Featured:
| Program Terms: |
Academic Year, Fall, Spring |
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| Homepage: | Click to visit | |
| Budget Sheets |
Academic Year, Fall, Spring |
| Dates / Deadlines: |
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| Term | Year | App Deadline | Decision Date | Start Date | End Date |
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| Spring | 2014 | 09/15/2013 | 10/20/2013 | 01/13/2014 | 05/17/2014 |
| Academic Year | 2014-2015 | 02/15/2014 | 03/20/2014 | TBA | TBA |
| Fall | 2014 | 02/15/2014 | 03/20/2014 | TBA | TBA |
| Fact Sheet: |
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| Language of Instruction: | Spanish |
 Class Eligibility:
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2-Sophomore, 3-Junior, 4-Senior (fall only) |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Housing Options:
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Family Stay |
| Maximum Credits Earned (per semester): | 4.0 | Academic Area of Study: | Economics, International Business and Management, Internships, Music, Political Science, Sociology, Spanish |
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Foreign Laguage Prerequisite:
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Spanish 231 or higher | ||
| Program Description: |
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The seaside city of Málaga is home to Dickinson's Spanish program. Under the guidance of a Dickinson faculty member serving as resident director, students pursue classes in Spanish language, culture, history and art. Participants live with families and may undertake internships and community-service activities while living in Málaga.
The Picasso museum, recently restored Alcazaba and numerous theatres and museums attract thousands annually to the city's rich cultural life. In addition, Málaga is well located, with the three best-known cities in Andalucia - Granada, Córdoba and Sevilla - just a quick bus ride away.
Dickinson College offered its first full-year study abroad program in Spain in 1985 in cooperation with the Universidad de Málaga. Since that time, Dickinson has expanded its offerings in Málaga and now runs a comprehensive program that focuses on Spanish language and literature, culture and society and includes internships and courses in economics and international business.
Program participants have the opportunity to sample courses offered at the Teatinos campus of the Universidad de Málaga, which has eight schools and institutes and more than 50,000 students. For Dickinson students, this is an opportunity to integrate in Spanish university life and to see how the experience of attending a large university compares to that of attending a small liberal-arts college.
Most students who successfully complete the academic year in Málaga earn nine credits, depending upon their selected courses. Five credits can be earned in the fall semester and four in the spring.
3.0 GPA
Students must complete Spanish 231 before studying abroad.
Interviews, in Spanish, may be conducted at the discretion of the faculty coordinator at any time in order to review a candidate’s eligibility for this program.
In some ways, the academic environment that you will experience while studying at a Spanish university will be similar to that at Dickinson; in other ways, it will be very different. All students will take classes on the campus of the Universidad de Málaga (UMA). In the fall, students are required to take at least one class with only Dickinson students and at least one class that is offered to UMA students. In the spring, students will take classes exclusively with other Dickinson students.
Both the Resident Director and your tutores, University of Málaga students that work with Dickinson students in conjunction with the Spanish 251 class, will help you acclimate to the academic culture of Málaga. You also have a personal responsibility to create your environment: get out, explore, find opportunities to interact with local people on your own, and speak Spanish! The best thing that you can do is accept that you will be uncomfortable in many situations, academically, and socially. This is normal—you’re in a completely foreign environment. Step out of your comfort zone, and you will be pleased to see how you develop over time.
All students enrolled in the program must take four (4) courses each semester for a total of four (4) Dickinson credits. Students may not under-enroll under any circumstances. Students wishing to take more than four courses, must receive permission to overload from the Resident Director, their academic advisor(s) at Dickinson, and the Center for Global Study and Engagement. If permission is not given, the course credit will not transfer.
Students will take a language placement test upon their arrival. This will consist of a written exam and an oral interview with the Resident Director. Students whose performance exceed expectations are not required to take Spanish 251. All other students will be required to take Spanish 251 during their first semester.
*All students are required to take Spanish 372, Spanish Society and Culture during their first semester (fall or spring).
In the fall semester, students are also required to take at least one class offered at UMA.
One (1) course credit is equivalent to four (4) semester hours:
FALL SEMESTER:
Core courses taken by all students:
Spanish 251: Language Tutorial (pre-semester intensive course)
Spanish 372: Spanish Society and Culture
At least one UMA course in any department*
Electives:
Spanish 305: Introduction to Literary Analysis and Theory
A large variety of courses at the UMA*
*The list of courses offered at the UMA in the fall 2013 will not be available until late September. Courses usually offered can be found on the webpages of the various departments of the UMA website: www.uma.es
SPRING SEMESTER courses are to be determined
The opportunity for all-year students to earn one credit as an intern during the spring semester is considered a privilege. A limited number of formal internships are available as part of the Intercultural Seminar. The Málaga program has long-standing relationships with several organizations where strong, responsible students representing Dickinson have been placed as interns. Highly-qualified, all-year students interested in participating in a one-credit internship during the spring semester should discuss their interest with the Resident Director early in the fall semester. Internships will be offered to a limited number of students through the Intercultural Seminar course offered by the Resident Director.
If you are interested in interning in a specific area, take the initiative and research different opportunities early in your time in Málaga. Internships are not a common practice in Spain. However, while many organizations are not familiar with the practice, they may be willing to take on extra help. Do not hesitate to initiate contact with an organization about the prospect of interning with them. Many students find (non-credit bearing) extracurricular volunteer opportunities to be equally rewarding experiences.
Registration for courses occurs upon arrival.
Consult your major advisor for more information.
UMA courses will be listed on the transcript with course titles and credit earned. These courses will not be computed in the Dickinson grade point average, as they are for general credit.
Courses especially organized for program students receive full credit as Dickinson courses and will be listed on the transcript with course titles and letter grades. The courses will be computed in the cumulative grade point average of Dickinson students.
Each Dickinson course in Málaga earns one course credit (equal to four (4) semester hours). The normal course load for semester students only is 4 credits. The normal course load for all year students is 8 credits.
Only liberal arts classes will qualify for transfer credit.
Generally speaking, courses must have an equivalent at Dickinson. Exceptions include classes that focus on the culture and/or history of the country in which the student is studying.
Transfer credit will not be awarded for coursework that duplicates what a student has already completed at Dickinson.
To receive transfer credit, University courses must be completed with the equivalent of a “C” (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better.
Students must complete Spanish 231 before studying abroad.
The Málaga program is designed so that students can reach the highest level of linguistic and cultural understanding of Spain and the people with whom they interact. In order to accomplish these goals, you are required to speak Spanish at all times, even among yourselves. This may not be easy at first, but you will receive steady assistance and will discover that the effort is worthwhile.
Shortly after arrival in Málaga you will be asked to sign the program’s language agreement. Signing the agreement is required for participation in the program. We take this very seriously and expect you to do so as well. As preparation for speaking Spanish only, maintain your linguistic skills before departure by listening to Spanish music, watching Spanish films, reading a Spanish novel, or tuning in to Spanish TV.
Yes, it does. Participants in this program typically enjoy day excursions to numerous historic and cultural sites around Málaga as components of the program. All students on the program during the fall semester travel to Madrid as well as other locations in Andalucía. In the end of the spring semester, program participants take part in academic excursions to Barcelona, Valencia and Portugal.
Students’ lodging costs will be covered during overnight excursions. Also, any meals that would not be otherwise covered by a standard meal stipend for all students on the program will be covered. Group transportation to and from the excursion site, as well as group travel for all group activities will be covered. Students will not be reimbursed for snacks, personal travel and personal activities during an academic excursion.
Specific dates and locations for the multi-day excursions will be announced during the semester preceding the excursion. Site visits in and around Málaga will be organized and announced by the professor during the semester.
No, unfortunately, for logistical and academic reasons non program participants are not able to join the program for excursions.
Not necessarily. These excursions are linked to your academic program and, in some cases, content delivered through the excursion will be relevant to a student’s studies and assessment. All students should plan to participate in all excursions. If a student misses an excursion or a planned departure for a trip, these arrangements and costs will not be made up for the student. It is each student’s responsibility to be where they need to be in order to participate fully in each academic excursion.
In addition to the full day mandatory pre-departure orientation you’ll have on campus the semester prior to your program. There will be an on-site orientation for this program. In Málaga students’ on-site orientation occurs the week before classes begin and is a combination and is specifically for the group from Dickinson.
During the orientation you will meet and work with the on-site director, Professor Jorge Sagastume. Orientation events include a tour of the Teatinos campus, an overview of Málaga ‘s public transportation system, a welcome reception with homestay families, university and course registration meetings, and an overview of your health and safety while studying in Spain.
Students will be given a precise date and window of time during which they will be asked to arrive at the Málaga airport (AGP). You must communicate your arrival plans with the on-site director and the CGSE. To notify the CGSE, you should enter the flight information in your on line program accessible here. Upon arrival, students will be met by the director and put into cabs to make their way to their homestay family. Official dates for the program can be found here.
No, there is not a group flight organized for this program. Students must make their own travel arrangements after confirming the appropriate arrival dates. Students may wish to book their travel on their own or use Advantage Travel based in Syracuse, New York. We recommend students contact agent Sally Curtis at Advantage Travel by calling 1-800-788-1980 or emailing scurtis@advantagecny.com. Although flights can be booked online, we strongly encourage students and their families to consider the benefits of an agent’s services given the duration of study abroad programs and the complexity of international air travel today.
If you have family or friends who are planning to visit you, please do not make travel plans until you arrive at the program and become familiar with your class schedule and program excursions. It is not acceptable to skip class for personal travel.
You will travel in and around Málaga as you work your way through the core course offered at the Cursos. There will also be group academic excursions throughout each semester. Exact dates for the excursions will be announced as each term gets underway. Many students also travel on their own during major Spanish holidays when classes are not in session.
Students may not arrive early or stay late without the written approval of the resident director. Please note that if you choose to arrive early or stay late, you may not be able to stay with your homestay family and, if you do stay with your family, you may be asked to pay additional fees in order to cover the expense. You should also consider your visa validity when you make the decision of whether or not you may arrive early or stay late. No student may arrive late for the start of the program.
Click here for the program budget sheet. It can be found at the top of the page to the left of the Apply Now button.
The fee includes tuition, room, board, academic excursions and emergency insurance. Airfare and visa fees are not included. The budget sheet also lists additional fees students should anticipate.
The flight is not included but the cost is taken into consideration when your financial aid need is calculated for your semester abroad.
This depends on you. We encourage students to not travel every weekend, but to really engage their host city in meaningful ways during their semester abroad. An estimate of personal expenses is included on the budget sheet, but it really depends on you and your spending habits.
You will receive a monthly stipend to purchase a bus pass. Do not rely on this stipend for spending money.
ATMs are a convenient way to transfer money and exchange currency. ATMs connected to international networks such as Cirrus and Plus allow you to retrieve cash in the local currency directly from your bank account in the United States. Inquire at your bank to be sure that your ATM card will allow cash withdrawals abroad. Major credit cards are also accepted; however, be sure to check about foreign transaction fees for using your card overseas. It is very difficult to cash travelers checks in Málaga.
There may be a limited number of work-study opportunities in Málaga. If you are eligible for work study, please consult with the Resident Director. College work-study payments are made monthly; those funds will be deposited directly into each student’s designated U.S. bank accounts. In order to collect your work study earnings, you must have filed a W 4 form, an I 9 form, and a bank deposit form in the Student Payroll Office before leaving campus.
You will be enrolled in a Spanish health care program (Medifiat) that will cover you for routine medical care. Visits to a doctor’s office will be free because of the public health care system, but prescription drugs will not be covered. There are many pharmacies throughout Málaga. Several are designated to remain open 24 hours, called farmacia de guardia.
Spain has a good reputation for medical health care and has an ample number of hospitals and clinics for treatment as well as very good emergency services. Minor ailments are usually treated by private doctors, either at their assigned clinic, or, if necessary, at home. Some doctors still make house calls. Qualified pharmacists can also offer medical advice or prescribe over-the-counter remedies in the case of minor ailments. During your orientation period, you will receive more information about medical, dental, and eye care in Málaga.
In Málaga, students live with local families in Málaga. Many of these families have hosted Dickinson students for several years. The college and the students deeply value the relationships we have with these families who open their homes to our students every semester. Not only will students observe invaluable insight into daily Spanish life and culture, they are also fully-immersed in the language while inside the home.
Full details about your homestay family will be sent to you from the Resident Director as soon as it becomes available; you may not receive this information until closer to your departure flight. If you find out earlier during the break, many students chose to contact with a short letter to their host families ahead of time to introduce themselves.
The majority of homestay families live to the east of Málaga in residential neighborhoods, Pedregalejo and El Palo. One of the main bus lines (the 11) runs from the center of Málaga to El Palo, which is roughly a 25 minute bus ride. From the center of town, students will change from the 11 to the 20, which will take them out to the University of Málaga campus, which lays about 20 minutes west of the city center.
Your homestay family will provide three meals a day to you. If, for example, you have class at the university and will not be able to return home for lunch, your host family will pack a lunch for you. Also, if you plan to eat out for dinner or lunch, please be courteous to your family and let them know that you will not be there for that meal.
Your homestay family will provide laundry services to you. Some homestay families will do your laundry; others will allow you to use their washer/dryer so that you can do your own. You can discuss these preferences with your family.
Spaniards usually do not have friends over to the house, as they will meet up at cafés or restaurants. If you would like to have a friend over, you will need to first ask your family if this is acceptable. Keep in mind that this friend should not stay long or too late into the evening, nor over mealtimes. Some families may not allow friends of the opposite gender to visit.
It is always a nice gesture to bring your new host family a token from your hometown or region and as an initial ‘thank you’ for having you in their home. You could also bring them something from Dickinson.
If there is an issue with an aspect of your housing arrangement, it is always best to try to resolve this first with the family. Many times simply addressing an issue with the family is the best way to create a positive change. You are encouraged to talk to your Resident Director if there is an on-going problem and he/she will be happy to talk to the family or mediate a conversation.
The homestay families all have internet and the vast majority have wifi. If there is a problem with the internet or your ability to connect to it, there are many internet cafés around the city and in the residential neighborhoods that will allow you to connect to their wifi for a small fee.
Academic-year students have the opportunity in the spring semester to do an internship in a local firm or institution where they are immersed in the daily working environment of the city. In recent years students have interned in many fields of interest, including fine arts, literature, journalism, multiculturalism, translation, tourism, economics, international business, social services, hotel and restaurant management, veterinary medicine, pre-school child care, primary and secondary education, politics, government, economics and law.
Students who wish to complete an internship for academic credit must be academic year students and enroll in the Intercultural Seminar. Semester students can earn a transcript notation on their Dickinson transcript through the Career Center. For more information click here.
Students can conduct research abroad under the guidance of a Dickinson advisor. The Student International Research Fund (SIRF) was established to help students with extra travel costs associated with independent research projects. Students are encouraged to present their research at the International Research Symposium when they return to campus. For more information, click here.
A visa is a document, normally affixed within your passport, which allows you to enter the country and stay for the duration of your program. The requirements for the visa and visa process are controlled by the government of the country you are entering, are non-negotiable, and can change regularly. If you arrive without the proper visa, you will be sent home by immigration officers at your own expense.
A student visa is required to participate in the Málaga program. If you do not hold a US passport, you should consult with the Spanish embassy in your country of citizenship for the student visa requirements. Obtaining a student visa is the student’s responsibility. We will review the guidelines for obtaining a student visa at the Pre-departure Orientation.
We have produced visa guidelines to provide you with an overview of what you will need to do to obtain a student visa. Please note: this is only a tool to help you get started! It is not a substitute for consulting with the Spanish consulate that has jurisdiction over your state of home residence. Make sure you are familiar with the most up-to-date regulations by visiting their website frequently.
Also, you need to ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months after the program end date.
You will need to make an appointment at the Spanish consulate in order to submit previously-gathered documents that are required for the visa. Please consult the visa guidelines for your country of study.
Yes, you will need to make a visa appointment at the Spanish consulate in New York City or the Spanish consulate that presides over your home state jurisdiction in order to submit your student visa application. Students must not delay in making visa appointments as they fill up quickly and may result in you not securing a visa in time to participate in the program.
Currently the visa fee is set at $100; however this amount is subject to change. Be sure to check the consulate’s website for any fee change before you submit your visa paperwork.
At the New York consulate, it can take up to 8 weeks to obtain a student visa.
Yes, you will need to do your own research on visa requirements for citizens of your home country to study in Spain. The CGSE may be able to help you with the required documents.
Also, you will need to inform Gwen Moore and Jackie Wong that you will be studying outside of the United States and discuss how you will remain in valid F-1 status during your studies abroad.
Yes, there may be visa services that can assist you in obtaining the student visa. You will need to research these providers and their fees and timetables.
Yes, we provide you with visa guidelines, as well as various required documents needed for the visa process.
Global Ambassadors are returning study abroad students who serve as peer advisors for their program. Please feel free to contact them for a student perspective.
Sarah Young, a senior from the Boston area, is a Spanish major who spent her junior year in Málaga. Her experiences in Spain count among the high points of her college years. She especially enjoyed developing close relationships with her host family, traveling throughout Spain and to Morocco, and meeting Spanish locals and students with whom she formed lasting friendships. Her academic experience included a semester-long internship with El Centro Cultural de la Generación del 27, a Malaga-based cultural center which hosts lectures, musical events, poetry readings, and other cultural events. Back at Dickinson, Sarah is a member of the community service group Rotaract and the Hispanic honor society Sigma Delta Pi. She enjoys hiking, listening to music, and figuring out where her travels will take her next.
A Dickinson faculty member serves as the resident director and supervises all aspects of the program. The current resident director is Jorge Sagastume. He is available to answer questions about academics and to provide guidance and advice. In addition, the resident director teaches two courses in the Dickinson in Málaga program.
Professor Jorge Sagastume, Spanish and Portuguese
sagastuj@dickinson.edu
Professor Eva Copeland, Spanish and Portuguese
copelane@dickinson.edu
Study Abroad Advisor, Spain
Marlena Meikrantz
meikranm@dickinson.edu
