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IES: Barcelona, Liberal Arts & Business (Outgoing Program)

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Fact Sheet:
 Education Abroad Adviser: 		Sarah Spiegel
Minimum GPA: 		2.75
Class Standing: 		2 - Sophomore
Grad/Undergrad: 		Undergraduate
Language of Instruction: 		English, Spanish
Language Requirement: 		0 semesters
Internship Available: 		Yes
Fields of Study: 		Anthropology, Architecture, Art History, Business, Communications, Criminology, Economics, Education, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Studies, Film Studies, Finance, Geography, Global Studies, Health and Human Development, History, Hospitality Management, Journalism, Literature, Management, Marketing, Media Studies, Music, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Religious Studies, Sociology, Spanish, Sustainability, Visual Arts, Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Program Description:
View of the city of Barcelona

Program Overview     

Beginning Fall 2018, independent housing is not allowed on this program. 

This program offers a wide variety of courses in audio-visual communication, art history, business, Catalán, communications, computer science, cultural studies, economics, environmental studies, history, journalism, labor sciences, law, political sciences, sociology, Spanish language, literature, telecommunications, translation and interpretation, and urban studies. There is no language requirement prior to participation in the program; however, all students will be required to take a Spanish course on site. Information about the range of courses for this program can be found on the IES Barcelona, Liberal Arts and Business website. 

All students are required to enroll in a three credit Spanish course.  Students can opt to enroll in additional Spanish courses.  Students will be placed into a Spanish course based on their language level.  Students with no prior Spanish language experience to advanced level Spanish language skills can participate on this program. 
 

Program Quicklinks     

Course Offerings
Pre-Requisites
Housing and Meals
Program Costs
Financial Aid & Scholarships
More Information
How to Apply
Other Useful Links

Education Abroad Credits

You will receive credit for all academic courses taken at this institution, and all of your grades from abroad will count toward your Penn State cumulative GPA. You may not take any courses overseas on a Pass/Fail basis. Students may not take sport or physical activity courses (e.g. sailing, bowling, yoga, etc.) abroad. These courses will not be credited at Penn State. Students are required to take a minimum of 15 credits per semester; students can take a maximum of 19 credits per semester. 

To see what kind of credit students in past semesters have received for courses taken on this program, visit the IES Barcelona Course Equivalency List. Keep in mind you will need to complete the course equivalency process once you have been accepted to your program and after you have completed your registration abroad.  To obtain specific instructions on this process visit our Course Equivalencies webpage. 
 

Pre-requisites

Successful applicants will satisfy the pre-requisites established by the program.
  • Sophomore class standing or higher at time of study 
  • 2.75 Cumulative GPA
  • Beginning Fall 2015, Spanish majors cannot earn credit towards their major on this program. Spanish majors should consider alternative programs in Spain or Latin America. Please contact the Education Abroad Adviser for Spain and your academic adviser in the Spanish department for advising on other program options. 

Housing and Meals

Your housing will be arranged by IES. You will live either in a homestay, where two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) will be provided, a residential college where some meals will be provided, or a student apartment, where you will be responsible for providing your own meals.

Beginning Fall 2018, independent housing is not allowed on this program. 

Note: Additional fees apply for students staying in residence halls and student apartments.

Program Costs

For more information on program costs, please be sure to review the Fall budget sheet and Spring budget sheet. These budget sheets include information on costs that are billable to the bursar bill, as well as estimated additional costs. Costs vary by program, so it is important to review this information carefully.

Please note that tuition rates may vary depending on major and class standing.
 

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Penn State students studying through Education Abroad can use most components of their existing financial aid packages toward the cost of study abroad. This may include federal and state grants, VA educational benefits, federal student loans, and University scholarships and grants. Notable exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships.
 

The University Office of Global Programs also administers a number of grants and scholarships. Eligibility is based on academic excellence and/or financial need. There is also funding available for study abroad programs in diverse locations and for students from diverse backgrounds. In most cases, applicants should have a current year FAFSA on file with the Office of Student Aid. Funding opportunities may also be available through Penn State academic departments. For detailed information on financial aid and scholarship opportunities and application procedures, please visit the Funding Study Abroad section of the Global Penn State website.
 

IES Public School Grant

As a Penn State student you will automatically be awarded a $2,000 Public School Grant. IES has created this award to make their programs affordable to you. This award has already been calculated into the Budget Sheet.
 

For More Information

For more information about programs and education abroad at Penn State, we encourage you to meet with or contact our Peer Advisers. These study abroad returnees can explain program options, give an overview of the education abroad process, as well as provide information about his/her program. If you are not at University Park, contact your Campus Global Representative. 

To learn more about the specifics of each program, schedule an appointment with the education abroad adviser for this program.

For the inside scoop on life in a foreign country, be sure to check out the Student Spotlights of Penn State students currently studying abroad.
 

How to Apply

If you would like to participate on this study abroad program, you will need to apply to Penn State Education Abroad by clicking the "Apply Now" button on this page. 

You must complete the following materials in your application:

  •  Education Abroad Questionnaire

  •  One academic recommendation

  •  Signature Documents

Visit the How to Apply section of our website for more information.

Please note that you will also be instructed to complete an application with the host provider as a part of your Penn State application either at time of application or upon acceptance. 

Studying Abroad with a Disability

Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.

Other Useful Links

Steps to Study Abroad
Schedule an Appointment
Academics
Cost & Funding
Health & Safety
Parents & Family



Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Spring 2018 09/15/2017
** 		Rolling Admission 01/08/2018 04/27/2018
NOTE: Start date marks arrival in host country. End date marks departure from program housing.
Academic Year 2018-2019 03/01/2018
03/14/2018 TBA TBA
Fall 2018 03/01/2018
03/14/2018 09/03/2018 12/19/2018
NOTE: Start date marks arrival in host country. End date marks departure from program housing.
Spring 2019 09/15/2018
** 		Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Students will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.

Indicates that deadline has passed