The University of Aberdeen in Barcelona Honours Summer Programme in Hispanic Studies
June 15-July 26, 2008
Professor Teresa Vilarós, Director
On-site Coordinator, Ms Sonia Domingo
The Barcelona Summer Programme is sponsored by the Department of Hispanic Studies, the School of Language and Literature, and the Centre for Modern Thought at the University of Aberdeen. Housed at the prestigious Universitat Pompeu Fabra, it offers honours seminar courses in collaboration with faculty from our host university, and of the University of Aberdeen.
The programme offers a rigorous, rich and stimulating interdisciplinary immersion in Hispanic Studies, focusing in the cultural history of Catalan society. It provides two seminar courses at the medium-advanced level, complemented by a companion modular series (Seminar 2), and Cultural Outings (Seminar 1). All courses are taught in Spanish, and are suitable for the curriculum of any student pursuing a major, minor, or specializing in Spanish Studies, History, Sociology, Art History, International Relations, Comparative Area studies, Cultural Anthropology, Public Policy, and Political Sciences.
Students applying to the Programme should have an accredited level of Spanish of for semester of college level, or its equivalent, or of three semesters if highly recommended by the language instructor. US students should have a minimum grade point average of 3.00; UK students should have marks whose average is at least second class. Non US/UK students with equivalent academic point average, training, and language level are also welcome to apply.
COURSES
Seminar 1: Advanced Language and Literature: Reading Barcelona. It provides advanced training in Spanish through guided readings of landmark novels that have the city of Barcelona as its scenario. Emphasis in a comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the language, with an introductory literary analysis in Modern/Contemporary novel. Taught by faculty of the University of Aberdeen. Requires participation in the Cultural City Outings (see below).
Seminar 2: Society, Culture, Territory. The course presents a historical, geocultural survey study of Catalonia from its Greek and Roman settlers to the present time. Reviewing some of its most important social and cultural phenomena, it analyzes the impact of the territory and its particularities in the creation of the regional identity of the region now known as Catalunya. Taught by faculty of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Requires participation in the Companion Modular Series, taught by invited guest faculty (see below).
Companion Modular Series in History and Visual Culture. An integrated series of six modules, one each week, composed of a core lecture and discussion, and a field trip. Each module complements and/or expands some of the topics reviewed in Seminar 2, exploring a few of Catalonia’s most important visual and cultural production in relation to various historical periods. Modules offer an in-depth, on-site analysis of a particular theme, making use of literature, film, painting, architecture, history.
Cultural City Outings. An integrated series of four cultural outings, expanding and/or complementing some of the topics studied in Seminar 1.
Classes meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, beginning at 3:00pm. Field excursions for the Modular Series take place on Wednesdays, departing at 9:00am. Cultural Outings are TBA. First day of classes is June 16, 2007. Last day of classes is Wednesday July 23. Reading day is Thursday July 24. Final Exam day is scheduled for Friday 25: from 9:00am to 11:00am (Seminar 1), and from 12:00pm to 2:00pm (Seminar 2). Auditing or ‘pass/fail’ options are not permitted.
SYLLABI AND EVALUATION
Forthcoming.
ROOM, BOARD, AND TRANSPORTATION
Students are housed in double occupancy rooms at the hall of residence of La Citadella, near campus and close to the beach. If residence is full, a similar facility will be provided by the Programme. The accommodation does not offer board. Students should provide for their own breakfast, lunch, and dinner outside the dorm (easily done at the university cafeteria or at the thousands of small restaurants and cafes located all though the city offering good, healthy, and reasonably priced menus.
“The residence hall provides room-only services. The programme covers lunch meals at the university cafeteria the days classes are on session. It also offers lunch during the excursions”.
Transportation to and from Barcelona must be arranged by individual participants. The dormitory will be available to students of the programme on Sunday June 15, 2008, after 3:00pm. The departing day is Saturday, July 26 2008, check-out time at 10:00am. Due to the intensive nature of the programme, late arrivals and/or early departures are not permitted.
Public transportation within the city of Barcelona is easy, safe, and reliable. Students are highly encouraged to purchase a monthly bus & metro pass upon arrival. Passes can be bought at any metro station.
EXCURSIONS AND CULTURAL OUTINGS
The Programme offers one-day excursions to the Roman anthropological site of Tarragona, the city of Girona, the Dali Museum in Figueres, The Montserrat Abbey, and to the coastal resort of Sitges with a visit to the Cau Ferrat. In-the-city cultural outings include a visit to Santa Maria del Mar, the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell, and to the Picasso Museum. All outings and excursions are considered an integral part of the academic programme and are therefore required.
CONTACT INFORMATION: For questions and more information on the program, please contact the Programme Coordinator, Ms Sonia Domingo, at s.domingo@abdn.ac.uk; or the director of the Programme, Prof. Teresa Vilarós at teresa.vilaros@abdn.ac.uk.
APPLICATION IS OPEN FROM DECEMBER 1, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 14, 2008 for non-University of Aberdeen Students and APRIL 15 for University of Aberdeen Students: DOWNLOAD AS A PDF OR A WORD DOCUMENT.
PROGRAM COST: £2,900.00
