The Granada Semester Program
dates | program | location | opportunities | culture | a learning experience | Spanish courses | English courses | faculty | housing | program costs | financial aid | eligibility | to apply | assistance and information | additional program information
Dates
12 September to 11 December 2008
top
The Program
The Granada Program is a semester-long program that takes place from mid-September
to mid-December. The program is divided into two five-week sessions plus a ten-day
intercession in Madrid, followed by a nine-day travel break.
top
Experience Granada
The Location
After the Christians took back the city of Granada in 1492 from Boabdil, the last
Moorish king, he looked back and wept as he left the city. Anyone who has visited
Granada can understand how Boabdil felt. As you look down from the Alhambra’s huge “Torre de la Vela” or Watchtower you'll marvel at the beauty of the Alhambra’s citadel,
palaces and the city of Granada.
A captivating Andalusian city of more than 300,000 people, Granada lies at the foot
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 36 kilometers (22 miles) from the most southerly
ski resort in Europe. Seventy kilometers (43 miles) to the south of the city lies the
Mediterranean Sea with its attractive Costa Tropical and Costa del Sol beaches.
Situated in a wide plain (“la vega”), Granada is surrounded by adjoining hills where the
unique districts of the Albayzin and Sacromonte can be explored. Visitors to the city
will also marvel at the citadel, palaces and gardens of the Alhambra and the Generalife.
Granada, the cradle of many diverse cultures, was home to important prehistoric
settlements, including the Phoenician, Iberian, Roman, Visigoth and Arab civilizations.
To this day, the Moorish majesty of the Alhambra Citadel and Palaces dominate
the city. Opposite the Alhambra, the Albayzin, a labyrinth of steep streets with
secluded villas (“carmenes”), leads to the San Nicolas’ Mirador. Here the view of the
Alhambra at sunset is nothing less than magical. The Albayzin gypsies’ quarter and the
Sacromonte’s caves with their small restaurants and Flamenco stages (“tablaos”) witness to a lively past, celebrated by poets and musicians such as Lorca, Falla, Hemingway and
Washington Irving. Granada’s beautiful monuments and narrow Andalusian streets, in
which the Arab influence exists side by side with Christian, Renaissance, Baroque and
modern architecture, continue to inspire and enchant artists, intellectuals and travelers.
top
The Opportunities
Sixty thousand university students make Granada (home to the third largest university
In Spain) a vibrant young city and an excellent choice for those with an appetite
for both modern student life and age-old Spanish traditions. Add to all this the
hospitality of its people, its lively student atmosphere, its vibrant cultural life. Granada
is home to international festivals of music and dance, theatre, jazz, local public fiestas,
the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones, the nightly flamenco shows and innumerable
“tapas” restaurants, and you have the ideal location to live and learn.
Weekends and free days are ideal to visit, explore and enjoy some important, beautiful
cities around Granada. Jaén, with its beautiful 16th century renaissance cathedral, its
11th century Arabic Baths and its castle, captured by King Ferdinand III from Moors in
the 13th century, is less than an hour away. Cordoba, capital of the ancient Caliphate,
with its eighth-century Arab Great Mosque (la “Mezquita”), the 14th century Jewish
synagogue and Christian palace-fortress (“el Alcazar”), is an hour and a half by car or
bus. Sevilla, famous capital city of Andalusia, with its legendary Giralda, the Cathedral,
the Alcazar, the Gold Tower and the beautiful “Maestranza” bullring, is about two
hours away. Málaga, the hometown of Picasso and Antonio Banderas, offers important
museums, a port and beaches, and is just 80 miles away. Several small costal towns like
Almuñecar, Nerja and Frigiliana offer an unparalleled tranquility.
For active students who like sports, there are a good number of water sports such as
swimming, windsurfing, fishing, sailing and waterskiing. Other sports include soccer, golf,
tennis, squash, horse riding, skiing and hiking. Excursions through the Alpujarras and
alpine mountaineering are also enjoyable. Sierra Nevada's highest peak, Mulhacén, is
3,481 meters (11, 420) feet above sea level.
top
Experience the Cultures of Spain
The Granada Program is a great occasion to experience all aspects of life in Spain.
Granada’s many festivals and cultural activities offer local “granaínos” and everyone
in the city many opportunities to celebrate, enjoy, interact and be together. Granada’s
personality, a city of young people, has become a choice location for many international
students from many countries who choose Granada to study and experience life in a
very special manner. Because of its historical past, the city is imbued with the Christian,
Moslem and Jewish rich cultural background which can be experienced when visiting
shops, palaces and places of worship or when simply walking its ancient streets and
modern avenues.
Our Granada program has been designed so that participating students will also live in
Madrid and experience it. For ten days students will take classes where the setting will
not be so much the classroom but museums, monuments, streets, restaurants, parks, etc.
The Granada Programs has built in several excursions and visits. Apart from visits to
this magic city, other excursions include a visit to Sevilla, the capital of south Spain,
and an optional visit to Morocco in North Africa.
top
A Learning Experience
The Academic Program
Students will enroll for a full course load for between 15 and 18 semester hours. No
prior study in Spanish is required for participation in the program.
top
Spanish Courses
A minimum of two Spanish courses must be taken. These courses emphasize language
acquisition, communication and culture, and are offered at all levels. Levels are
assigned according to students’ knowledge and experience in the language.
top
Courses taught in English
Students will also take no less than three and no more than four other courses.
Students will choose from core and upper-level classes in a variety of subjects.
Class offerings depend on faculty availability and student enrollment.
Program availability subject to student enrollment.
top
Faculty
Dr. Rafael Sánchez, director of The Granada Program, is an associate professor of
Spanish at The University of Southern Mississippi. Other faculty participating in
the Semester in Granada Program come from institutional members of the Granada
consortium as well as from the Universities of Granada, Jaén, Málaga and Murcia,
and the renowned Don Quijote language school. Additionally, a select group
of postdoctoral fellows from American and European doctoral programs in the
humanities, social sciences and fine arts may join the Granada faculty.
top
Living in Granada
Students participating in the Semester in Granada live in a centrally located
residence, 15-20 minute walking distance from classes. The Granada residence is fully
air-conditioned and features private in-room bathroom or washbasin and a shared
bath/shower room, in-room telephones, separate smoking and non-smoking areas
in dining and living rooms, satellite TV, video and stereo in the living rooms, fully
equipped shared kitchen, washing machines and dryers.
top
Funding Your Experience
Granada Program Costs
- Southern Miss students: $7,400
- Consortium university students: Consult your home
institution
- Other students: $9,900
The price of the Granada Program covers full tuition; fees, Spanish
textbooks, Internet,
housing (two persons
per room in “Colegios
Mayores" or "Residencias”– individual rooms are
available for an additional
monthly fee), meals, halfboard
(media pension =
breakfast and supper) or
full-board (three meals for an additional fee), two excursions (one weekend to Sevilla, one weekend trip to another city (two nights), a visit to the Alhambra palaces, a city tour of Granada, visit to another museum in Granada, health services and facilities.
top
Financial Aid
Students who receive financial aid and loans that apply to their studies at
home may also apply these to study in the Semester in Granada Program. Many
scholarships are also applicable. Students are advised to begin the financial aid
process well in advance of payment deadlines. For more information regarding
financial aid, contact Southern Miss International Programs, 601.266.4344.
top
Important Information
Eligibility
Minimum program eligibility requirements include the completion of at least 14
semester hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA and clear academic standing.
top
Application Procedures
- Please return the completed application form and $200 deposit to:
The University of Southern Mississippi
The Granada Program
118 College Drive #10047
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
- See application for program deadlines.
- All non-Southern Miss Students, send an official transcript to the
address above.
- Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as space is limited.
Applications of qualified candidates will be accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis.
top
Assistance and Information
The University of Southern Mississippi
International Programs
118 College Drive #10047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601.266.4344
Fax: 601.266.5699
Email: studyabroad@usm.edu
Dr. Rafael Sánchez, Director
The University of Southern Mississippi
International Programs
118 College Drive #10047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone: 601.266.5540
Fax: 601.266.5699
Email: sanchez@usm.edu
If you are a consortium university student, please check with your home study-abroad
office for instructions.
top
"Give him alms, woman, for nothing is worse in life than to be blind in Granada."
"Dale limosna, mujer, que no hay en la vida nada como la pena de ser ciego en Granada."
Francisco Alarcón de Icaza
Granada was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site!
|
xxxx
xxxx
xxx
xxxx
xxx
