The Madrid Internship Program, offered fall and spring semesters, allows students to enhance their Spanish language skills while interning in one of Europe’s most important vibrant commercial centers.
Students take a required Spanish course and two elective courses, chosen from a variety of topics, offered in Spanish or English and taught at the Instituto Internacional.
For the internship, students study Spanish culture and learn how the tourism industry works in Madrid while working in placements areas such as travel agencies, hotels and restaurants.
All students have the unique opportunity to experience life in a Spanish homestay.
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- Minimum of fifth-semester college-level Spanish language or the equivalent
- Admission requirements for all programs
Curriculum
All students are also enrolled in a four-credit internship course and a non-credit Hub co-curricular.
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.*
BU students should take into consideration BU Spanish Major and Minor requirements when selecting more than one 300-level course.
Required Language Course List
- 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 & 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
- 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 450 Contemporary 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.
*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.
Electives Courses
Students select two courses from the electives offered in English or in Spanish, depending on their interest and proficiency level. Each course carries four credits. 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. Note:Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Elective course offerings vary and may not be offered every semester. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Elective Courses Taught in English
- Spanish Economics within the European Union (4 credits)
- fall only
- The course will explore not only the economic and financial pillars of Spain, but also the major challenges of its economic structure in light of the European economic integration process and the role Spain plays within it. The course will focus on Spain’s modernization efforts after regaining democracy in 1975, the main economic drivers behind its growth and its role in the European economic and monetary union. It will cover the productive structure, main industries, foreign trade -inside and outside the European Union- and international expansion, particularly in South America. The course will then focus on the particularities of Spain’s labor market, the importance of the public sector (welfare state) and the prelude and impact of the financial crisis of 2008.
- Syllabus
- CAS LS 241 Cultures of Spain: Past and Present (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Historical Consciousness
- fall only
- An introduction to Spanish civilization with special emphasis on history, art, and literature. Instruction begins in English and shifts gradually into Spanish as students’ fluency increases. Course content is enriched by visits to the Prado Museum, Segovia, Toledo, and others.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 364 Art and Architecture in Madrid: 1561–Today (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Survey of architecture, sculpture, and painting in Madrid, and how these fit in the broader frame of European styles and historical context, 1561–present. Key theories in art history are introduced, giving students a broader perspective on critical approaches to art.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 368 Graffiti, Street Art, and Independent Interventions in Public Space in Madrid (4)Effective
Fall '24- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Creativity and Innovation
- Introduction to graffiti and street art through case studies in Madrid. Combines contextual and aesthetic analysis with hands-on activities. Focus on artistic interventions in public spaces through the lenses of activism, the right to the city, and public space management.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AR 200 Heritage Matters: Introduction to Heritage Management (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Research and Information Literacy
- Social Inquiry I
- Fall only
- Protection and management of archaeological heritage, including sites, artifacts, and monuments. Survey of heritage values and stakeholders. Issues covered include cultural policy and legislation, international efforts, indigenous perspectives, looting, repatriation, underwater heritage, and heritage at war.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS HI 256 History of Spain 711–1898 (4)
- Spring only
- A survey of Spanish history from 711 to 1898, examining the political, social, economic, and cultural events that shaped Spain in its modern form. Places Spain in a European context. Includes field trips around Madrid.
- Syllabus
- CAS PO 245/HI 228 Nationalism in Spain within the European Context (4)Effective
Fall '23- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
- This course examines the origins of Spanish national identity and the later emergence of alternative national identities within the Spanish state in the Basque Country, Catalonian and Galician autonomous communities. We compare the case of Spain with that of other nation-states in the European Union where the emergence of peripheral nationalisms continues to challenge national and European integration politics. Non-state nationalist movements are analyzed in both a historical and contemporary context.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Elective Courses Taught in Spanish
Language and culture courses are offered at the 300-level. Literature and film courses are offered at the 400-level.
- Mujeres en España (4)
- fall only
- Aims to help students understand the role of women in Spanish society from the Middle Ages until the present. The course traces the historical, social, political, economic, religious, and psychological evolution of Spanish women, paying special attention to the conflicts they suffered and the accomplishments they achieved throughout the process.
- Syllabus
- CAS AN 367Migrations and Cultural Diversity (4)
- Spring only
- This class analyzes current-day migratory flows and their implications for Spain and the EU through an anthropological viewpoint. Students will obtain conceptual and theoretical frameworks through which they will be able to critically analyze diversity and the complexity of migrations and their effect on society and culture.
- Syllabus
- CAS IR 323The Iberian Peninsula in a Global Context in the 20th Century (4)Effective
Fall '23- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Social Inquiry I
- Spring only
- This course offers a multidisciplinary study of contemporary international relations with a special focus on the Iberian Peninsula. It will examine significant events that took place during the better part of the twentieth century with an emphasis on the relations between Spain and Portugal and the United States.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS AH 258 The Spaces of Art: from Velazquez to the Private Gallery in Spain (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- An overview of the use of space in Spanish art and architecture from the early 17th century Baroque style to contemporary art. A journey from the aerial perspective of Velazquez's paintings to urban street art, installation art, and modern galleries.
- 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 450 Contemporary 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.
- CAS CI/LS 477/COM CI 477 Contemporary Spanish Cinema (4)
- 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 Spanish contemporary cinema and the variety of genres that have emerged in the last decades. Using different resources from films and literature, students will be able to better understand the diversity of Spanish society, which they will experience for themselves on the streets of Madrid. This course also explores how the technical elements of film (camera shots, angles, etc.) can express emotions as well as cultural and social values.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Internship Placement
The internship placement runs the duration of the program. Students intern between 15 and 20 hours per week with travel agencies, hotels or restaurants in the greater Madrid area. Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-credit Hub co-curricular and a four-credit internship course, which includes a classroom component. Placements are contingent upon the student’s past experience, professional interest, and available opportunities in any given semester; flexibility is essential. Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub unit in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
Below is a list of internship areas where students have been placed. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Hospitality & Tourism
- Study Spanish culture and learn how the tourism industry works in Madrid. Students intern in placement areas such as travel agencies, hotels, and restaurants. Past internships have included Groupo Zena, Hotel Ritz, and Travel Leader.
Internship Course
- Non-credit Hub Co-curricular: HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- Individual in Community
- This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area:
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration (4)
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
Housing & Student Services
Local Homestay
- 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.
- Host families provide laundry, internet.
- Gyms at the university and in town but may be expensive.
- Students can study at the Instituto or the Autonoma. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: Early September to mid-December
- Spring Semester: Early January to early May
Application Timeline
This program follows rolling admissions and may fill before the official deadline.
Fall Semester
- Applications Open December 15
- Applications Deadline March 15
Spring Semester
- Applications Open June 1*
- Applications Deadline September 15
*Applications for the Spring 2025 semester will open on June 12
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 and Fees: $40,434
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.
- Grants and Scholarships available
