Learning Abroad in Spanish & Portuguese

“In my classes I am always impressed with how much confidence students have gained from their time spent studying abroad. They often demonstrate great leaps not only in their language proficiency, but also in their cultural competence and their appreciation for cultural difference. They gain immeasurably in their study of literature and culture from having lived and studied in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking country.”

Barbara Weissberger, Professor Emeritus

Have you always wanted to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking or Portuguese-speaking country, but you do not know where to begin? The following information will help familiarize you with some of the many programs available so you can determine if you want to study in the Medieval city of Toledo or the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires.

Department Recommendations

Contact your adviser in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies before beginning your study abroad research.

Choose your study abroad experience wisely

• Selecting the best program takes time, so begin planning your experience abroad with your adviser as early as possible.
• A properly chosen study abroad program will challenge your assumptions, deepen your knowledge, and broaden your understanding of global issues and cultures.
• Study abroad is one of the best ways to develop your language skills.
• A properly chosen study abroad experience allows students to develop flexibility, adaptability, critical thinking ability, communication skills, confidence, and other key qualities.

The Department strongly encourages all majors and minors to study abroad in a Spanish or Portuguese-speaking area. An ideal time to plan for study abroad is in the early stages of the 3xxx-level, returning to campus thereafter to take several advanced electives with departmental faculty in the culmination of the major.

Did you know that studying abroad can actually speed your academic progress toward achieving a major or minor? Many classes can function to fulfill university or degree requirements as well as departmental requirements. The Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies co-sponsors several programs with the Learning Abroad Center.

Department-Sponsored Program Locations

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Cuernavaca, México
• Madrid, Spain
• Toledo, Spain
• Quito, Ecuador (MSID)

Levels of departmental sponsorship

Department-sponsored programs

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese has a very special relationship with the four programs listed above.

Department-endorsed programs

The department has selected additional programs on the basis of two criteria: They work well for students majoring or minoring in Spanish or in Spanish and Portuguese, and they complement the department-sponsored programs by offering different locations, curricular directions, or teaching formats. Department-endorsed programs usually yield University of Minnesota resident credit.

Academic Planning

Fulfill Liberal Education requirements

• If you still have some of the University’s Liberal Education requirements remaining, consider completing them through a learning abroad experience.
• Almost every experience that lasts a minimum of three weeks and is worth at least 3 credits will satisfy Global Perspectives.
• Consult the Learning Abroad Center’s U Credit Abroad Search for courses that have been approved to satisfy Liberal Education requirements.

Fulfilling major or minor requirements

• If you are considering using study abroad coursework for a Spanish major or minor, it is highly recommended that you participate in a declaration session.
• Going on a study abroad program may help you complete the bulk of major or minor coursework, especially if you go through a department-sponsored program.
• Students rarely receive credit for Span 3015 or the three Critical Analysis courses (Span 3104, 3105, and 3107) taken anywhere other than at the Twin Cities campus or at department-sponsored programs.
• For non-department-sponsored programs, we advise taking courses on the literatures or cultures of Spain, Portugal, and/or Latin America that are taught in Spanish or Portuguese. Schedule an appointment with an adviser to determine if you are selecting courses that are likely to transfer and count toward the major or minor. Although we cannot guarantee this, we can help you minimize the risk of taking a course that will not do so.
• With all programs, you will need to petition the courses at the department level upon your return to campus.
• For information on transferring credit from study abroad, contact an adviser in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies.

Procedures for petitioning study abroad courses

• For department-sponsored programs go to the Spanish & Portuguese Studies Department Advising Office to discuss potential classes.
• For ALL other programs you will need to adhere to the following procedures:
  • Keep syllabi, papers, exams and any other graded work from each course. Without the syllabi and actual graded materials, you will not be able to receive Spanish/Portuguese credit from the department.
  • Wait until the credits are accepted by the UofM, i.e. until they appear as resident credit on your UofM transcript or as transfer credit on your APAS report.
  • Then submit all of your course materials to the advisers in the Spanish Department Advising Office, which is in 215 Folwell Hall. The evaluation of materials will take about 2 weeks. The Advising Office will email you when the evaluation is complete.

College/Department Scholarships for UofM Students

• CLA students can apply for CLA Study Abroad Scholarships in addition to other Learning Abroad Center scholarships
• Spanish and Portuguese Study Abroad Scholarships

Learning Abroad Programs

For help in deciding between Spanish language options, consult the Spanish Language Programs Comparison Chart (PDF).