• Program Intro
• Calendar
• About Alicante
• Course Information
• Housing
• Costs
• Travel Notes
• Application

Program Introduction

Penn-in-Alicante is designed for students interested in the language, literature, and culture of Spain. The program combines classroom instruction, home stay with Spanish families and opportunities to visit points of cultural and historical interest to provide a unique learning experience for undergraduate students. Offered by the University of Pennsylvania at the Universidad de Alicante, courses are taught by Penn faculty or by faculty of the Universidad de Alicante. Classes are offered Monday through Friday between 9 a.m and 1 p.m. Students have the opportunity to travel on weekends to destinations of their choice.  

Back to Top

Program Calendar:

Back to Top

About Alicante

Alicante, a once famous Mediterranean port, is one of the fastest-growing cities in Spain with a current population of nearly 350,000. Located in the south of the prosperous Valencian community of Eastern Spain, the city boasts one of Spain’s best climates, leading to a year-round nightlife and thriving beaches, most notably El Postiget downtown and the famous Playa de San Juan nearby. The city’s Universidad de Alicante attracts a diverse student population of 30,000 alone, while proximity to Mediterranean islands and North Africa attracts jet-setters and fun-loving residents alike. Regular ferry services to the Balearic Islands (Majorca, Menorca, and Ibiza) and Algeria make Alicante an ideal location for exotic travel. In addition, trains run frequently to Granada in the south; to Valencia, Barcelona, and France in the north; and to Madrid and Seville in the west.

Browse works by Miró, Dalí, Picasso, Chagall and Kandinsky in the Museu de Arte del Siglo XX Asegurada, housed in Alicante’s oldest building. Marvel at the colorful panoramic views over the city from the hilltop Castell de Santa Bárbara. Cruise the glittering mosaic esplanades lined with palm trees and unlimited shops. Discover a city the Moors so aptly dubbed, ‘The City of Light.’ 

Back to Top

Course Information

Students register for a total of two course units (CU). Course preferences are made on the application and are subject to approval by the program director. Course registration is completed by the Penn Summer Abroad office for students who confirm their intent to enroll in the program.

Note for non-Penn Students: One CU is generally considered to be equivalent to three semester hours when Penn coursework is transferred to another institution.

Courses:

Spanish 134: Accelerated Intermediate Spanish
Prerequisite: 1 year college Spanish or the equivalent

This course is a two-credit intensive intermediate Spanish-language course that combines the material in Spanish 130 and 140. Satisfactory completion of this course fulfills the language requirement at Penn. (2 CUs)

Spanish 212: Advanced Spanish Syntax
Prerequisite: 2 years college Spanish or equivalent

This is a rigorous advanced grammar course that emphasizes the acquisition of a solid knowledge of all important points of Spanish grammar, plus rules governing colloquial usage. It is required of all majors and minors. Also useful for non-majors who wish to improve their language skills before beginning advanced courses on culture, or for those who want a practical working knowledge of Spanish for career work. Class work consists mostly of discussion and correction of assigned exercises. (1 CU)

Spanish 226/326: Spanish Culture and Civilization
Fulfills Distribution Requirement II: History & Tradition (Class of 2009 & Prior), General Education Requirement: Cross-cultural Analysis
Prerequisite: 2 years college Spanish or equivalent

A general introduction to the study of Spanish culture. This course is designed to help students understand the historical foundations of contemporary Spanish society, its values and its institutions. The focus is on the principal events of Spanish history and the development of political and social institutions from the Middle Ages to the present, with special emphasis on the major artistic and literary milestones that have marked the Spanish cultural legacy. Through this historical overview, students will also refine their knowledge of the physical and cultural geography of Spain. (1 CU)

Spanish 227/327: Contemporary Spain (1868 to the present)
Fulfills Distribution Requirement III: Arts & Letters (Class of 2009 & Prior), General Education Requirement: Cross-cultural Analysis
Prerequisite: 2 years college Spanish or equivalent

In this course we study the main events, periods and policies that formed contemporary Spain. In the first half of the course we will study the historical conditions, including a review of the constitutional monarchy (1875-1923) and its dissolution in Primo’s dictatorship (1923-1931), followed by the second Republic and the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). At this stage we will pay special attention to the international pressures that resulted in the defeat of the Republic followed by the advent of Franco’s dictatorship. The second part of the course concentrates on the study of Franco’s regime (1939-1975) and the transition to democracy (1979) as well as the consolidation of the monarchy and Spain’s integration into Europe. (1 CU)

Faculty

This program is directed by Professor José M. Regueiro, Undergraduate Chair for Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages, University of Pennsylvania. Email: jregueir@sas.upenn.edu.

Back to Top

Housing

Students live with Spanish families in order to experience full linguistic and cultural immersion. Housing is prearranged through the Universidad de Alicante and all students will be asked to complete a host family accommodation form to list any special dietary needs or allergies. Full board (3 meals/day) is included.

Back to Top

Costs

Note: All tuition charges and fees are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and may change without notice.

Tuition: $5,866 (2009 Rate)

$2,933 per course unit (CU). Students are required to enroll for two CUs.

Program Fee: $2,485 (2008 rate. Rates for 2009 will be posted by December 1, 2008.)

Includes home stay with three meals/day; transportation from Madrid to Alicante on arrival; weekday transportation from home stay to class; and local health insurance.

The tuition and program fee are billed to the student’s Penn account according to the Summer Sessions billing schedule.

Other Expenses: Students are responsible for other direct expenses including:

• roundtrip air ticket to Madrid
• course materials
• personal expenses and entertainment
• transportation from Alicante to Madrid at the end of the program

William A. Levi Travel Fellowship

Financial Aid
Penn Summer Abroad programs may be supported by financial aid. Penn Students seeking financial aid for a program abroad should contact Student Financial Services (www.sfs.upenn.edu) and complete the undergraduate student financial application for the summer term. Non-Penn students apply for financial aid from their home institution.

Back to Top

Travel Notes

Passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the end date of the program. If you do not already have a passport or need to renew it, you should begin the process immediately. Passport application forms and instructions can be obtained at the U.S. Post Office or at http://travel.state.gov/.

Visa: Spain does not require an entry visa for U.S. Citizens for visits of up to 90 days. Citizens from other countries should confirm with Spanish Embassy whether or not a visa is required. If so, you will need to apply several months in advance. 

Air Tickets: Penn Summer Abroad does not organize travel overseas. Start researching flights early. There are many possibilities and a large variation in prices. You will receive the list of all students in your program. Contact the ones who are likely to travel from the same airport. You may be able to travel together.

Immunizations: Make sure you receive all appropriate inoculations. Consult with your physician and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which provides information on vaccines and immunizations for travel abroad. http://www.cdc.gov/.

Additional information will be provided in the acceptance packet and in pre-departure orientations that will take place in the spring.

Back to Top

To Apply

Applications for Penn-in-Alicante are open! Apply now for the early admissions deadline of January 20, 2009.

• Click here to apply to the program.

Back to Top