Gopher Gateway: The Designed Environment in Spain

Study the culture, environment, and landscape of Toledo, Spain. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this walled city serves as a perfect open-air laboratory. Toledo’s dramatic topography on the Tagus River gorge, combined with its unique history of Convivencia (the coexistence of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian cultures), offers an environment to study how geology, climate, culture, and power converge to shape physical space.

You will use learn to "see" design in the everyday world by critically observing the built environment through historical precedence, cultural values, spatial enclosure, and environmental stewardship. Toledo and the surrounding areas in Spain will be your classroom.

This program is for incoming UMTC first-year students that will have their first semester on-campus Fall 2027.

The Learning Abroad Center provides you with housing for this program. All program housing is vetted by the LAC and on-site partners.

Live in shared rooms with fellow program participants in the San Juan de la Penitencia Residence at the The Fundación Ortega-Marañón (FOM). The residence includes dining, classroom, library, recreational, and laundry facilities. Because the Residencia is within walking distance to virtually everything Toledo has to offer, it is easy to get out into the community and meet Toledanos. A welcome and farewell meal, daily breakfasts, and multiple other meals are included in the program fee. Additional meals can be taken at local restaurants and eateries. Suggestions for meals and dining options will be provided by on-site staff and program leaders.

Program activities and visit may include:

• City Tour of Toledo 
• Visits to Toledo's historical, cultural, and artistic sites
• Guided exploration of Toledo's Gothic Cathedral, courtyards, escalators, and the Senda Ecologica Trail 
• Day trip to or overnight trips to Madrid, including visits to the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia museum, and La Casa de la Arquitectura
• Walking tours to explore both historical and modern architecture and the built environment 
• Day trips or overnight trips to Segovia, Cuenca, Consuegra, or other cities in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain to explore local architecture, landscape architecture, and other forms of the built environment

To start the process or if you have questions, visit the Disability Resource Center's Get Connected page and follow registration options and choose a path. The Gold option involves meeting with an access consultant and is recommended if you plan to study abroad.

The Learning Abroad Center works with a local travel agency to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. You and your classmates will all travel together with the program leader. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before. Flight details will be shared with you after you confirm your place in the program.

Contact your Learning Abroad Center program contact, Anna DeWitt at [email protected] for more information.

Joe Favour is an Associate Professor in Practice, and acting Department Head, of the Department of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design in the College of Design. As a registered professional landscape architect, he has designed, studied, and taught in this discipline for over 25 years and has a deep understanding of the built environment and how it shapes human society.

August + Fall 2027

Application Open Date: November 1, 2026
Application Deadline: May 1, 2027
Confirmation Deadline: May 14, 2027

On-campus Fall Semester 2027 course meets: Weekly, Days/Times TBD—A-Term Fall 2027

The Learning Abroad Center facilitates pre-departure orientation sessions in collaboration with your program leader. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.

Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:

• Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
• Online LAC Seminar Orientation Module: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory. The discussion post is due before your in-person LAC Program Orientation meeting.
• Online LAC Seminar Pre-departure Orientations: These will be scheduled over the summer and will be a way for you to connect with others in your cohort, LAC staff, and your program leader. These meetings will cover academic requirements and preparation, finances and budgeting, final travel and program logistics, cultural knowledge, and more. Watch your email for details.
• LAC Program Orientation: Final program details and important UofM information will be covered during this meeting, held the day before departure. You will also meet your cohort and program leader in person. Parents/family members are welcome to join an optional in-person session designated for parents.

The cost of participation includes group airfare, housing, some meals, course-related excursions, site visits, and tours, airport transfers, in-country transportation for all course related activities, international medical, security, and evacuation insurance, program administration, and one night on UMTC campus during pre-departure orientation. You must also budget for passport and passport photos, a few meals, spending money, and miscellaneous living expenses.

If you are registered for less than 13 credits, you will be charged tuition for this course in addition to the program fee.

Additional fee reductions and or scholarships might be possible.

The program fee portion of your expenses can not be included in your financial aid package. Depending on what financial aid you accept you may be eligible for financial aid, which includes loans, to use towards your program fee. Please schedule a Gopher Gateway Financial Aid Preview Meeting to discuss funding options before you confirm in the program. 

Visit Funding Your Experience for more information on scholarships and financing learning abroad opportunities. 

If you cancel by May 3, 2027, you will not be charged a cancellation fee.

Eligibility

This program is for incoming UMTC first-year students that will have their first semester on-campus Fall 2027. You must be 18 years old by the in-person orientation date (August 19, 2027) in order to participate.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received.

1. After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email.
2. You will be admitted to the program once you have a complete program application and have confirmed your enrollment with the University (UMTC).
3. Once admitted to the program, you can confirm by submitting the Confirmation & Payment Agreement form. Once confirmed, you will have additional required forms to complete before participating in the program.
4. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.