The Madrid Business Internship Program is offered in Spring Semesters for those who have completed five semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent. Offered in conjunction with the Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE, it consists of two management courses in Spanish or in English, an advanced-level Seminar on contemporary Spain, and an internship for credit. Students enroll directly in ICADE and have access to its facilities and services. All students have the unique opportunity to experience life in a Spanish homestay. BU Questrom School of Business students should refer to Questrom’s lists of pre-approved courses at ICADE before applying.
BU Abroad: Madrid's Deeper Meaning
BU Abroad: Madrid's Deeper Meaning
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Must have completed five semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
- Must be a BU student
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Required Language Course
All students are required to enroll in one Spanish language course from the list below. Students who have already completed four semesters of Spanish, or the equivalent, are permitted to enroll in electives taught in Spanish.*
Required Language Course List
- CAS LS 111 First-Semester Spanish (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- For students who have never studied Spanish, or by placement test results. Introduction to grammatical structures. Emphasis on aural comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. Introduction to Hispanic culture.
- Garcia's Syllabus
- Samudio's Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 112 Second-Semester Spanish (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
- Completes study of basic grammatical structures. Emphasis on speaking and aural comprehension with readings on contemporary Hispanic culture and writing assignments.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 211 Third-Semester Spanish (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Individual in Community
- Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
- Completes study of grammatical structures of Spanish. Use of spoken language in conversation. Reading in Hispanic civilization and of contemporary short stories. Writing exercises involving more complex grammatical and syntactical patterns.
- Campelo's Syllabus
- Samudio's Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 212 Fourth-Semester Spanish (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Individual in Community
- Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
- Review of the structures of Spanish. Intensive practice of spoken language. More advanced readings from Hispanic culture with frequent compositions.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 306 Spanish Through Translation* (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
- Advanced study of the Spanish language through the translation of written texts. Analysis of the theory and practice of translation as a catalyst of cultural transfer. Taught in Spanish.
- Syllabus
- Calendar
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 312 Spanish Through Cultural Destinations: Madrid en Vivo (4)Effective
Fall '23- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Students will further develop their oral and written skills allowing them to flourish within the Spanish-speaking world. They will become familiar with the city of Madrid through immersion in its history, neighborhoods, art, literature, and its cultural and social peculiarities.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 449Contemporary Spanish Novel: From “La Movida” to 15-M
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- An overview of contemporary Spanish novels from the time of Franco’s death in 1975 to the present day. This class explores cultural issues within the literary, political, and social contexts of contemporary Spain.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS LS 450Contemporary Spanish Literature
- This course focuses on literary texts and contemporary Spanish and Latin American cultural phenomena through analysis and critical essays. Students will explore various literary genres in order to develop reading comprehension strategies and become familiar with basic critical reading concepts.
- Syllabus
*All students should confirm in advance with their academic advisors which courses may be taken for major, minor, and departmental requirements, and which courses may be taken for elective credit.
Internship Course
- QST IM 430 Internship in Management (4 credits)
The internship course provides students with a thorough understanding of the working environment in Spain as well as cultural and social knowledge of the community in which they will live and work. Throughout the course, students will discuss a variety of topics related to workplace dynamics and will gain familiarity with several cultural, political, social, and economic aspects of modern Spanish society.
Internship Components:
- The internship itself, including supervisor’s evaluation
- Participation in the internship seminar
- A highly structured, mid-term oral briefing
- Assigned readings
- A final research paper relating to the professional field of the internship placement
BU Questrom School of Business students should refer to Questrom’s lists of pre-approved courses at ICADE before applying.
Housing & Student Services
- Individual bedrooms in local family home. Each room has a bed, a desk, and some storage space. Linens are provided and washed regularly. Kitchen access is not guaranteed. Students will have the ability to reheat food.
- Board included: All meals (3 meals per day/ 7 days per week) will be provided by the host family. A packed lunch will be provided by the host family if the student is unable to commute home for lunch.
- Students may eat at the dining hall
- Host families provide laundry, internet.
- Gyms at the university and in town, but may be expensive.
- Students can study at the Instituto or the Autónoma. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.
Program Dates
- Spring Semester: early January to late May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline September 15
This program is rolling admissions; applications are reviewed once all application materials are received, prior to all deadlines. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials are received by the BU Study Abroad office. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible as some programs and internship tracks have limited space and may fill up before the deadline. Submitting a complete application prior to the application deadline, does not guarantee acceptance. Students will be emailed an admissions decision within three weeks of a completed application.
Information for BU Students Awaiting an Admissions Decision and exceptions to the standard admission calendar for all students can be found here.
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2024/2025 Tuition & Fees: $42,034
Cost includes tuition, housing, board, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses.
- Financial aid available.
