Study psychology and gain research experience on this program based in Madrid.
Location | Madrid, Spain |
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Term | Fall Semester, May Session, Spring Semester, Summer Session |
Housing | Apartment, Dormitory, Homestay |
Credit Type | Resident Credit |
Sponsor | Learning Abroad Center |
GPA | 2.5 |
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Student Type | UofM Students, Non UofM Students |
Student Year | Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors |
Language | Preference given to students with two semesters college-level Spanish or more. Completion of PSY 1001, BIOL 1009, OR NSCI 1001 required. |
If you're a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) psychology major or minor, this program is geared toward you. During the six-week summer program, choose either a 6-credit research track or 6-credit non-research track. Courses in both tracks fulfill psychology B.A./B.S. requirements, and research placements are available in English or Spanish.
During the semester program, take up to 18 credits of psychology along with other English-taught topics courses and Spanish language courses. All psychology courses fulfill psychology B.A./B.S. requirements. Both the summer and semester programs allow you to gain an international perspective on psychology and hands-on research experience.
This program is offered in partnership with the prestigious Fundación Ortega–Marañon in Madrid and the University of Minnesota's Department of Psychology. The Fundación is located in the central part of Madrid, near Paseo de la Castellana, and makes it easy to catch public transportation to any other part of the city.
The standard program fee includes living with a Spanish family (homestay). Summer students have the option to live in a dormitory with other US, international, and Spanish students for an additional fee.
Due to COVID-19, apartments will be the only housing option for spring 2021. Read below for more details about apartments.
For many students, living with a family is a highlight during their time abroad. Many make lifelong ties to their families and, through them, can meet other Spaniards. When you live with a Spanish host family, you'll be immersed in the Spanish language and have a first-hand look at Spanish culture and society.
Typically, host families live in apartments (single-family houses are not as common in Europe). Most families live near the Fundación Ortega-Marañon, so you will be within walking distance or a short ride away by bus or metro. Each homestay is different, you may be the only student in your home or live with other students on the program or international students.
The program fee includes two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Make sure to budget separately for daily lunches.
Live with other students on the program. Apartments include single or double bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry. Meals are not included, but each apartment has a full kitchen. Apartments will be within a short ride from the Fundación Ortega-Marañon study center by bus or metro
Summer students can opt to live at a student dormitory, sharing a room with another student or having a single room. (There are additional fees for each of these options.) The rooms include a wardrobe, desk, chair, bookcase, cable, and Wi-Fi. The residence hall offers study rooms, a cafeteria, a fitness area, a leisure/activity room, access to laundry facilities, and weekly maid service.
The program fee includes two meals per day (breakfast and dinner). Make sure to budget separately for daily lunches.
A walking tour of Madrid will help you learn how to get around the city and also familiarize you with some of Madrid's iconic landmarks. There will be multiple day-long excursions to Toledo and other cities, as well as a number of visits to companies working in neuroscience and psychology. A 3-day excursion to either Andalucía or Northern Spain is also included in the program fee.
The staff at Fundación Ortega-Marañon provide housing, classroom space, and study areas. They also arrange the on-site orientation and program excursions, as well as social and cultural events.
Professor Jonathan Gewirtz will teach Introduction to Biological Psychology during the summer program. Professor Gewirtz studies the behavior of rats and mice to uncover the cellular, molecular, and genetic machinery underlying drug addiction and the experience of emotion.
Ksenija Jovanovic from the Fundación Ortega-Marañon will teach the Research Laboratory in Psychology course during the summer and semester programs. Ksenija has a PhD in Neuroscience.
Learning Abroad Center programs are:
Program Type | Study Abroad Center |
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Program Level | 3000 level coursework |
Courseload |
13–18 credits per semester, 5 credits for may session, 6-10 credits for summer session |
Semester students are required to maintain a minimum of 13 credit enrollment status per semester or maintain the minimum program credit enrollment determined by their study abroad program, whichever is greater. May students enroll in MADR 1022 or MADR 1003 for 5 credits. Summer students will enroll in 6-10 credits. Grades earned on study abroad programs (for UMN resident credit) are converted to UMN A-F grades according to pre-established grade conversion criteria, if necessary.
Your semester will consist of courses taught at our study center. See the full course list. These courses cover a range of topics, including psychology, art history, business, communications and media, culture, ecology, finance, marketing, neuroscience and more.
Enroll in either track to complete 6-10 credits:
Choose two courses offered during the summer session for a total of 6-10 credits.
Choose MADR 4901 Research Laboratory in Psychology and one other courses for a total of 6-10 credits.
See the full course list for courses offered during the summer session.
Enroll in Alternate Second Semester Spanish, MADR 1022, to complete your language pre-requisite for the summer program. Or improve your Spanish language skills through Intermediate Spanish I, MADR 1003. These three-week, 5 credit, intensive courses combine in-class lectures and discussions with experiential learning.
The purpose of this course is to give the student an opportunity to explore current issues in understanding and treating abnormal behavior. The course will provide an initial overview of history, perspectives, assessment (DSM), diagnosis, and treatment, followed by an in-depth look at several disorders from a combined biological, developmental, and cultural approach. The focus will be to achieve an understanding of the various ways that human behavior can be compromised and the various factors that affect our ability to adapt.
Equivalent to PSY 3604.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
Recent advances in psychological, medical, and physiological research have led to a new way of thinking about health and illness and understanding that our health is not only the product of biological processes but also of psychological, behavioral and social processes. Health psychology is a relatively young field of study that examines the relationship between psychology and health. The course highlights differences between health psychology and the biomedical model and examines the kinds of questions asked by health psychologists like: How our personality may affect our health? What does stress do to our health? What psychological and social factors cause people to behave in unhealthy ways? What can psychologists do to help cure illness? Are there ethnic and gender variations in health? Does it matter how your doctor talks to you?
Equivalent to PSY 3206
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
The course begins with brief overviews of the structure of the central nervous system, basic principles of nervous conduction and synaptic transmission, neurotransmitter systems, and basic techniques used in biological psychology research. We will then review current knowledge on the biological substrates of a range of behaviors and mental processes, including memory, emotion, and sleep. The course will also examine the biological basis of a variety of neuropsychological disorders and forms of mental illness, including addiction, depression, and anxiety.
The course is designed to convey the ways in which current approaches are directed towards a better understanding of the biological basis of psychological states and treating mental illness. During the course, you should become comfortable with the basic details of brain function and gain a general understanding of the biology of behavior, mental states, and mental illness. You should also begin to develop the skills to understand techniques and evaluate results of neurobiological and behavioral experiments.
Equivalent to PSY 3061
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
Learn how the human body turns different physical stimuli into neural impulses (sensation), and how the brain receives and interprets these impulses (perception). The Focus will be on commonalities between senses as a guide to understanding how the brain interprets data about the external world.
Equivalent to PSY 3031.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
The Research Laboratory in Psychology course will offer students the opportunity to be involved in psychological research taking place in a laboratory, institute, medical facility or community setting. Under the direction of a research investigator, students will participated in various stages of the research process: developing questions about behavior, designing experimental methods for answering those questions, collecting data from research participants, analyzing and interpreting the results, and communicating these results. Activities of the students may include recruiting and/or debriefing study participants; collecting, coding, entering, and/or analyzing data; securing literature sources; and participating in lab meetings. This course will include time at the research site as well as preparing for and debriefing experiences in the classroom.
This course requires a $600 laboratory fee for the semester program and a $350 laboratory fee for the summer program.
Equivalent to PSY 4993.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
This course's aim is to understand how cultural factors influence human behavior and development. Additionally, the interaction between different cultures and how to solve the difficulties that may arise during the acculturation process may be discussed. The course also studies the vision and treatment of mental disorders in different cultures, especially the differences and similarities between Spanish and North American cultures. Mental Health systems of both countries will be also analyzed and compared.
Equivalent to PSY 3301.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology is the application of the scientific study of human behavior and thinking to work organizations. I/O Psychology is both an academic discipline and a professional discipline; this course will focus on both research and the application of research findings to practical problems in the workplace. I/O Psychologist are concerned with the recruitment, selection, training, motivation, and job performance of individual at work. This course will also involved how I/O Psycholgists are involved in issues such as teamwork, leadership, and job attitudes.
Equivalent to PSY 3711.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
This course will provide a broad introduction to the nervous system with an emphasis on the human nervous system. The course will introduce the structure and function of neurons, the major anatomical parts of the nervous system and the main functional systems. Functional systems will be approached through an understanding of the anatomical circuitry. The fundamental concepts of neurochemical communication studied in general terms in the first part of the course will be re-examined relative to specific functional systems later in the course. Although the major focus of the course will be on the normal nervous system, common diseases will be introduced for each main topic. Students will gain an understanding of the nature of many common neurological diseases, which will provide further insight into how the normal nervous system functions. The anatomical substrates of learning/memory, emotions and drug actions will be examined. Through the assigned readings, lectures, and discussions, students are expected to gain an understanding of the neural circuitry and information processing responsible for the diverse range of human behaviors.
Equivalent to NSCI 2001
Course description forthcoming
Syllabi forthcoming
Third semester college-level Spanish. Further improve conversation and comprehension proficiency. Develop reading and writing skills through literary analysis and grammar review. This class is designed to further develop and strengthen the language skills acquired in Beginning Spanish II.
UofM Spanish Department equivalent: SPAN 1003
Fourth semester college-level Spanish. Further improve conversation and comprehension proficiency. Develop reading and writing skills through literary analysis and grammar review. This class is designed to further develop and strengthen the language skills acquired in Intermediate Spanish I.
UofM Spanish Department equivalent: SPAN 1004
This course offers a general view of Spanish culture and society through readings, lectures and cultural activities. Topics portraying the transformations experienced in the country during the last years include: the political system, the social and economic problems, the multi-ethnic society, the new role of women, the new family models and the present image of Spain.
Approved for the Social Sciences core and Global Perspectives theme.
U of M Spanish Department equivalent: SPAN 3510
This course is designed for students who wish to perfect their listening comprehension, oral expression, and general interaction both in conversation and other forms of oral communication (presentations, speeches, etc.). To this end, class activities will include listening exercises, watching films, class debates, conversation simulation and role-play, brief presentations, and other activities of linguistic support (grammar, vocabulary, nonverbal communication, etc.). Taking advantage of the linguistic immersion in which the students are participating, students will be encouraged to interact with their environment and learn in real-life situations.
May count as a Spanish elective for Spanish Studies Majors and Minors as an elective without a Critical Analysis prerequisite.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
The course is specifically designed to improve students’ oral and written business communication skills through language immersion and study of the local cultural and work environment. In addition to academic study, the course will provide an overview of Spanish social culture as it applies to the professional workplace, focusing on specific fields of expertise that are of interest to the students.
U of M Spanish Department Equivalent: SPAN 3022
This course focuses on the aesthetic and cultural changes in consumers and the ability of the Made in Spain managers to fine tune their marketing, communications, branding, and retailing efforts to an increasingly fast-paced environment. The course provides students with an extensive preparation on what are the most important asset of Made in Spain products: heir ability to represent a paradigm shift. The course explores the evolutionary phenomena of the four F's (fashion and footwear, food and wines, furniture and building materials, and fabricated metal products and machinery) as well as design, renewable energy, railway construction, e-commerce, and other industrial sectors.
Approved for JOUR 4259
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
This introductory course in corporate financial management is designed to develop the student’s capacity to understand the basic concepts in investment and financial decision-making at the corporate level. The course will also discuss the role of the financial manager and financial analysis and planning. Studies the forms, sources, and management of business capital. The finance function and its relation to other business functions and to general policy objectives are considered. Topics include: capital requirement, short and intermediate financing, management of current assets, capital budgeting, and the cost of capital.
Equivalent to FINA 3001.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
The main objectives of this course are the following: 1. To study the basic mechanisms of how our environment functions. To study the different ecosystems in Spain, their principal characteristics and the relation between their components; 2. To analyse and assess the impact and consequences of human activity on the different ecosystems. Learn the risks and the environmental impacts on those ecosystems and how to prevent them; and 3. To develop a fuller understanding and appreciation of the world of nature in a global way. To understand the changes caused by the interaction of the ecosystem’s components and the balance between them.
Equivalent to BIOL 3407.
Approved for the Environment and Global Perspectives themes.
This course explores the basic precepts and cultures of the world’s major religions through reading, reflection, study, and dialogue. The intended outcome, more than gaining an in-depth understanding of each faith theologically, is to encourage religious tolerance and promote the celebration of theological diversity among the peoples of the Earth. The major religions to be explored will be: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Students will be invited to claim their own faith, while embracing openness to learn from all faiths. Equal time will be dedicated to each faith, however, because the Iberian culture has been historically shaped by the influence of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, a special unit will be dedicated to the blending of these three traditions.
Approved for the Arts and Humanities core and Global Perspectives theme.
To provide students with a broad introduction to marketing concepts, factors that influence marketing management, and the role of marketing in business and within organizations. The course will 1) try to develop the student´s understanding of marketing terms and concepts and 2) to identify and differentiate between marketing functions, the management of these functions, and their interaction. The course will try to give a cross-cultural context and application to the concepts developed by marketing, due to the tendency of most organizations to become more globally oriented.
Equivalent to MKTG 3001.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the most relevant and internationally outstanding Spanish modern artists: Goya, Picasso, Dalí and Miró. With a specific concentration on these Spanish masters, the course will bring students to fully understand and assimilate such fundamental concepts and movements of art history as Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstraction and Minimalism.
This course counts as an upper-division Art History elective.
Approved for the Arts and Humanities core and Global Perspectives theme.
The aim of this course is to introduce the notion of “culture” as the set of mentally and socially mediated constructs employed by individuals and groups to interpret reality. From that basis, this course examines the set of conflicts currently underway both within Western societies – as seen, for instance, in the “Cutlure Wars” as well as in the latest US presidential election – as well as the tensions between the Western and non-Western cultures – such as those of India, China and the Arab worlds – with an emphasis in the role played by the media and the cultural industries.
Approved for Arts and Humanities & Global Perspectives themes.
Tentatively accepted for upper-level COMM elective credit.
Approved as an elective for Global Cultural Analysis.
This course examines principles of social responsibility, ethics, law, and stakeholder theory as they apply to organizations domestically and abroad. Coverage includes business ethics; individual versus societal interests; labor and employment issues; consumer protection; discrimination and diversity; the natural environment; politics, public policy, and government regulation of business. Particular attention is given to developing moral reasoning skills.
This course is designed to develop the student’s capacity to recognize and reason about ethical issues connected with international business management. Specifically, students will be able to 1) recognize potential ethical dilemmas arising from a cross-cultural context, 2) understand the factors in a cross-cultural context that inform a manager’s choice of action, and 3) apply knowledge of the cross-cultural context to come to a solution of the ethical dilemma.
Equivalent to MGMT 1005.
Approved for the Civic Life and Ethics and Global Perspectives themes.
The aim of this course is to make students familiar with the most relevant and internationally outstanding Spanish Modern artists: Goya, Picasso, Dalí & Miró. With a specific concentration on these Spanish masters, the course will bring students to fully understand and assimilate such fundamental concepts and movements of art history as Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstraction, and Minimalism. Simultaneously, it will explore one of the most controversial periods of Spanish and European history, from the 19th through the dawn of the 20th Century.
Approved for the Global Perspectives theme.
Syllabus for Modern Masters: Goya, Picasso, Dalí, & Miró (PDF)
Spanish cinema provides an excellent route for understanding social and political change throughout the 20th and 21st Century. As the most important artistic medium of modernity, cinema allows one to construct and deconstruct many myths and identities. This course will analyze the most relevant Spanish film productions primarily as socio-historical documents (content). Topics in Spain may include the Republic and Civil War (Fernán Gómez and Buñuel), the '60s comic criticism of dictatorship (García Berlanga), and censorship (Lazaga), the transition to democracy (Garci and Almodóvar), and the new '90s cinema (Amenábar, de la Iglesia, Medem, Coixet, and Bollaín).
Syllabus for Contemporary Spanish History Through Film (PDF)
You may also take English-taught courses at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid for an additional cost. Choose from classes offered during the primer cuatrimestre(fall) or segundo cuatrimestre (spring). These courses cost an additional fee and have a slightly different schedule than the study center courses. Contact Amy Garwood-Díaz at the Learning Abroad Center if you would like to take one or more of these courses.
Courses are available in the following disciplines at the Getafe campus:
Business Administration
Film, Television and Media Studies
Finance & Accounting
International Studies
Journalism
Courses are available in the following disciplines at the Leganes campus:
Aerospace Engineering
Audiovisual System Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Communication System Engineering
Electrical Power Engineering
Energy Engineering
Industrial Electronics & Automation Engineering
Industrial Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Telecommunication Technologies Engineering
Telematics Engineering
This course is offered at no additional cost on programs six weeks or longer. The Learning Abroad Center will email out registration instructions, or you may contact a program team member.
Spanish and English-speaking research placements are available. In addition to spending time at your research site, you will enroll in the accompanying Research Laboratory in Psychology course. You will have the opportunity to be involved in psychological research taking place in a laboratory, institute, medical facility or community setting. Under the direction of a research investigator, you will participate in various stages of the research process.
Earn 3 credits and spend approximately 75 hours at your research placement.
Possible research placements are:
See further descriptions of the placements in the Research Laboratory in Psychology syllabus.
Program Term | App Open Date | Deadline* |
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Spring 2021 | May 1 | Extended to October 15, 2020 |
Arrival | Jan 25 | |
Orientation | Jan 26 | |
First Day of Classes | Jan 27 | |
Guided tour of Madrid | Jan 29 | |
Last day to add/drop | Feb 11 | |
Visit to Alcalá de Henares (if possible) | Feb 12 | |
Cultural activity (if possible) | Mar 5 | |
Cultural activity (if possible) | Mar 20 | |
Midterm Exams | Mar 22 – 25 | |
Easter Break | Mar 27 – Apr 4 | |
Cultural activity | Apr 16 | |
FINAL EXAMS | Apr 30 – May 6 | |
Closing Ceremony | May 6 | |
Departure to US | May 7 | |
May & Summer 2021 | Aug 1 | Mar 15 |
Arrival, meet host families | TBD | |
Orientation, Madrid tour | TBD | |
Final day of intensive Spanish class | TBD | |
First day of summer courses | TBD | |
Excursion to Andalucía | TBD | |
Last day of classes, Closing ceremony | TBD | |
Departure to US | TBD | |
Summer 2021 | Aug 1 | Apr 20 |
Arrival, meet host families | TBD | |
Orientation, Madrid tour | TBD | |
First day of classes | TBD | |
Excursion to Andalucía | TBD | |
Last day of classes, Closing ceremony | TBD | |
Departure to US | TBD | |
Fall 2021 | Dec 18 | Apr 20 |
Classes begin | TBD | |
Departure for the US | TBD |
See below for tentative dates and times for your in-person session. You will be notified of the official date and time via email. Participants will receive applicable orientation materials via email approximately 1 week prior to the in-person session.
Term Abroad | Date/Time | Location |
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Spring 2021 | December 18, 2020 10am-1pm | Virtual Zoom |
These include a Fundación Ortega-Marañón discount of $100
Shared Apartment - Single Room
Shared Apartment - Double Room
Homestay costs coming soon
Dormitory costs coming soon
Apartment costs coming soon
Homestay costs coming soon
Dormitory costs coming soon
Apartment costs coming soon
Homestay costs coming soon
Dormitory costs coming soon
Apartment costs coming soon
Be aware: All programs require a $50 application fee. This fee will be charged to your student account upon submission of an online application.
To complete the online application for this program, you will need to select or provide the following information on the online application:
Center Name | TC Learning Abroad Ctr |
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Education Abroad Term | May Session, Summer Session, Spring Semester, Fall Semester |
Program Name | Psychology & Research in Madrid |
Country | Spain |
Use your University of Minnesota internet ID and password to log into the Education Abroad application system. Your student account will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Once you submit your application, Learning Abroad Center staff will create a University of Minnesota student internet account for you. You will use this account to access the Education Abroad Application System, and other University of Minnesota services. You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
Our staff will contact you within 2–3 business days with your internet account information, and additional application instructions.
All students, both UofM and Non-UofM should use this apply button if applying for a program Fall 2021 or beyond (academic year, winter break etc.). You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.
After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:
Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.
If you do not meet the GPA requirement for this program you will be required to submit two additional application items—the Low GPA Essay and Special Circumstances Recommendation. Both items will be added to your checklist after you start your application, and you will be notified when they have been added.
After your application checklist is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.
You must obtain a passport to enter Spain. Your passport must be valid for at least seven months after your return to the US. US citizens spending fewer than 90 days in Europe will only need a passport. A Spanish tourist visa, which is valid for 90 days, is automatically issued to all US citizens who enter Spain. If you have not already obtained your passport, click Passports for more information.
US citizens studying on the Learning Abroad Center Spain programs for a semester or year, or US citizens staying in Spain for more than 90 days, must obtain a student visa. US citizens participating in the Study & Intern in Toledo, Study & Intern in Madrid, or Psychology & Research in Madrid May or Summer sessions do not need a visa. Non-US citizens should check with the Spanish embassy to determine any special regulations pertaining entry into Spain at any time.
Remember to read all information that you receive regarding student visas carefully. Requirements could change at any time and can vary from consulate to consulate.
The Spanish consulate in Chicago has graciously granted the University of Minnesota the ability to both drop off Spanish student visa applications and pick up the completed student visas on behalf of students studying abroad in Madrid and Toledo who also live within the Consulate of Spain in Chicago jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
NOTE: This is an optional service, and is only available to students on the Toledo and Madrid programs. Each student MUST inform the Learning Abroad Center of his or her plans for obtaining the student visa whether they chose to use this service or not.
To date, the following items are required to apply for a student visa through the Chicago consulate.
Academic Year students (students going for more than one semester) must also provide the following:
For further information or questions about this program, send an email to
Amy Garwood-Diaz or call at 612.624.1537.