- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- Faculty and Staff
- Costs
- Dates
- Additional Information
The small, cobblestone streets of Alcala de Henares are only 30 minutes away from Madrid but will transport you back to a different time. Pitt in Spain offers you the chance to live and study in this historic city while improving your Spanish skills. The atmosphere of the small and manageable city combined with your Spanish host family will leave you feeling like a true Spaniard by the time your program is over.
Courses are hosted at the Instituto Franklin de la Universidad de Alcala, one of the oldest universities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can earn up to 6 credits towards your Spanish major/minor or European Studies Certificate.
As an active and involved participant you will:
- have real world application of the Spanish language at an intermediate and/or advanced level
- understand the influence of language on culture and vice versa
- interact with Spanairds safely at the local level by living the university dormitories and taking courses by local faculty from la Universidad de Alcala
Along with the University of Alcala, the Old Town of Alcala de Henares is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its beautifully preserved buildings from the 15th to 18th century. Wander the streets of this beautiful town or take a quick train ride to Madrid. Having Madrid a short train ride away makes it easy to explore the rest of Spain during your free time.
You will be housed within the dormitories at la Universidad de Alcalá offering you the chance to not only learn about Spanish culture, but to immerse yourself in the language and improve your skills.The dorms are a five-minute walk from the university. They include three meals per day, 24/7 security, bedding, laundry facilities, and weekly cultural activities. Laundry services are available for an additional cost. You may share your room with another student. The Instituto Franklin is responsible for all room and board accomodations. You will recieve housing information about two weeks prior to your departure.
Keep in mind that living in a host culture can present challenges if you follow a special diet (vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, Halal, etc.). Please contact Gisselle before applying to the program if you'd like to discuss this more in depth.
You will select one course from each time block to take while abroad. The selection of specific courses will be pending passing the language placement test administered at the Instituto Franklin at la Universidad de Alcala. Please list a main and alternate course from each section on your course approval sheet.
Block 1 - 9:00am -11:30am
- SPAN 0104: Español Avanzado (Intermediate Spanish 4)
- SPAN 1300: Fonetica y Español Oral (Spanish Phonetics and Phonemics)
- SPAN 1323: Traducción Médica (Medical Translation)
- SPAN 1603: España contemporanea por el cine (Spain in Images:Contemporary Spain through Films)
BREAK
Block 2 - 12:00pm -14:30pm
- SPAN 0120: Tradiciones de España: Comunicación Oral (Traditions of Spain: Oral Communication)
- SPAN 1250: Civilización y Cultura Española (Hispanic Civiliazation)
- SPAN 1321: Español de Negocios (Business Spanish)
- SPAN 1601: Literatura Española Contemporanea (Peninsular Literature: Literatura Española Contemporanea)
The course is aimed at students who wish to have a comprehensive and thorough knowledge of Spanish phonetics, and improve their pronunciation. It is structured from a practical point of view, always focusing on practical exercises within a theoretical context. It is important for students to hear and contrast first, and modify and improve later, through a detailed study of phonemes, syllables, stress and a general knowledge of the Spanish phonetic alphabet. This study will delve into phonetic transcription with exercises and explanations to train them in order to achieve an effective use of the language.
This course is intended for students with an advanced level of Spanish who have specific medical/scientific background. Medical translation, like any specialized translation, requires specific definitions and terminology. Language as well as concepts are equally important. The course will have a theoretical and practical approach. On the one hand, students will learn the role of the medical translator, they will analyze specific English and Spanish medical texts and they will work with direct and indirect translations, that is from Spanish into English and from English into Spanish. Moreover, students will be introduced to interpretation and intercultural mediation in a medical context through different exercises.

Cinema is one of the most popular artistic representation due to its expressive power and narrative ability. Film productions allow us to gain knowledge of and come closer to the Spanish reality from two perspectives: as a historical document and as an aesthetic expression. In this course, students will learn about the Spanish by filming speech, taking as reference important directors and films in the history of Spanish cinema. Moreover, the course aims to make a journey through the history of Spain, from the Civil War until today, taking as reference film productions on this historical period. Spanish film productions are studied from a multidisciplinary perspective to analyze the most relevant historical periods of contemporary Spain. In addition to studying and undertaking critical analysis from different perspectives, students will have the opportunity to acquire the specialized language used in cinema and historiography, enabling them to improve their speaking and to be able to write down their ideas in Spanish, as well as appreciating cinema as a form of artistic and cultural expression that reflects the history of Spain.
This course aims to improve students’ oral and conversational skills. The course provides both linguistic and cultural knowledge. Units follow a linguistic progress for this which goes from the verb to be; ser / estar / haber; prepositions; reflexive verbs; direct and indirect pronouns; irregular verbs; past perfect / imperfect / indefinite; simple future; the conditional tense and the present subjunctive. These grammar points are studied in a context that is related to cultural aspects in Spain. Thus students will see topics such as; the parts of the house, giving directions, using public transportation, food, fashion, a doctor’s visit, cultural festivals: Fallas, bullfighting, Christmas and Easter, among others.
The course offers a historical and interdisciplinary overview of the most relevant characteristics and events of Spanish culture and civilization up to now. It is important to learn and understand the history and the past in order to fully understand Spanish history and society today. This course provides an interdisciplinary approach that integrates the social, political, artistic, religious, ethnographic, anthropological and economic perspectives that will help students understand in greater depth the reality and challenges of the country throughout the different historical periods.

This course is aimed at students who are interested in improving their language skills in a business scenario. The course, its activities, assignments and assessments have a communicative approach, and real-life and business situations are proposed. It focuses mainly on the acquisition of company-specific terminology, oral expression and communication, written expression in letters, resumes and other specialized documents, without forgetting the essential elements involved for a correct cultural and linguistic expression.
The aim of this course is to bring students closer to the life and work of our most influential authors of the 20th and 21st centuries. We will study the essential stylistic features of each author and we will situate them in a particular period or movement. The aim is to integrate different art forms into the most recent historical development, in order for students to identify them in the literary texts of each period.
The course is aimed at students who wish to enhance their communication skills in Spanish. To achieve this goal, new grammatical structures will be introduced, and others that have already been acquired by the student will be strengthened. This course requires students to have passed level B (intermediate level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in order for them to be able to learn about the contents explained in class with no difficulty. The contents of the course will include four skills: speaking, writing, listening and reading comprehension. Students will therefore acquire greater confidence and independence, enabling them to express themselves in Spanish fluently. Cultural and social aspects will also have great presence and they will be integrated into the communication process.

The Instituto Franklin has an experienced staff of professionals that will serve as your on-the-ground guides and resources!
Dr. Shawn Alfonso Wells

Hujambo, Hola, Bon jour! I am the Exchange and Panther Programs Manger. I have a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh and am an Adjunct professor of Anthropology who has taught in the Anthropology, History, Sociology, and Africana Studies departments at Pitt and CMU. I recently helped students to achieve their goals as their Academic Advisor. I did my fieldwork on Color Classification in Cuba and have led many ground breaking experiential student trips to Cuba. I love learning about different cultures and want to help facilitate students being able to travel abroad learn the world. I look forward to assisting you to achieve your goals.
Schedule a Zoom appointment with me below or get in touch with me through email to discuss exchange options and your future global experience.
Schedule an appointment
Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
- Click here to schedule an appointment with me through Pathways.
- Log into Pathways with your Pitt username and password
- Select Find Available Time
- Select the time that works for you
- Click the schedule button
- You will see a confirms message on the screen. You will also receive a confirmation in your Pitt email.
Don't see a time that works for you? Just send me an email!
Items Billed by Pitt
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In-State | Out-of-State | |
Program Cost | $4,999 | $5,199 |
Study Abroad Fee | $300 | $300 |
Total Billed by Pitt | $5,299 | $5,499 |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
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Airefare | $1,200 - $1,500 | |
Personal Expenses |
$1,500 - $2,000
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Criminal Background Check ** (Not Applicable Summer 2022) |
$20-$50 | |
Visa** (students w/ international passports) | $97 | |
As a part of your Pitt in Spain fee, the follow are included in the program:
- Tuition for 6 credits
- Transportation to and from Madrid Airport
- Housing in dormitories
- Three meals per day
- Travel health insurance
- Madrid excursion
- Access to university gym
While your program fee will cover most of your expenses, keep in mind that you are also responsible for the following:
- Study Abroad Administrative Fee
- Airfare
- Visa support if needed
- Optional day and overnight excursions
- Personal expenses
Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.
July 3, 2022 - July 28, 2023
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Due to the ongoing pandemic, the nature of the program can switch. We ask all students to be flexible with available courses.
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You must be enrolled in or have completed at least SPAN 0004 to participate in the program.
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If you are an international student or permanent resident please check if you will need a visa to enter Spain. If you do need a visa, you must contact the Spanish consulate in New York City to apply for a tourist Schegan visa.
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You will take a language placement test upon your arrival. The results of the exam will determine if you are eligible to take the courses you have listed as your primary choice.
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If you have registered for Español Para Profesionales de Salud you will need to submit a medical report and background check to the Instituto Franklin. Only 15 students who score a 90% or above are admitted to this course as that is the number of doctors available to have students shadow them. Students should be advanced/native speakers.
- Some students may be asked to participate in an interview process before they have been notified if they have been admitted into the program.