of 2.50 (3.00 recommended)
Homestays are required
Study and Intern at the University of Congreso in Argentina
Link to the program brochure: https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=11016
Fall and spring options
Located in Mendoza, Argentina
Offers various levels of Spanish language classes and internships
Minimum GPA of 2.80 (3.00 recommended)
Homestays are required
Tecnológico de Monterrey - Ciudad de México
Link to the program brochure: https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=10013
Fall, spring, and academic year options
Offers various levels of Spanish language classes
Minimum GPA of 2.90 (3.00 recommended)
Homestay options available
LANGUAGE ASSESSMENTS
The Spanish department is unable to offer language assessments for students who are not declared Spanish majors or minors and/or who are studying abroad in programs we do not supervise directly. If Spanish evaluations are needed for programs other than LAS Barcelona, Costa Rica or Granada, please contact the sponsoring department and College directly.
Exception: IPENG programs’ students (Engineering students) and Fulbright applicants can contact Pilar Martínez-Quiroga at pquiroga@illinois.edu.
Be aware that all petitions will be processed within 3-6 working days from the moment they are received. Please plan accordingly. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese does not have the staff to accommodate urgent requests.
For graduate students requiring a Spanish reading proficiency exam, please visit our graduate website.
CONTACT
- Brady Hughes, Spanish Undergraduate advisor (bahughe2@illinois.edu)
- Ann Abbott, Director of Undergraduate Studies (arabbott@illinois.edu)