Office of International Education › Study Abroad › Program Selection ›

Spanish Language Study Abroad

Study Abroad in Spanish Language

Department home page: http://www.units.muohio.edu/spanport/

"La Ruta del Don Quijote"
Consuegra, Spain
Photo by Kelsey Schleider

The Department of Spanish & Portuguese at Miami University encourages all students majoring and minoring in Spanish to study abroad. It is both an exceptional academic opportunity and a great privilege to study abroad.

The faculty in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese has developed a list of programs that can be used as examples of study abroad opportunities. The vast majority of the programs Miami students who study Spanish abroad offer courses exclusively in Spanish, which is highly recommended for developing proficiency and cultural immersion.  However, there are also programs available for English-language courses for students with limited proficiency.  While studying abroad, students can take courses in the literatures of Latin America or Spain, in Hispanic Linguistics, in cultural topics from the host country and other subjects that are of interest to them, and, at the same time, learn the culture and history of the host society.

Students may choose to study abroad for a semester, a full academic year, or a summer. Most students go abroad during their junior year since by then they are done with the requirements of the Miami Plan (MP) and College of Arts and Science (CSA) plan, and they have decided on a major and have a clear understanding of which specific courses they need to take in order to complete their graduation requirements. However, there are many students who pursue study abroad during their Spring semester of their second year of studies or during the Fall semester of their senior year.  It all depends on planning, but all students can go abroad.

The Study Abroad Office will work with you to find a program that matches your interests and helps you achieve your goals.  If you are interested in information about courses that transfer toward your Major or Minor in Spanish from specific programs abroad, please contact Ms. Tiffany Belka, 230 Irvin Hall (e-mail: belkat@muohio.edu).

Most Successful Programs

The following programs have been researched by the Department of Spanish & Portuguese and have been identified as the "most successful" programs for studying Spanish for a Major or Minor at Miami University. They are programs that have already been identified as having courses particularly well-suited to Miami's Department of Spanish & Portuguese. Programs marked with a yellow star () are those that match the curriculum of Miami's Spanish Department most closely (i.e. they are the easiest to determine course equivalencies for transfer credits).

Your choices are not limited to these programs. If you are interested in going somewhere else, the Department of Spanish & Portuguese will work with you. For more information on the programs below or to find out how to integrate any study abroad into your Spanish major, please talk to Tiffany Belka (contact information above). To find other programs, please visit the Office of International Education's program selection page.

Miami University strongly recommends that its students spend at least one semester studying abroad before they graduate. The following are recommended programs for semester- or year-long study. For information about summer programs or other options, please discuss your plans with a Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of International Education and with Tiffany Belka (belkat@muohio.edu) in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

Latin America

Argentina

"Rooftop Tango"
Mendoza, Argentina
Photo by Michelle Jones

• Buenos Aires
  
  • IFSA-Butler - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/general-argentina.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=60
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Córdoba
  
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=60
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Mendoza
  
  • IFSA-Butler -http://www.ifsa-butler.org/general-argentina.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.

Chile

• Antofagasta
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=67
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Coquimbo
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=67
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Valparaíso
  
  • IFSA-Butler - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/chile-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=67
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Santiago
  
  • IFSA-Butler - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/chile-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.

Costa Rica

"Soccer 4 Life/Futbol Para Siempre"
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Photo by Benjamin Walker

• Heredia
  • IFSA-Butler -http://www.ifsa-butler.org/costa-rica-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=69
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• San José
  • IFSA-Butler -http://www.ifsa-butler.org/costa-rica-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.

Mexico

• Guanajuato
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Jalisco
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Mérida
  • IFSA-Butler - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/mexico-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.
• Mexico City
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Monterrey
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Puebla
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• San Pedro Garza Garcia
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=195
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.

Nicaragua

"Inkan Sunrise "
Machu Picchu, Peru
Photo by Kyle Lochridge

• Managua
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=202
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.

Peru

• Lima
  • IFSA-Butler - http://www.ifsa-butler.org/peru-overview.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students take most of their courses in Spanish at local universities alongside local students, although some IFSA-Butler courses are available (in Spanish) to American students only.

Uruguay

• Montevideo
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=237
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.

Spain

• Almería
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.


"Rhythms of Granada:
Traditional Spanish Flamenco "
Granada, Spain
Photo by Whitney Johnson

• Barcelona
  • CIEE (Advanced Liberal Arts) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=787
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in Spanish with other CIEE students) and local university courses.
  • CIEE (Architecture and Design) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=1795
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in English or Spanish with other CIEE students) and courses at the ELISAVA School of Design.
  • CIEE (Business and Culture)  - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=106
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in English or Spanish with other CIEE students) and local university courses.  Ideal for Business students minoring in Spanish or completing a double major in Business & Spanish.
• Granada
  • IES - https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Programs/Spain/Granada/granada.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of IES study center courses (in Spanish with other IES students) and local university courses.
• Madrid
  • IES - https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Programs/Spain/Madrid/madrid.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of IES study center courses (in Spanish with other IES students) and local university courses.
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Málaga
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Murcia
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Palma
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Pamplona
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.


"La Boqueria "
Barcelona, Spain
Photo by Whitney Johnson

• Salamanca
  • IES - https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Programs/Spain/Salamanca/salamanca.html
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of IES study center courses (in Spanish with other IES students) and local university courses.
• Santiago de Compostela
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.
• Sevilla
  • CIEE (Advanced Liberal Arts) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=109
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in Spanish with other CIEE students) and local university courses.
  • CIEE (Business and Society) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=110
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in Spanish with other CIEE students) and local university courses.  Ideal for Business students minoring in Spanish or completing a double major in Business & Spanish.
  • CIEE (International Business and Culture) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=111
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in English or Spanish with other CIEE students).  Spanish courses offered in this program are designed for beginning- and intermediate-level students (equivalent to Miami's 100- and 200-level courses), though more advanced language courses are available to students who qualify. 
  • CIEE (Teaching Development) - http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=114
    Co-Sponsored program. Students enroll in a combination of CIEE study center courses (in Spanish with other CIEE students) and local university courses.  This program offers courses in Spanish Literature, Linguistics and also in Education.  Students can also gain practical experience by teaching your own small class in English or Spanish at an area school or company.
• Valencia
  • University of Virginia - http://www.virginia.edu/span-ital-port/valencia/
    Co-Sponsored program. Courses are in Spanish with other US students. This program has no option to enroll in courses at a local university.
• Vigo
  • ISEP Exchange - http://isep.org/students/Directory/member_site.asp?CSID=218
    Exchange program. ISEP exchanges are full-immersion programs best suited to independent students with strong language skills who are prepared to take responsibility for their own learning, leisure and cultural experiences.

Internships

The following programs have study-internship options, which allow you to complete an internship while studying abroad:

• Barcelona, Spain:  CIEE
• Granada, Spain:  IES
• Madrid, Spain: IES
• Salamanca, Spain:  IES (for Education and Political Science)
• Sevilla, Spain: CIEE

Many other study abroad programs also have volunteering options either as a formal part of the program, or as a personal activity you can plan with your program director.

Study Abroad Advising in the Spanish Department

Talk to a Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of International Education (216 MacMillan) or see the Office of International Education website for more information. Program requirements may vary. Application deadlines can be as early as January for the entire following school year, so research early to find a program that interests you. It helps to plan a minimum of one semester ahead to assure maximum course transfers so make an appointment with Tiffany Belka (belkat@muohio.edu) in the Spanish Department early to enroll in the proper courses before studying abroad.

For more information on earning credit for study abroad in the Spanish Department, click here:

• Process of identifying a program and seeking approval on course transfers
• Tips for earning Spanish credit abroad
• Restrictions on earning Spanish credit abroad

Receiving Credit AFTER You Have Studied Abroad

Sign up for an appointment with Dr. Ken Wireback in office 258 Irvin Hall as soon as your transfer credits (labeled with a "T") appear on your DARS. He will review your courses taken abroad and, upon approval of transfer credit, assign specific Spanish course numbers to those classes.

Student Profiles

Student profiles are posted verbatim, in the students' own words.

Students Currently Abroad

Alana at the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman near Cusco

Alana (Major: Spanish)

¡Hola from Perú!

I'm currently studying abroad in Lima, Peru for the 2009-2010 academic year with the IFSA-Butler program and I'm taking courses at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. I am enrolled in four courses, two which are through the Butler program, an advanced Spanish course and another called Realidad Social Peruana; these two courses are only taken with other international IFSA-Butler students. I also am taking two courses in the facultad, called Fuentes Peruanas: precolonial y colonial and the other is called Sociolinguistica. In the Realidad course, we are learning about the contemporary history of Peru and the reasons why it went through a difficult stage from 1970-2000. The advanced Spanish course is fairly self-explained, the professor helps us to learn the jerga or slang of Lima and help us to converse with the locals more. My other two courses are a bit more challenging because I am taking courses with the actual Peruvian students, but this also provides to make more friendships with the locals.

Since my arrival, I have grown to love Peru. I grew up in the suburbs/small town setting, so it took me about a month to get used to living in the city. But since then, I have been able to travel and see the wonders that this country has to offer. I didn't realize until recently how lucky I am to be in this country, it has one of the most diverse ecosystems of all the countries, it has the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains, coastal beaches, and desert areas. Also, the food is amazing! It's definitely not like the typical South American food, it has Italian, Japanese and African backgrounds, which means a lot of pasta, rice, and potatoes. The people are very friendly with foreigners. If I'm ever lost I know that I can ask someone for advice and they're very willing to help out.

I can't wait to learn more about the culture of the City of the Kings and their customs!

Study Abroad Alumni

Alicia in Argentina

Alicia (Majors: Spanish, Latin American Studies and Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs)

I studied in Buenos Aires, Argentina through the IFSA-Butler program.  I discovered Buenos Aires is a very challenging but extremely rewarding place to live.  I took all of my courses in the Spanish language, studied human rights under Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aldolfo Peréz Equivel at the National University of Buenos Aires, and interned with the Madres de Plaza de Mayo. My academic endeavors easily attributed to my majors:  Spanish, Latin American Studies, and Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs.

I lived with a host family in the city, volunteered with a local student ministry, drank the traditional mate tea, went to soccer games, made Argentine friends, and learned to tango.  I also hiked a mountain in Patagonia, swam in the ocean in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took a ferry to Colonia, Uruguay and toured the city on a moped. My experience abroad changed me personally and drastically improved my speaking capabilities in ways a classroom cannot teach.

My best advice to a student wanting to go abroad is do not be afraid to seek a genuine challenge, in fact, catapult yourself out of your comfort zone, and travel to a place your life would not otherwise take you.