Madrid Internship

The Madrid Internship Program is designed for those students who are looking to gain experience working abroad in one of Europe’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan cities.

Students who participate in an internship will be able to hone their language skills while having the unique opportunity to experience true cultural immersion within Madrid’s professional community.

HUB SA 330: Study Abroad Internship Course 

Hub Area: The Individual in Community

Taken in tandem with a work placement, the course allows students to gain a greater understanding of workplace culture within the host country. It provides a framework to explore and reflect on the professional and cultural practices observed in the internship. The course and placement form an intercultural learning experience in which students can examine socio-cultural differences, beliefs and values while immersed in a diverse organizational and professional community. Through class sessions and assignments, students address the ways in which culture influences both work and learning. This course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community.

*Students will be enrolled concurrently in the non-credit HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship unit through which they will, on successful completion of the concurrent 4-credit academic internship course, earn 1 Hub Unit in the area of ‘The Individual in Community’.  The course HUB SA 330 does not award credit, but rather modifies the learning outcomes to facilitate the goals of the Individual in Community unit. Students will see two entries on their transcripts: one for the HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship (0 credits, 1 IIC Hub unit) and the other for the credit-bearing internship course (4 credits, course code dependent on the field of specialization in which the students complete their internship).

Course numbers depend on the fields of specialization in which the students complete their internship and the nature of the internship work. The following course numbers are open to students who complete an internship in Spanish: 

    • CAS AH 505 Internship in the Arts/Architecture
    • CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics
    • CAS PO 401 Internship in Politics
    • CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law
    • CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations
    • CAS PS 495 Internship in Health and Human Services
    • COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising/Public Relations
    • COM FT 493/494 Internship in Film/Television
    • COM JO 411 Internship in Journalism
    • CAS CS 219 Internship in Information Technology
    • SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration

    The semester program consists of:

      • An internship (16-20 hours) along with the academic internship seminar (4.0 credits)
      • Three additional courses from those offered through either:
        • The Spanish and European Studies Program (Instituto Internacional)
        • The Madrid University Studies Program (UAM, spring only)

    *Students should note that attendance at the internship itself is mandatory. While your final grade will be determined by your academic work in the class, your performance at your internship will be also taken into consideration.

    **The internship, completed in Spanish, counts towards the Spanish major, but not the minor. As always, students are encouraged to check with the Spanish department regarding major/minor credit, as the dept. has the final word.

    Students may also opt to fulfill additional Hub units by completing the following:

    HUB SA 230 The Individual in Community with Study Abroad

    HUB SA 225 Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy with Study Abroad

    Undergraduate students who study abroad can fulfill a single Hub requirement in The Individual in Community (IIC) or Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy (GCIL). No course enrollment is required. This is separate from and in addition to any courses a student may take while abroad that satisfy IIC/GCIL.

    What is it?

    • 0-credit course
    • Available to BU undergraduate students studying abroad
    • Requires a written reflection of 750-1000 words submitted for review to the Hub
    • Fulfills 1 Hub requirement in IIC or GCIL

    Additional Links

    Instituto Internacional Spanish Language & Culture Classes + Internship Seminar: Syllabi – Schedule

    bu.edu/abroad – Internship