Study Abroad

Haven't traveled yet? | Choosing a program | Transfer of credit | What is an elective class?

What is a related field class? | I've just returned. What now?

I've returned but didn't meet with the Study Abroad Advisor prior to your departure. What now?

The Department strongly recommends that all Spanish majors include a period of study in a Spanish-speaking country in the course of their undergraduate education. Although the 4-year graduation guarantee does not apply to those who study abroad, it is still entirely possible to go abroad for a semester or a year and graduate in 4 years. Our Outlines of Course Completion (available in the Undergraduate Manual) show some of the possibilities. For International Spanish for the Professions Majors, formal admission to the major is required before departure.

You have not traveled yet?

If you are going to spend a semester / a year studying abroad in Latin America or Spain, it is imperative that you meet with the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Professor Javier Rivas in order to discuss your case prior to your departure.

Here are some tips to make that meeting most productive and expedient:

The Study Abroad Advisor does not research / choose a program for you. You do that yourself, sometimes in consultation with the Office of International Education / and or the Academic Advisor for the Spanish Department, Jennifer Stewart. You should make that decision based on your specific needs, career goals, personal preferences, and timing. The Study Abroad Advisor cannot and will not recommend one program or another, since this goes beyond his/her duties.

Once you have decided where and when you are going to study, you should find out which classes are offered during the terms that you are planning to stay. Do not come to the meeting with the whole catalog, since most times only a fraction of those classes are offered any given semester.

Once you have this information you can come to the Office Hours of the Study Abroad Advisor. You should bring the following materials:

1. Up-to-date Major sheet. The Study Abroad Advisor cannot make an informed decision on which equivalencies to give or courses to recommend if he does not know where you stand in your career.


2. Course descriptions / Catalog for the program. Do not come to the meeting without these materials.

Do not make e-mail inquiries. They will not be honored. You have to meet in person with the Study Abroad Advisor.

You have to plan ahead. You should plan your meeting with time to spare.

Choosing a Study Abroad Program

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese co-sponsors with the University of Kansas a program in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

A list of the programs abroad with which the University of Colorado is currently affiliated, including a program in Santiago de Compostela designed especially for CU undergraduates, is available in the Office of International Education. Credit received through these programs is considered CU credit (as opposed to transfer credit). Credit earned elsewhere is evaluated on an individual basis. These programs are administered by the Office of International Education located in the Environmental Design Building, Boulder Campus. A student interested in participating in one of these programs should inquire at OIE regarding the starting time, application procedures and costs.

Attendance at non-University of Colorado programs is also acceptable if the program is operated by an accredited institution in the United States. Credit earned in commercial language schools abroad is usually not accepted, and care should be taken in choosing such options if credit toward a degree at the University of Colorado is a concern, since such schools often do not issue transcripts or maintain proper attendance requirements to qualify for acceptance.

Credit for work done at special programs offered by foreign universities will be evaluated on an individual basis. The student is urged to consult with the Department prior to attendance, since the amount and level of credit may vary considerably in individual cases. For all other matters and details, please contact the Office of International Education.

Transfer of Credit

Students who present either transfer work or credits earned in Study Abroad programs will be required to complete at least 12 upper-division credits on the Boulder Campus, six of which must be from the masterpiece courses, as well as Span 3100. This will be required even though the total number of credits in Spanish may exceed 45 and, therefore, will not be counted toward graduation. As an exception, one of the masterpiece courses can be taken at the program in Santiago de Compostela, Spain (see Undergraduate Manual for more information).

The content of the course, not only the language used in the classroom, is the factor which determines whether the course is counted as Spanish. Spanish credit will be given only for courses in literature, language or the culture and civilization of the Hispanic world.

Most equivalencies given for Study abroad courses are for electives and for related field classes. Read the following to understand what they are. This will also help you make educated decisions when you are abroad.

What is an elective class?

An elective class is a class offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, on a periodic basis. Typical elective classes are Span 3001 (Conversation), Culture and Civilization classes (Spanish, Brazilian or Spanish American) and Span 4220 Special Topics. These classes are devoted to: Literature, Culture and Civilization, Hispanic Linguistics and, less often, film.

If you took a class abroad pertaining to any of the aforementioned topics, it may count as an elective, at the 3000 or 4000 level depending on the class.

What is a related field class?

A related field class is a class that you take outside the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. As you know, you need two RF classes toward your major. These classes may pertain to History, Economics, Political Science, Art, Ethnic Studies, Anthropology, Religious Studies, among other possibilities.
In order for a class taken at CU or abroad to be counted towards your major it has to deal with Spain, Spanish America (any country) or Brazil.

For example: "Archeology of Mesoamerica" can be considered a RF (the Spanish Department does not offer it—that is what makes it RF—but it is relevant to your knowledge of Latin America). "History of the Worker's Movement" cannot be considered as a RF towards your major unless you can prove that more than half of it was devoted to the Hispanic world. Mutatis mutandi the same goes for any class taken abroad.

Please, take the aforementioned criteria into account in the eventuality that you are to register without a previous meeting with the Study Abroad advisor. It will save you problems when you come back.

I just returned from my study abroad. What should I do now?

You should meet again with the Study Abroad Advisor, in order to confirm the equivalencies that were tentatively given.

You should bring the following materials:

1. Up-to-date University Transcript (unofficial) showing that you successfully completed the courses.
2. Syllabi of all courses taken.
3. Up-to-date Major sheet.
4. Do not come to the meeting without all of these materials.

You will receive a form, signed by the Study Abroad Advisor, confirming the equivalencies given. Do not lose this form. It is the only proof you have that the courses that you took abroad count towards your major.

I have already returned and did not meet with the Study Abroad Advisor prior to my departure. What should I do now?

If you did not meet with the Study Abroad Advisor prior to traveling, you should not count on the fact that any credit will be given. If the program you were in was a CU program, there is a possibility, but equivalencies depend also on your status (i.e. requirements pending, etc.

If you want your courses evaluated in order to assess possible equivalencies towards your major, you will need to meet with the Study Abroad Advisor urgently, in person (no e-mail inquiry will be honored), during his/her office hours (no walk-ins). You need to bring to the meeting the following materials

1. Up-to-date University Transcript (unofficial) showing that you successfully completed the courses.
2. Syllabi of all courses taken.
3. Up-to-date Major sheet.
4. Do not come to the meeting without all of these materials.

You will receive a form, signed by the Study Abroad Advisor, confirming the equivalences given. Do not lose this form. It is the only proof you have that the courses that you took abroad count towards your major.