architecture + design

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By Term

• Fall 2014
• Spring 2014
• Spring 2015

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Program Overview

Come be inspired by Barcelona.

Drawing on the city’s history and wealth of visual resources, the Architecture and Design program offers you unique insight into the history and practice of architecture and design in contemporary Barcelona while gaining new cultural perspectives.

Through a combination of in-depth coursework, field trips and cultural site visits, internship opportunities and hands-on practice that brings you together with students from a variety of fields, you’ll enjoy a uniquely immersive and collaborative academic experience.

Study abroad in Barcelona and you’ll have access to:

• Highly respected instructors of architecture and design
• Some of Spain’s most spectacular and varied architecture
• Prominent Spanish architectural and design firms
• Excursions to explore the region of Catalonia and another major Spanish city (Madrid, Bilbao, Seville)

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

Choose from a two tracks of study – architecture or design – each with its own wide variety of courses taught in both English and Spanish. Improve your Spanish, expand your skills as a designer, understand the city through its visual culture, explore the works of Gaudí and his contemporaries, examine expressions of interior design and furniture or graphic design…The choices are yours in Barcelona.

Internships

What’s it like to work for a successful Spanish architectural firm? How do firms in Spain differ from those in the U.S.? Answer these questions and more by interning at a local achitectural firm for academic credit. Building models, performing shadow studies, helping out on site visits—this practical application of your in-class studies will give you a leg up as you prepare to enter the professional world.

Excursions

Contextualize your coursework and bring it to life with a series of excursions to historical Spanish landmarks, iconic buildings, and renowned architecture and design studios. Traverse the Roman ruins in the city of Tarragona; climb Barcelona’s Torre Agbar, a 38-story skyscraper designed by French architect Jean Nouvel; or examine the inner workings of a successful Spanish design studio. You’ll also enjoy two weekend trips to towns known for their historical and modern design such as Bilbao and San Sebastián, Sevilla and Córdoba, and Valencia.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2014

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$17,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,373

Housing ***

$4,075

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** Homestay includes two meals daily. No meals are included for students in the Residencia option.

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$2,600

International Airfare **

$1,750

Local Transportation

$400

Books & Supplies

$450

Visa Fees

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$2,800

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students in residencia; homestay students should budget $1,150 per semester for meals not included in fees

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2014 (14 wks)

10/01/2013

01/02/2014

04/12/2014

$17,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,373

Housing ***

$4,075

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** Homestay includes two meals daily. No meals are included for students in the Residencia option.

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$2,600

International Airfare **

$1,750

Local Transportation

$400

Books & Supplies

$450

Visa Fees

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$2,800

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students in residencia; homestay students should budget $1,150 per semester for meals not included in fees

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2015

10/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 3.0
• • Overall GPA 3.0
  • Architecture Track: Architecture or related major or minor and at least one previous architecture studio Design track: Design or other art-related majors and minors and 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent

Recommended Credit

Recommended credit for the semester is 14–17 semester/21–25.5 quarter hours.

Contact hours for CIEE courses are 45 hours with recommended credit of 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours, unless otherwise indicated. ELISAVA courses are worth the equivalent of 2–4.5 semester/3–6.75 quarter hours; ESARQ courses are worth the equivalent of 2–4 semester/ 3–6 quarter hours. Contact hours vary.

Program Requirements

The study abroad program is divided into two tracks: architecture and design. All students in both tracks enroll in a semester-long Spanish language course at their level (4 credits) and a specially designed core course in English or in Spanish: The City in Visual Culture (3 credits). Students in the architecture track also take a CIEE-arranged architecture studio at their level (6 credits) and choose an additional elective in either Spanish (at ESARQ or ELISAVA) or English (at ESARQ or at CIEE). Students in the design track also take several electives in either Spanish (at ELISAVA) or English (at CIEE).

Students from either track with at least five prior semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent may choose the CIEE Internship (3 credits) as an elective. See the course description for additional prerequisites.

About The City

Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain with its own distinctive history, culture, and language. Set between mountains and the Mediterranean sea, the city's population is 1.6 million, with a total of 4.5 million in the greater metropolitan area. Walking though the city, one can observe 2,000 years of architectural history—Roman remains, the network of narrow streets in the Old Town, the 19th Century Eixample district with its original examples of Modernista architecture—contrasting with the ultramodern showpieces that continue to redesign its skyline.

Meet The Staff

Magda Bernaus

The CIEE Resident Director, Magda Bernaus, supervises and administers the study abroad program. The Resident Director also assists students with academic, administrative, and day-to-day matters. Magda holds an M.A. in Art History from the University of Barcelona, where she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Architectural History. She has published many articles and contributed to books on medieval art and architecture, andhas collaborated as a researcher with the Museu Nacional de Catalunya and the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona. She is currently a member of two research teams based at the Universitat de Barcelona: Ligna.cat, dedicated to the study of the Mediterranean coffered ceilings, and Magna Ars, with a focus on the art and architecture of the 15th Century in the Crown of Arago n. She has extensive experience teaching art and architectural history to Spanish and American university-level students.

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Few cities in the world offer modern art, architecture, and design lovers as engaging a combination of assets as Barcelona. Like an artist’s muse—“the great enchantress,” as art critic R. Hughes calls it—Barcelona has provided inspiration to many, from Catalan-born architect Antoni Gaudí, to Andalusian painter Pablo Picasso or Valencian designer Javier Mariscal. Their work, like that of so many others, is inextricably linked to Barcelona.

Barcelona’s welcoming and, as a consequence, cosmopolitan character doesn’t end there. In the last 20 years, the city has experienced a radical change in many aspects, and some of the most renowned international artists and architects—Roy Lichtenstein, Norman Foster, Frank Gehry, and Jean Nouvel—have played a leading role in the reshaping of the city’s image. They have all left an unmistakable trace in the city. I am sure this is exactly the kind of lasting imprint Barcelona will leave on you.

— Magdalena Bernaus, Resident Director

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Clara Rodes

Center Director Clara Rodes holds an MBA from DePaul University and has extensive management and academic experience. She has worked in the financial, consulting, and education sectors in Argentina, Spain, and the U.S. Prior to joining CIEE, Clara worked for over eight years at the European campus of The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, where she held the positions of Academic Advisor and Director of Administration. In addition, Clara has been a faculty member at Universitat Pompeu Fabra for the last 15 years.

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Where You'll Study

ELISAVA School of Design, an independently operated branch of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, is the leading Spanish design school. It was founded in 1961 by a group of architects, designers, and theoreticians with the goal of teaching design through a cross-disciplinary approach. ELISAVA offers undergraduate degrees in arquitectura técnica (a hybrid between construction management, building engineering, and architectural design), design (graphic, industrial, and interior), and technical engineering in industrial design. The school has more than 1,500 students and over 500 teachers and collaborators.

Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura (ESARO) is the School of Architecture of the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC). UIC is a private, non-profit institution founded in 1997 with the aim of providing individualized university training with an international approach and a focus on research. ESARQ provides instruction oriented towards innovative professional practice with the main priority of providing architects with international training, while also giving them a good working knowledge of the most innovative technology. At present, ESARQ offers an undergraduate degree as well as several Master’s degrees in architecture.

The CIEE Study Center in Barcelona, Spain, is located in two adjoining historic buildings on Passatge Permanyer, near Passeig de Gràcia and Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona’s main square. This historic passageway provides a quiet haven in the city center and houses CIEE classrooms,the CIEE architecture studio, a computer lab, and student lounges.

Housing & Meals

Study abroad students can choose to live in either Spanish homestays (there is also an option to live in a homestay along with another CIEE student) or in a student residencia (residence hall) with other Spanish and international students. These are located in urban settings throughout the city. Students living in a homestay will have breakfast and dinner provided at home, while lunch is at the students’ expense. Kitchen space is allotted to students should they wish to make lunch to bring to campus. Many students choose to eat at one of the university-run cafeterias. Students in homestays will have their laundry done for them once a week. Meals and laundry are not included in the student residencia option, but students share fully equipped kitchens where they can prepare their own meals and laundry facilities are available. All homestays and residencias are located in the city of Barcelona and within 30 minutes, by public transportation, of the CIEE Study Center and host institutions.

As space in the residencias is limited, students who request to live there but cannot be assigned a place, are accommodated through a homestay placement. In the event that there are more requests to live in a residencia than the total available spaces, students with more advanced Spanish take priority over those with less Spanish (proficiency level is based on students´ CIEE Spanish course pre-registration and academic background in Spanish, as reflected on the transcript). Students who are not assigned the housing option of their choice are notified by the resident staff prior to arriving in Barcelona.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Barcelona even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. CIEE’s aim for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program, and to identify your objectives so that you arrive well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

A three-day orientation session conducted at the beginning of the study abroad program introduces you to the country, culture, and the academic program, as well as provides practical information on living in Spain and Barcelona in particular. Themes such as the Spanish university system, an introduction to Catalonia, health and safety, banking, and cultural adaptation are covered. Orientation also includes structured cultural activities, guided tours and time with your Guardian Angel, a local student guide. Ongoing support is provided by center staff on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-endabled laptop. You'll have wireless Internet access at your homstay or student residencias and CIEE, ELISAVA and ESARQ facilities. In addition, you will be able to use the computer room at the CIEE Study Center.

Culture

The academic program is complemented with a series of field trips and visits designed specifically for students of architecture and visual arts, many of which are part of the core course: The City in Visual Culture. You'll also have access to the cultural program offered to all CIEE students in Barcelona. This program includes gastronomy-based activities such as a tapas night with your Guardian Angel, a cooking class, and a hike in the mountains followed by a local meal. Three day trips, including guided visits to places and monuments of cultural or historical significance such as the Dalí Museum in Figueres or the Roman ruins in the city of Tarragona, are also scheduled. In addition, CIEE includes two overnight trips to sites of major artistic and architectural interest such as Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao/San Sebastian, or among others.

Guardian Angels

Guardian Angels are local university students who help CIEE students to settle into their life in Spain through small group activities and participate in field trips and other events. Guardian Angels are there to help you make friends at the University, introduce you to the city’s culture, and generally help you adapt to life in Barcelona. The Guardian Angels Program is a unique feature of the CIEE Study Center in Barcelona.

Academics

The Architecture and Design study abroad program started in 2007. The program has a thematic focus, and accommodates students at many language levels from beginner to advanced and heritage speakers, and with varying majors within the visual arts. The program is divided into two tracks: architecture and design. The program has two host institutions: ESARQ School of Architecture and ELISAVA School of Design. Classes are taught in Spanish (at ELISAVA, ESARQ, and CIEE), or in English (at CIEE and ESARQ).

Academic Culture

The CIEE Study Center is located in a historic building located in Passatge Permanyer, a beautiful passageway near Plaza Catalunya, Barcelona’s main square. ELISAVA courses are held at ELISAVA School of Design on the Ramblas, and ESARQ courses are held at Universitat Internacional de Catalunya. Both campuses are well connected to the CIEE Study Center via public transportation.

While CIEE courses are designed to follow the American academic culture, courses at the host institutions are characteristic of the local university system. Syllabi are not as detailed as American syllabi and students are often expected to decide for themselves which readings from the syllabus they need to study to fill in gaps missed during the lectures. It is common to share notes with Spanish students and study together, which can benefit students in their language learning as well. Relatively less emphasis is placed on participation and much more on papers, projects, and exams.

Classes at ELISAVA and ESARQ have between 20 (studio classes) and 40 (regular classes) students. As a small, private school, ESARQ places special emphasis on providing students with highly individualized attention. It is the perfect match for CIEE students, who are able to attend architecture courses in Spanish—and sometimes in English—with local students while also benefitting from private tutorials with ESARQ instructors. ELISAVA is a top design school in Barcelona and is associated with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The atmosphere is dynamic, creative, and multidisciplinary, creating an ideal environment for CIEE students.

Nature of Classes

CIEE classes are with CIEE study abroad students only. ELISAVA and ESARQ classes are with Spanish students. Typically, there are a few other international EU (Erasmus) students in the class, but very few, if any, other Americans.

Language Environment

As students gain proficiency in Spanish, resident staff encourage them to use their language skills in everyday settings. They are encouraged to meet with local students through CIEE language exchanges, spend time with their host family, and to work on group projects with classmates. The more students participate, the greater their development of Spanish language proficiency and understanding of Spanish society.

Grading System

In CIEE courses, students are graded on the basis of class participation, in-class activities, homework assignments, examinations, papers, and oral presentations, similar to U.S. standards. Architecture students are evaluated on periodic assignments and on critiques of their work by panels of local architects. In ELISAVA and ESARQ studio courses, assessment is generally based on several course projects and a final project. In ELISAVA and ESARQ theory courses, assessment is generally based on course papers and a final exam. Mid-term exams are rarely given. Spanish professors grade on a 10-point scale, which is converted to a letter grade.

Students must check with their professors to obtain important exam and other due dates. Under no circumstances will CIEE alter the deadline for a study abroad student who has booked travel on a day that an exam is scheduled or an assignment is due.

Internship

Students requesting an internship must:

• Have five prior semesters of college level Spanish or the equivalent (i.e. working knowledge of Spanish)
• Submit a cover letter and a resumé
• Submit a portfolio, website, FLICKR or other, with examples of their design work and graphic abilities in PDF format
• Architecture internships: Have knowledge of architectural design software (AUTOCAD), although they may mainly be assigned manual modeling tasks.
• Design internships: Have knowledge of at least the following graphic design software: Photoshop, Illustrator, and Freehand.

Hours spent at placement are typically between 100 and 120. In addition to on-site experience, students participating in the internship program have a weekly classroom component, taught in Spanish. This component provides academic support to their practical experience. Recommended credit (internship plus seminar): 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours

Català

Castilian Spanish and Català are both official languages in Barcelona and the region. Català is regularly used in all aspects of life, but not imposed on non-Català speakers. Taxi drivers, shopkeepers, service representatives, professors, and homestay families all speak clear Castilian whenever a Spanish speaker is present. Spanish is used widely at the University and you are advised on which classes are taught in Spanish. While it is not necessary to speak Català to survive in Barcelona, you will find that learning a few words can be an enjoyable experience and open doors to making.

Language of Instruction

English
Spanish

Faculty

All ELISAVA and ESARQ courses are taught by faculty from these institutions. Language courses are taught at CIEE by experienced professors who specialize in teaching Spanish as a second language. CIEE courses are taught by local university faculty or members of local institutions of higher education and/or research.

Course Description

Program Blog

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