Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
CIEE Study Center Syllabi
To view the most recent syllabi for courses taught by CIEE at our Study Centers, visit our syllabi site.
Required CIEE Intensive Language Courses
SPAN 1501 ALIC
Intensive Beginning Spanish
In this course, students develop survival skills in Spanish while also learning about cultural norms and the Spanish lifestyle. An introduction to the basic rules of pronunciation and grammatical structures forms the core of the course. Fieldwork and practice with the homestay family are integral components of the course and complement language learning. Some interactive activities and simulations take place in the local community.
SPAN 2501 ALIC
Intensive Intermediate Spanish I
In this course, students work on basic skills in Spanish while also learning about Spanish cultural differences. The basic rules of pronunciation and main grammatical structures are revisited. Fieldwork and practice with the homestay family are integral components of the course and complement language learning. Some interactive activities and simulations take place in the local community.
Required CIEE Semester Language Courses
Beginning students will enroll in SPAN 1001 ALIC and SPAN 1002 ALIC and Intermediate I students will enroll in SPAN 2001 ALIC and SPAN 2002 ALIC.
SPAN 1001 ALIC
Spanish Grammar and Syntax
In this course, students acquire the basic concepts of grammar, structure, and syntax to build a strong and broad foundation for further linguistic development. Students apply these skills to reading and writing a variety of simple texts in Spanish. Courses are taught by experienced dynamic and energetic native instructors, and the teaching methodology draws from modern communicative approaches.
SPAN 1002 ALIC
Oral Communication in Spanish
This course emphasizes what students can do with the language, rather than what they know about the language. To that end, the instructors draw upon the skills students acquire in the companion course, SPAN 1001 ALIC, to help them become more communicative and active with the language as quickly as possible. Specifically, students develop oral proficiency and listening comprehension skills through a variety of interactive and communicative approaches. Vocabulary development and pronunciation practice are important components of the course. Students also take part in the Intercambios program by meeting with Spanish university students in order to complete assignments and projects.
SPAN 2001 ALIC
Intermediate Spanish Grammar I
In this course, students work on the main concepts of grammar to keep building a strong foundation of the language. Students apply their grammatical knowledge to reading and writing a variety of texts in Spanish.
SPAN 2002 ALIC
Intermediate Oral Communication in Spanish I
This course helps students to further develop their oral and listening comprehension skills through a variety of interactive and communicative approaches. Vocabulary development and pronunciation practice are key components in the course. Students also take part in the Intercambios program by meeting with Spanish university students in order to complete assignments and projects.
CIEE Elective Course
CLST 3001 ALIC
Seminar on Living and Learning in Alicante
The CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning in Alicante is designed to improve students’ intercultural communication and competence while studying abroad by considering how Spaniards are different from and similar to themselves and others. The course offers opportunities, both in and outside the classroom, to develop insights and the skills necessary to interact effectively and appropriately, and to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the cultural richness of Spain. Contact hours: 25. Recommended credit: two semester hours/three quarter hours.
CIEE Language through Content Courses—in Spanish
Intermediate I Spanish students that would like to challenge themselves have the option of taking one semester area studies course in Spanish and one in English. These courses are only available to students who place into the level of Intermediate Spanish I.
SPAN 2003 ALIC
Culture, Festivities, and Traditions through Spanish Gastronomy and Wine
This survey course is an overview of the importance of the Mediterranean diet in Spanish life. Upon completion of this course, students are able to understand Spanish topography and its effects on Mediterranean gastronomy and the wine industry in Spain. Students cover important aspects such as culture, traditions, and festivities and their relation to Spanish gastronomy. They also study the history of food and wine, placing special emphasis on Spanish gastronomy and wine production and its importance in the Mediterranean area.
SPAN 2005 ALIC
Spain Through its Popular Culture
Spanish society has undergone dramatic changes in its short history as a parliamentary democracy. This course is designed for students who are enthusiastic about investigating and truly understanding not only how Spanish popular culture has evolved during the last thirty years, but also the causes that have led to this significant transformation, which is equally as important. It offers an in-depth look at the reality of Spain’s multicultural, geographical, political, and socioeconomic situation in the 21st century. Using current materials such as songs, excerpts from literary texts, films, television programs, investigative reports, and newspaper and magazine articles, we explore the events and cultural processes that have contributed to the creation of the Spain of today, placing special emphasis on the most representative changes in Spanish society in recent decades. The ultimate objective of this course is for students to be able to identify and understand the defining characteristics of the society in which they are immersed by examining each topic from a present-day perspective.
CIEE Area Studies Courses—in English
AHIS 3003 ALIC
Spanish Art and the Process of Painting
This course offers an overview of modern and contemporary visual arts in Spain. Emphasis is placed on painting. Students learn to analyze a painting from different practical approaches (for example, formal/thematic) and apply these methods to masterpieces of Spanish Art. The theoretical component of this course is completed by an equally important hands-on art portion. The practical section is based on practicing the painting methods presented in the theoretical section by creating works of art. Visits to different museums are scheduled, helping students understand the arts in Spain and the Valencian Community in particular.
CINE 3001 ALIC
Spanish Cinema
Students are asked to analyze and critique some of the contemporary Spanish film industry’s most renowned and representative films. In conjunction with class discussions, students acquire further knowledge of the changes that Spanish society has experienced recently, contrasting it with classic stereotypes. Topics such as machismo, eroticism, gender roles, religion, terrorism, and violence are discussed in depth, while learning about new movements in contemporary Spanish cinema. The aim of this course is not only to teach students how to analyze a film, but to show them how cinema can be enjoyable and didactic at the same time. Cinema as a means of communication, not only of the author, but also of the society in which it is made, is the focus of this class.
HISP 3002 ALIC
The Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage: Religion, History, and Culture
The Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that runs from the Pyrenees to the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela in the Northwest corner of Spain, is a fundamental part of Spanish culture and history. Originally a spiritual journey for devout Catholics, the pilgrimage now attracts people from many cultures and religions and has developed international significance. The approach to this course is interdisciplinary, encompassing the role of the Camino in Spanish history, art, architecture, and literature. The course emphasizes different aspects of popular culture such as gastronomy, music, legends, and traditions, helping students acquire a further knowledge of Spanish culture. Students are evaluated on an interactive travel journal, a seminar-length paper, and two short tests covering the major themes of the seminar. Students may choose to participate on a five to seven day optional trip for an additional fee paid on site.
HISP 3003 ALIC/SOCI 3001 ALIC
Contemporary Spanish Society: Politics, Culture, and Economy
This course provides an introduction to the most important aspects of Spain and contemporary Spanish society. It is designed to offer structured information about Spanish society today and to provide a forum for discussion as students interact with the people and institutions of the country. At the end of the course, students are able to discuss relevant issues facing Spain today with a satisfactory level of understanding, to identify and comment on the major social players in Spanish society including individuals and institutions, and to carry out an insightful comparative assessment of issues that affect both Spanish and U.S. societies.
HIST 3001 ALIC
Modern and Contemporary History of Spain
This course covers the contemporary history of Spain. Its main focus is the 20th century with special emphasis on the Second Republic (1931–36), the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), and the Franco Dictatorship (1939–75). These events and others are contrasted in relation to the historic events taking place in Europe. By the end of this course, students have not only become familiar with the important events in Spain’s history, but also have a clear understanding of the multiplicity of political, economic, and social factors that affect the historic process. Finally, students learn to assess history and the historic process as an integral part of Spain’s past.
INRE 3001 ALIC
Spain and the United States: The Challenges of Two Western Democracies
This course provides an in-depth study of the democracies of Spain and the U.S. using a comparative approach. Students learn about the philosophical and historical basis for each system, its mechanics, the role of the individual in the democratic process, the role of government in society, public services offered in each system, the political parties, and prospects for the future. The course includes excursions to different levels of government in Spain (federal, regional, provincial, and municipal).
THEA 3001 ALIC
Experiencing the Art of Theatre
This performance-oriented course is designed for students who want to learn and explore the basic principles of acting and performance skills. Classes will focus on strengthening the voice, body movement, and listening skills, observation, relaxation, concentration, and use of imagination through improvisation, theater games, scene study, and drama exercises. Students will become familiar with the basic terms and concepts of process work for the actor through rehearsal and performance of selected scenes and monologues. Acting styles and contemporary approaches will be introduced and studied through the use of texts, video, and live performance.
POLI 3002 ALIC
Politics and Identity in Europe and Spain
The aim of this course is to explore the role of political culture in the formation and expression of national identity. The main theme is the fragmentation and diversity of local, regional, and national identities through the prism of political culture. The students examine the concept of Europeanization and its effects on national cultural practices and traditions. The rise of regional and local identities as a reaction to the process of Europeanization and globalization is analyzed. Particular emphasis is placed on the historic regional identities of the Catalans, Galicians, and Basques in Spain. Finally, we look at the creation of a European identity with its own political structures, cultures, and traditions.
Universidad de Alicante Business Courses—in English
The following courses, taught in English, are International Business Programme courses offered by the School of Economics at the Universidad de Alicante. The student population in these courses consists of Universidad de Alicante economics majors and international students. Approximately 10 courses from the list are offered each semester. The Universidad de Alicante may change course offerings based on enrollment after students arrive. Students should have alternate courses approved in case of course cancellations. Grades in the University of Alicante business courses taught in English are based on a final exam, final project, or final presentation only. Attendance is taken and students who do not attend at least 80% of the classes will not receive a passing grade.
Please check the Universidad de Alicante website at http://economicas.ua.es/es/vri/international-business-programme/list-of-courses.html for more detailed information.
Cross-Cultural Business Behavior: Doing Business in Spain
This course focuses on the importance of culture in the business environment. Business culture is different in every country and it has become the key to success. The main objectives of this course are to introduce the student to what has influenced Spanish culture and its effects on Spanish corporate culture; to highlight aspects such as cultural differences and cross-cultural communication; and to analyze both business etiquette and the way to carry out business negotiations in Spain.
Comparative Economic System
This course examines the major economic systems of the world in theory and practice: how economic systems work and how economic theory interacts with government policies, history, and culture to explain economic performance. Comparative analysis of the economic institutions of contemporary economic systems will be also carried out. Economies examined will comprise some of the advanced market-oriented capitalist countries such as U.S., Japan, Sweden or Germany, the former socialist economies of Eastern Europe that have experienced long transitional periods, the socialist market economy of China, the economies of the developing countries, and some examples of distinctive economic systems such as Iran’s Islamic-based economy, India’s model of integration in the global economy, or Latin American models.
Strategic Decision Making
Our goals in this course are threefold: 1) To teach you some strategic considerations to take into account when making your choices. 2) To predict how other people or organizations behave when they are in strategic settings. We will see that these aims are closely related. Game theory provides us the tools needed to enhance our understanding of these strategic situations. We will learn new concepts, methods, and terminology. 3) To apply these tools to settings from business and economics and elsewhere. The course will emphasize examples, and cases. Finally, we will also play several games in class.
The Economy of the European Union: Characteristics, Economic Structure, and Institutions
This course aims to analyze the past, present, and future of European integration on the basis of historic and economic reasoning. This process and its effects are assessed, taking into account differences in European Member States economies, as well as considering the EU as a whole at the international level.
E-Management
This course aims to introduce students to the information society and the effects that it has on business management processes, strategies, and human resources management. They understand the impacts of ICT integration on a company from a managerial perspective and are given insights about possible routes for success or failure. The main learning objective is to understand how a manager could be prepared to face e-business opportunities and threats.
Entrepreneurial Initiative: Starting and Running a Business
In the first part of the course positive attitudes towards entrepreneurial initiative are developed. The students learn how to develop entrepreneurial ventures and how to transform an idea into a business. While thinking about running a new business, potential entrepreneurs are faced with many obstacles such as administrative requirements and the lack of finance or skilled labor. To seize new opportunities in the changing markets, businesses should be encouraged to innovate and exploit new ideas. In the second part of the course students learn and practice necessary skills and tools for running a firm. The main management processes (planning, organizing, and controlling) are developed, taking into account modern and classic problems like globalization, ethics, sustainability, change, stress, innovation, and technology.
Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy
We are in times that need changes and we need people to lead these changes. This is a practical course that is intended to develop the managerial skills of future Chief Executives Officers and for people who need to lead changes in organizations. The most distinctive feature of the course is that it combines concepts and explanations with practice in a computer lab. The students follow all the phases in the process of business strategy, assisted by the lecturer as a Business Consultant. The main objectives of this course are: stimulate the entrepreneur’s initiative; learn to plan and implement strategies; and help to find good sources of innovative business ideas and turn them into real business solutions. The assessment consists of developing a business plan working in groups and presenting it to the class at the end of the course.
Introduction to Environmental Economicss
The objective of this class is to assist students in observing and approaching environmental problems, as well as issues, in an objective and analytical manner without employing sophisticated models or quantitative methods. The case study approach is emphasized in this course. In particular, students are encouraged to consider how environmental economics can be applied to major environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, the impact of trade, carbon and other footprints, and the environmental costs versus the benefits of projects.
Global Issues on Quality and Evironmental Management
Quality management and environmental management are key practices that have positive impacts on business competitiveness. The main objectives of this course are to analyze the evolution of quality and environmental topics; to know the concepts and main tools about quality and environmental management; to know how to manage processes in organizations to meet customer needs; to determine how companies impact on the natural environment examining how firms can reduce their environmental impacts; and to learn how to implement quality and environmental management systems.
Human Resources Management
The main objectives of this course are to keep in mind that every manager of a firm is a Human Resources Manager (HRM); to give a general guide about how to manage people; to argue how a HRM can be a strategic partner of any firm; to have a general overview about the knowledge, skills, and abilities that a HRM must have; and to describe the fundamental tools, methods, and techniques that are used in a Department of Human Resources.
The International Financial Crisis and the Scope of Monetary Policy
In this course we examine the recent collapse of the international financial market and the role that monetary policy has played in its solution. We pay special attention to understand the characteristics of the banking system that have played such a prominent role in the development of the financial crisis, as well as to the development of new credit derivatives that, in an attempt to create new sources of funds and of hedging risk, have increased the exposure of banks to this type of financial troubles. Finally, students focus on the developments of monetary policy, in particular the new channels through which central banks have acted as lenders of last resort.
Marketing Variables: Decision Making in a Competitive Environment
This course focuses on the tactical and strategic decisions on marketing variables (product, price, distribution, and communication) that a company faces in a changing and competitive environment. This course uses a practical approach. Students will manage the marketing departments of different companies competing in the marketplace. To analyze the performance of these companies, a virtual environment will simulate the real market.
Marketing in the European Union
Upon completion of this course students should have a global overview of European marketing and be able to formulate and recognize European marketing strategies, adapt marketing concepts to practical case studies, understand national differences among countries, and create marketing plans and evaluate the implication of an enlarged European Union in global markets.
Retail Marketing
This course familiarizes students with the decisions and strategies involved in running a retail firm in national and international markets. Retailing is analyzed as one form of marketing. Attention is devoted to retail, merchandising, customer service, image, and positioning strategies. Methodology includes case study resolution in-class and presentations.
Tourism Economics
The main aim of this course is focused on providing an understanding of the basic concepts surrounding tourism as well as the fundamental role played by tourism in developed and developing countries. Different aspects of tourism are analyzed in the course such as sustainability, economic impacts, demand, supply, costs and benefits, social and environmental consequences, and tourism as a potential factor to develop destination areas.
Universidad de Alicante Direct Enrollment Courses—in English
Language in Context (LIC) students may take a Universidad de Alicante Direct Enrollment course in English during the spring semester only. Although UA official final exams take place in early June, LIC students’ final exams can generally be arranged for late May. However, CIEE can neither facilitate nor guarantee this for all University courses.
Students are advised that the Universidad de Alicante may cancel courses due to limited enrollment and that some other courses may overlap. For this reason students should have at least two alternate courses approved. A complete listing of available courses for the spring semester will be found in the Online Course Registration Form in the CIEE acceptance materials.
Direct Enrollment courses are offered in English in the Economics, Education, and English Studies Departments. In the past, the following courses have been offered:
17th Century English Theatre
Didactics and the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language
English Literature and the Fine Arts
Linguistics Applied to the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language
Sociolinguistics of the English Language
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Introduction to Statistics
Mathematics II
Operations Management
Introduction to Procedural Law
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