Summer Programs Draw Over 300 to Campus

This summer, over 300 students from 35 countries will continue their studies at SLU-Madrid. The Madrid campus has increased the number of courses offered this summer to over 60 – along with internships, programs for graduate students, a CiTESOL English teaching certificate program, an immersion program for high school students learning Spanish and even a science camp for high school students.

“We’ve designed our summer offerings specifically to serve the needs of our students, especially those who may not have the opportunity to study abroad during the academic year,” said SLU-Madrid Academic Dean and Director Paul Vita.

Cultural programming is enhanced during the summer sessions, to ensure that our students' time outside of the classroom is enriching and engaging. (Above) Students take a bicycle tour of the Madrid Río Park, a recreational area along the Manzanares River which boasts panoramic lookout points to take in views of the Royal Palace, modern and historic bridges, and the so-called “Madrid Río Beach.”

Undergraduate Offerings

Among the undergraduate courses available are those one would expect in a study abroad program in Spain: Spanish language, history and culture classes – including dance (flamenco). In addition, SLU-Madrid offers a full range of liberal arts courses that fulfill undergraduate core requirements across SLU’s colleges and schools, from accounting to theology.

This summer, SLU-Madrid is inaugurating a CiTESOL certificate program. Students who are interested in English language teaching are pursuing this intensive, eight-credit program which will provide them with an internationally recognized credential in English language teaching. The curriculum includes courses in language acquisition, linguistics and an intercultural seminar/teaching practicum. This certificate program will also be offered during the academic year, starting in spring 2020.

Graduate Study Abroad

Summer experiences in Spain are not limited to undergraduate students. For nearly 30 years, SLU-Madrid has received international recognition for its Master of Arts in Spanish. This program, offered in June and July, is designed around the busy schedules of secondary school teachers of Spanish, who wish to pursue a master's degree without leaving their jobs.

SLU-Madrid is also home to international programs developed by SLU’s Law School and the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. The study abroad program for graduate business students offers courses in European business strategy and financial reporting which include company visits, cultural tours, cases and group presentations built into the class schedules. The ABA-approved Summer Law Program focuses on comparative and international law and incorporates visits to Spain's constitutional and supreme courts.

On June 20, SLU-Madrid, the SLU Center for Health Law and the SLU Center for International and Comparative Law are co-sponsoring a lecture seminar entitled “Hot Topics in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Law.” SLU Law professor Ana Santos Rutschman, S.J.D., a leading expert in health law and intellectual property, will be lecturing on emerging biopharmaceutical drugs and biotechnologies in Europe and the U.S. Her lecture will survey legal issues and current litigation in three areas: biologics (the best-selling type of drugs in the world); biosimilars (“generic” versions of biologics); and gene editing technologies (with a focus on CRISPR technologies).

Athletics Abroad

Unlike many NCAA Division I athletes who are unable to study abroad, volleyball players and swimmers from both SLU-St. Louis and Xavier University are meeting their academic and athletic obligations this summer as SLU-Madrid students. The swimmers are taking advantage of SLU-Madrid’s partnership to continue their training with Real Canoe C.N., one of Spain’s top training centers for competitive swimmers.

Programs for High School Students

High school Spanish language students from Ridgefield, Connecticut will be inaugurating SLU-Madrid’s new high school immersion program. The week-long program features classes in Spanish, which are combined with excursions around Madrid. The class on Spanish history is followed by a guided walking tour of the city. After the class on art history, students head to Madrid’s renowned Reina Sofia Museum. The class on the Spanish Civil War is integrated into a visit to the Casa de Campo and the class on marketing incorporates an excursion to the calle Fuencarral, one of the city’s main shopping districts.

With more than 15 years of running camps for teens, SLU-Madrid will once again partner with Colegio San José in Villafranca de los Barros (Badajoz, Spain) to offer the most innovative camp in Spain: “Extreme Science Experience.” Open to both English and Spanish speakers aged 12 to 15, the camp aims to simulate language learning through adventures in science and technology.

Detailed information about summer programs is available online.