Study & Intern in Barcelona

Spanish Beginner 1 is designed for students with no previous experience with the language, this course offers a unique opportunity to learn Spanish while fully immersing in the vibrant culture of Barcelona and the Catalan region. You will develop foundational skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a focus on daily and intercultural communication. Through diverse teaching methods, including interactive classroom activities and field studies, you will put your language knowledge into practice in real-life contexts, increasing your proficiency. The immersive program and hands-on learning approach ensure rapid progress in both language skills and cultural understanding. 

Spanish Beginner 1 is designed to help you “survive” in a Spanish-speaking context by building essential knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following areas: Interpretive Competence (focus on understanding and interpreting content), Interpersonal Competence (focus on interaction with others), Presentational Competence (focus on presenting and producing language) and Intercultural Competence (focus on understanding and engaging with diverse cultural contexts).

Spanish Beginner 2 is designed to further develop basic skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and intercultural communication while fully immersing in the vibrant culture of Barcelona and the Catalan region. The course emphasizes communicative competence with a focus on daily and intercultural interactions. You will expand your ability to discuss interests, hobbies, places, people, relationships, routines, health, and life events, while referring to present, past, and future contexts. You will also learn to express opinions and navigate common interactions. Through diverse teaching methods, including interactive classroom activities, field studies, and targeted assessments, you will apply your language skills in real-life contexts. 

Spanish Beginner 2 is designed to further equip you with the skills needed to thrive in a Spanish-speaking context by enhancing your foundational knowledge in the following key areas: Interpretive Competence (focus on understanding and interpreting content), Interpersonal Competence (focus on interaction with others), Presentational Competence (focus on presenting and producing language), and Intercultural Competence (focus on understanding and engaging with diverse cultural contexts).

This course is designed for students with prior language experience, offering an opportunity to further develop your Spanish skills while exploring the complexities of Hispanic cultures, with a special focus on the local Spanish and Catalan contexts. The goal is to continue refining your communication skills for greater accuracy and fluency in both formal and informal settings while fostering critical thinking and analytical skills in the target language as you engage with more complex ideas. Emphasizing experiential learning, you will interact directly with local cultures to develop your cross-cultural and intercultural competence, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively and appropriately in diverse settings, while fostering greater intercultural awareness and understanding. 

Spanish Intermediate 1 is designed to further equip you with the skills needed to thrive in a Spanish-speaking context by enhancing your elementary knowledge in the following key areas: understanding, interpreting, and critically evaluating authentic texts; engaging in unrehearsed conversations with native and non-native speakers; presenting information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers; and deploying intercultural kills and competences to communicate effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations. 

This course enables you to use your prior intermediate-level Spanish experience to advance your proficiency while deepening your intercultural awareness and cultural understanding, with Barcelona’s dynamic Catalan and Spanish contexts as your backdrop. In Spanish Intermediate 2, you will engage more critically with unfamiliar topics and global issues, using Spanish not only to comprehend and participate in conversations, but also to evaluate and present cultural perspectives more deeply. Moving from situational contexts and familiar topics, the course emphasizes integrating diverse sources, supporting interpretations with evidence, and presenting complex ideas independently. This includes a greater focus on intercultural competence, as you continue to enhance your skills and attitudes through challenging and critical experiential-learning activities focused on Spanish and Catalan cultural and social settings. 

Spanish Intermediate 2 is designed to further equip you with the skills needed to thrive in a Spanish-speaking context by enhancing your elementary knowledge in the following key areas: understanding, interpreting, and critically evaluating authentic texts; engaging in unrehearsed conversations with native and non-native speakers; presenting information, concepts, and ideas to an audience of listeners or readers; and deploying intercultural skills and competences to communicate effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations.

This course focuses on the importance of advertising as a communication tool, focusing on the presence (and lack) of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in mainstream media in Catalonia and Spain. This is a writing-intensive upper-level course designed for communication majors studying abroad in Barcelona. The course explores how diversity is represented in Spanish advertising’s ethics and strategies, focusing on race, gender, sexuality, and culture. Emphasis will be placed on developing advanced writing and research skills tailored to communication professionals. Through academic readings, critical analysis, and hands-on writing assignments, you will examine the role of media in shaping social perceptions and discuss the impact of diverse representation on brand messaging and consumer behavior. You will also engage with local case studies and campaigns, enhancing your understanding of Spain’s unique cultural landscape.

This course invites you to delve into Barcelona's rich and diverse cultural heritage. Starting from its earliest foundations up to the contemporary era, it provides a guided journey through the most relevant historical, artistic, and architectural events that have shaped the city’s urban identity. With deep roots in its past and a focus to the future, Barcelona has become an international model for its ability to preserve and showcase its uniqueness, while making creative use of innovation to underpin cutting-edge urban updating processes. Field study experiences enhance classroom discussions and allow experiencing the way in which these historical and cultural dimensions intertwine and build-up the city's multilayered fabric. This interdisciplinary approach is expanded through contextual and critical reviews, on a local and global basis, to learn about the challenges facing Barcelona today.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the strategic challenges of marketing in a globalized world, focusing on the interplay of cultural, political, and economic factors that shape international strategies. Emphasizing European markets and Barcelona’s dynamic role in global trade, students will analyze consumer behavior across cultures, market research techniques, branding, sustainable marketing strategies, and the integration of technology. The course integrates local insights with global trends, equipping students to address dynamic challenges in international marketing.

This course introduces you to various facets of communication in a globalized world. It explains the dynamics of major media and technology companies and how their actions result in cultural and content colonialism that shapes the news agenda. The course also emphasizes the importance of learning to “read” the media. It encourages the development of critical thinking when analyzing information and delves into the current dynamics of deep fakes and misinformation. Based on the resources and reality of Barcelona, this course aims to demonstrate, through visits to local and national media outlets, interactions with journalists, and visits to international institutions like the European Parliament, how different communication channels operate, from the political sphere and international organizations to international relations outside of public entities. The final part of the course explores two aspects that make Barcelona an ideal place to address the multicultural challenges of a globalized world. First, it examines European identity dynamics and nationalisms through the conflict between Catalonia and Spain. Next, it leverages the multiculturalism that characterizes global cities like Barcelona to explain misunderstandings and how bridges are built between different cultures.

This course provides intensive experience in creative writing, focusing on the intersections of literature, cultural identity, and global perspectives, with the city of Barcelona as a privileged scenario. Through creative practice, literary analysis, and field-based learning, you will hone consistent writing skills and critically examine the role of storytelling as a tool for social change. Specifically, by examining literary representations of the city’s historical, symbolic and social fabric, and interacting with local writers and organizations, you will explore the transformative potential of creative writing in shaping personal and collective identities within a global context.

Through you participation in this course, you will:

• Examine literary texts by local and international authors and compare perspectives on the interplay between identity, power, and culture.
• Identify key literary techniques to hone specific vocabulary for both critical analysis and creative application.
• Develop original creative writing pieces (fiction, non-fiction, poetry) to master writing skills while engaging with the city’s urban, social, and cultural fabric.
• Analyze the ethical dimensions of creative writing to explore how narrative structures respond to contemporary challenges.
• Conceptualize a consistent approach to creative expression within a global cultural and societal framework.

Social media and digital marketing have a tremendous influence on how consumers engage with their favorite brands, search for products, services or information, and make purchasing decisions in alignment with their values, lifestyle, and personal preferences. In the current social media landscape, marketers must know how to implement an effective social media marketing strategy including how to: design a diverse and targeted marketing mix; build an engaged following; convert know, like, trust into loyal customers; and avoid unethical, coercive or manipulative marketing tactics rooted in toxic capitalism. This course will help you gain practical knowledge and skills to research, plan, and launch a successful social media marketing campaign that builds brand awareness and trust and leads to customers and sales. The course will also help you understand the Barcelona business online social media landscape and cultural context through practical, hands-on learning, field study course components, and a social media launch group project. 

Through your participation in this course and the hands-on experiential projects and learning activities, you will:

• Gain an understanding of how to design and launch a successful, ethical social media marketing campaign for a Barcelona brand.
• Compare current social media marketing channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, LinkedIn) and evaluate the most relevant strategies to build an engaged and loyal online brand following that leads to sales.
• Distinguish between the most current social media marketing channels and the benefits of each for a specific brand, audience, and product, service, or movement.
• Explore current social media trends including interactive video, AI, and influencer partnerships.
• Develop the skills to build community, engage followers with valuable content, and build know, like, and trust that leads to a credible brand, repeat customers, and recurring sales.
• Explore the intersection of toxic capitalism, marketing manipulation, and coercive online social media tactics.

This course provides an in-depth examination of Spanish and Catalan culture and languages, focusing on the historical events that shaped the region and their impact on contemporary dynamics. Through a multidisciplinary approach, social, political, and cultural factors will be critically analyzed to understand how languages shape identities. Focusing on key events—such as the Catalan Renaissance, the Spanish Civil War, the transition to democracy, and the independence movement—the course traces the evolution of Spanish and Catalan culture and language from their origins to present-day significance. The complexities of multilingualism and cultural diversity in Spain will be addressed through cultural expressions, such as festivals, music, cuisine, and the arts, with the city of Barcelona as a privileged setting. Field studies and interactions with local experts will enhance understanding of how identities and communities are shaped in local and global contexts.

Barcelona is a major international and regional hub for transportation and logistics, connecting major industries such as automotives, textiles, fashion, food, and tourism across Europe and beyond. This course offers you an opportunity to explore the essential role of transportation networks and logistics in facilitating trade and economic growth in a highly dynamic setting. With Barcelona’s unique position as a gateway to the Mediterranean, the European markets and Latin America, you'll delve into the challenges and opportunities in optimizing transportation routes, managing logistics infrastructure, and enhancing sustainability. Leveraging Barcelona’s rich logistics ecosystem as a living classroom, this course combines in-depth case studies with field-based learning experiences. You'll engage in classroom sessions complemented by guest lectures from industry leaders and visits to key sites, such as the Port of Barcelona, cutting-edge manufacturing and logistics centers, and El Prat Airport. By the end of the course, you will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in designing and managing efficient, sustainable transportation and logistics systems. Immersed in Barcelona’s forward-thinking transportation and logistics culture, you will learn to tackle the challenges of global and regional transportation in one of Europe’s most important logistics hubs.

This course explores the contributions of women filmmakers to Spanish cinema, examining their creative strategies and the social, political, and cultural themes they address. Through the works of directors such as Pilar Miró, Isabel Coixet, and Carla Simón, you will analyze key films that challenge traditional narratives and present diverse perspectives on gender, identity, and contemporary Spanish society. The course emphasizes critical thinking and analysis, and academic and journalistic writing, integrating film screenings, readings, and class discussions. You will engage with feminist film theory, Spanish history, and cinematic techniques to deepen your understanding of the unique voice of women in Spanish film, as well as the systemic obstacles that jeopardize their success in the Spanish film industry. By the end of the course, you will enhance your ability to write insightful, research-based essays and specialized journalistic pieces, develop a nuanced appreciation of Spanish women filmmakers, and critically evaluate the intersection of gender and cinematic expression.

The purpose of this course is to enrich your intercultural learning during your sojourn in Barcelona. The content facilitates your ability to make meaning of your experiences with cultural others. It takes an experiential, constructivist approach to intercultural communication that requires you to interact with the local community and analyze your experiences through the lens of intercultural theories such as ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, identity, cross-cultural adaptation, and verbal and non-verbal communication. The course helps you develop a critical awareness of your ethnocentric beliefs and the ability to shift your perspectives, leading to a deeper understanding of other cultures. By connecting your real-life experiences with intercultural theories, it aims to improve your capability to engage in effective and appropriate communication across cultures—a valuable skill in the globalized and increasingly multicultural societies in which we live.

This course explores the fundamental principles of management and organizational behavior, focusing on the human aspects that shape workplace dynamics. Drawing on contemporary research and real-world applications, it covers individual and group behavior, leadership, communication, motivation, decision-making, conflict resolution, and organizational culture. You will gain insights into how emotions, values, and personality influence workplace interactions and decision-making processes. The course also emphasizes the role of diversity, emotional intelligence, and stress management in organizational settings. By understanding how these factors affect behavior, you will be better equipped to create inclusive and effective teams, navigate conflicts, and foster positive organizational cultures. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, case studies, and team-based activities, you will develop a deeper understanding of organizational dynamics and the skills necessary to thrive in a variety of professional contexts.

In a world that was once mesmerized by the capabilities of new technology, there is an increasing trend of returning to the basics and using nature to reduce climate impacts and create resilience to the climate crisis. The increase in the number of people implementing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has yielded incredible results in the environmental, economic, and social realms. This course focuses on NbS in Spain that are implemented to promote climate resilience across a variety of landscapes in the country. You will learn of the benefits of NbS with a primary focus on environmental benefits and disaster risk reduction, and a supplementary focus on the economic and social impacts of the solutions. Climate resilience is demonstrated through specific case studies of NbS in a variety of regions spanning from the buzzing urban center of Barcelona to the vineyards in Spanish mountains. You will be exposed to innovative NbS through guest lectures by stakeholders implementing NbS, field visits to NbS sites, and experiential learning to connect theory to practice. Upon completion of the course, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of how NbS can be implemented in an array of contexts, how NbS promotes climate resilience through disaster risk reduction, and the social and economic implications of NbS.

This course examines corporate finance through a blend of theory and practical application, focusing on financial analysis, investment decisions, evaluation methods, and corporate financial policies. It equips you with essential tools to navigate financial markets, manage capital structure, and assess risk and return, while integrating European and global perspectives. Designed for those with a basic understanding of accounting, mathematics, and statistics, it prepares you to address complex financial challenges in diverse organizational contexts.

This course examines terrorism through a multidisciplinary approach, exploring its history, dynamics, and impact on society and global security. It addresses the intrinsic definitional issues of terrorism and the theoretical approaches to its study, situating the state of the art within the current security paradigm. The course explores the dynamics of terrorism, including the structure of terrorist cells, organizations, and the systems of actors who directly or indirectly influence these activities. Additionally, it delves into the human dimensions of terrorism, examining the experiences of both victims and perpetrators and analyzing the psychological, social, and political factors involved. The course fosters dialogue on the past, present, and future of terrorism, leveraging Spain’s extensive experience in combating terrorism and its historical suffering because of it. Field study components may include visits to the sites of past terrorist attacks and relevant institutions, and discussions with guest speakers.

This course examines economic growth and sustainability through the lens of Barcelona's innovation model. It first explores traditional theories of economic growth and their practical applications in urban contexts. You will then analyze Barcelona's transformation from an industrial hub to an innovation capital, focusing on the city's strategies for sustainable development, entrepreneurship, and talent attraction. The course leverages Barcelona's unique ecosystem as a living laboratory, combining theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies. Through lectures, guest speakers, and field visits, you will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities of balancing economic growth with sustainability in urban environments. The course culminates in a project where you apply your knowledge to evaluate the transferability of Barcelona's strategies to other urban contexts, and propose solutions for current economic challenges facing cities worldwide.

This course explores the historical and contemporary transformations of Catalonia and Spain through the lenses of urban development, modernization, and social movements. From the Industrial Revolution to the present day, you will analyze key urban policies, economic shifts, and grassroots activism that have shaped the evolution of Spanish cities, particularly Barcelona. The course integrates historical case studies, urban planning debates, and field excursions to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how cities function as political, economic, and cultural battlegrounds. Through critical readings, site visits, and discussion-based learning, you will engage with themes such as gentrification, labor struggles, anarchist movements, urban renewal, and the impact of global events, like the Universal Expositions and the 1992 Olympics.

This course explores how companies operate in an interconnected global economy, the challenges managers face, and the ways in which they can adapt their business strategies and operations to thrive in global environments. Barcelona and the wider region of Catalonia is a successful international business hub, home to major local and international companies, innovative startups and important financial institutions. The business climate is based on a unique blend of Spanish, Catalan, European, Mediterranean, and global business cultures, making it an ideal environment to study international management. You will examine the role of trade policies, international expansion strategies, global financial markets, cross-cultural leadership, and sustainable and ethical approaches while gaining practical insights into international management through a combination of classroom learning, case studies, and field visits. By the end of the course, you will have gained a comprehensive understanding of international management strategies while experiencing the dynamic business culture of Barcelona and Catalonia.

Photography has long shaped how we perceive the world, from early documentary images of city life to contemporary explorations of urban change. The first known photograph taken in Spain—a daguerreotype of Barcelona’s Sea Loggia in 1839—marks the city’s deep connection to the medium. In a place as visually and historically layered as Barcelona, photography has often been the lens through which space, identity, and memory intersect. Today, photography is digital and ubiquitous, allowing anyone to capture an image in an instant. This course explores Barcelona’s identity through its photographic representation while encouraging you to engage directly with the city. Through hands-on exercises and assignments, you will investigate how different districts reflect Barcelona’s past and present, using the camera as both a documentary and creative tool.

You will develop a portfolio that reflects your engagement with the city while studying the history, geography, and visual identity of Barcelona. The course introduces key concepts in photography history and theory alongside technical instruction in digital photography, including camera operation, composition, and post-production editing. Through discussions, readings, site explorations, and guest lectures, you will develop visual literacy and a critical understanding of photography’s role in shaping urban identity.

This course provides a comparative exploration of nationalism, examining its historical evolution, theoretical frameworks, and contemporary manifestations across different global contexts. Using Barcelona and Catalonia as a key case study, you will analyze how cultural, political, and historical forces shape national identities and nationalist movements. The course engages with diverse topics, including varieties of nationalism, the role of historical memory and myths in shaping national identities, and the intersection of nationalism with globalization and migration. You will critically assess the impact of nationalism on political conflicts, secessionist movements, and the rise of populist ideologies. Through a combination of academic readings, case studies, and experiential learning—including field visits to key sites in Barcelona—you will gain a deeper understanding of how nationalism is expressed, contested, and institutionalized in contemporary societies.

This course examines the gastronomy and culture of Catalonia, emphasizing historical events that have shaped the region and their impact on contemporary dynamics. Through an exploration of Catalonia’s distinctive culinary traditions, you will analyze the role of food in shaping identity. The course also explores the multifaceted dimensions of food tourism, including its cultural significance, economic potential, and societal influence. Utilizing experiential learning and practical applications, you will develop cultural sensitivity and critical thinking skills.

Catalonia has long been a center of radical thought and culture, especially during the Spanish Civil War, when Barcelona became the heart of the Republican cause. Throughout the 20th Century, the region played a key role in shaping avant-garde artistic movements while serving as a battleground for opposing political visions. This course examines the intersection of art and politics in Catalonia, focusing on how artistic production functioned as a vehicle for national identity and propaganda, as well as a tool for anti-Fascist resistance and left-wing transformation. Spanning from the turn of the century through the Spanish Civil War and well into Franco’s dictatorship, you will explore key cultural moments—from the rise of bourgeois Modernisme in the early 1900s to the radical politics of the avant-garde in the 1930s and the cultural opposition to Franco in the 1960s. Special attention is given to Civil War propaganda and the role of the three leading figures of the Catalan avant-garde: Picasso, Miró, and Dalí.

Through multiple site visits, critical analysis, and close examination of architectural landmarks, paintings, artworks, posters, and films, you will explore how visual culture and artistic discourse shaped and responded to Catalan national identity, revolutionary politics, and anti-Francoist resistance. With a focus on close reading and direct engagement with artwork, you are encouraged to interpret and analyze these pieces within their historical and political contexts.

This seminar-style course guides you in your professional internship experience at a local organization, business, or institution, and connects your engagement in the workplace to in-class learning and reflection. You will complete projects and tasks that contribute to the placement entity's goals by working in collaboration with your intern supervisor. As an intern, you will gain a cross-cultural perspective on professional settings in the host country while critically examining your own worldview. The course topics and assignments will deepen your insights about yourself, professional expectations in the local context, and enable articulation of career skills outcomes to be successful in a global workplace.

Barcelona is a vibrant international and regional business hub for a variety of industries, including fashion, pharmaceuticals, food, and tourism—making it an ideal setting for studying marketing channels. This course focuses on how, in today’s dynamic business landscape, brands must navigate multiple marketing channels to effectively engage diverse customer segments. This course leverages Barcelona’s and Catalonia´s rich business ecosystem as a living classroom, featuring in-depth case studies and field-based learning opportunities. In addition to classroom-based sessions, you will also participate in guest lectures from industry experts and visits to leading companies across various sectors in the city, such as large multinational firms, innovative startups in the Gothic Quarter and El Born area, and the renowned fashion brands on Passeig de Gràcia. By the end of the course, you will gain both theoretical and practical insights into understanding effective marketing channel strategies and management, all while immersed in the dynamic business culture of Barcelona and its entrepreneurial spirit.

Through your participation in this course, you will:

• Identify and describe marketing channel terminology.
• Give examples of channel structures, strategies and frameworks in the global and local Barcelona/Catalonia context.
• Apply channel principles and processes to real-world situations in the global and local Barcelona/Catalonia context.
• Assess various channel alternatives using decision criteria in the global and local Barcelona/Catalonia context.
• Recommend channel structures, processes and provide rationale for their implementation in the global and local Barcelona/Catalonia context.
• Create marketing channel strategies to produce incremental gains in the global and local Barcelona/Catalonia context. 

This upper-level writing-intensive course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of financial management in an international context. Focusing on multinational enterprises, particularly in Barcelona and the broader European market, the course explores international investment strategies, exchange rate management, and financial decision-making. Special emphasis is placed on overcoming barriers to international capital flows, managing currency risks, and examining the cost of capital in both developed and emerging markets.

Through your participation in this course, you will:

• Gain a foundational understanding of international trade and finance principles, including the role of multinational enterprises.
• Demonstrate proficiency in analyzing the balance of payments and national income accounting in an open economy.
• Examine the determinants of exchange rates and their effects on global competitiveness.
• Analyze the relationships between interest rates, inflation, and exchange rate movements.
• Compare fixed and floating exchange rate systems and evaluate short-run policy effects.
• Explore global financial markets, institutions, and their impact on international finance.
• Understand European monetary integration and the role of the Euro in Spain’s economy.
• Identify emerging trends in digital finance, sustainability, and future challenges for multinational firms.

Global Identity: Connecting Your International Experience with Your Future is an optional 1-credit online course that helps you process your international experience and apply what you've learned upon your return. Global Identity gives you the opportunity to work individually with a trained cultural mentor, helping you articulate your newly acquired skills for future professional opportunities, and differentiating you from your peers.

This course is offered at no additional cost on programs 6 weeks or longer. There are several sections offered including: Honors, College of Liberal Arts, and Leadership Minor focused versions of the course. Additional details on how to request registration, deadlines, and a grade basis can be found on the Global Identity Course Information page.

Syllabus for Global Identity (FOST 3332)
Syllabus for Global Identity Honors (FOST 3331H)