Academics

Academic Objective

The Madrid Program emphasizes sustained cultural and linguistic immersion as central to the study-away experience and seeks to foster deep, meaningful engagement with the host culture. The program introduces students to the richness and diversity of the Iberian Peninsula through first-hand theoretical and practical experiences. It seeks to familiarize students with the nuances of language, artistic expression, political culture, and environment that characterize the region. One expression of this commitment is our language pledge, requiring students to use only Spanish in their communications throughout the program, strengthening both language skills and cultural connection.

Academic Prerequisites

Please see the Language Prerequisite page for more detailed information.

Related On-Campus Courses

Gateway Course: ILAC 130, Autumn - "Introduction to Iberia: Cultural Perspectives" - Cintia SantanaAdditional consideration during the application process for this program will be given to students taking this course.

ARTHIST 208: The Art of Medieval Spain: Muslims, Christians, Jews
HISTORY 76S: The World That Columbus Made: Imagining the Spanish Empire
ILAC 116: Approaches to Spanish and Spanish Literature
ILAC 120: Advanced Critical Reading in Spanish
ILAC 136: Modern Iberian Literatures
ILAC 157: Medieval and Early Modern Iberian Literatures
ILAC 193: The Cinema of Pedro Almodovar
ILAC 242: Poetry Workshop in Spanish
ILAC 254: Surrealism in Latin America and Spain

Course Credit

The Madrid Program offers courses that provide credit toward Stanford graduation and most classes also count toward an undergraduate major. Students must enroll in a minimum of twelve units from the courses offered through the program (local university courses are included). For a list of all BOSP courses offered in the current academic year and planned for the next, and for information on which courses earn departmental credit or fulfill General Education Requirements, please refer to the BOSP course database. For information on courses scheduled for the current academic year and for enrollment, please refer to Axess.