Academics
This program appeals to students who are interested in gaining fluency in Spanish, would like to choose classes from a wide range of fields, or want to take classes at a Spanish university.
- Program type:
- Study & Intern in Toledo is offered in collaboration with the José Ortega y Gasset Foundation and the University of Minnesota. Take classes at the Foundation; you may also take additional classes at the University of Castilla la Mancha for an additional cost, as well as take a three-credit internship.
- Level:
- Term:
- Fall semester
- Spring semester
- Academic year
- May session
- Summer session
- Prerequisites:
- 2.5 GPA.
- Minimum four semesters college-level Spanish.
- B average in Spanish is preferred.
- Courseload:
- 13–18 credits per semester.
- 3 credits for May session.
- 6–9 credits for summer session.
- Classes are held Monday–Thursday on the semester and summer program, leaving long weekends for cultural immersion.
Faculty
Enjoy individual attention from native Spanish-speaking program faculty who are dedicated to their topics as well as to each participant. Classes are taught by faculty chosen from the staff of the Fundación Ortega y Gasset, the majority of whom hold degrees from renowned American or European universities and/or have experience teaching at such institutions. All faculty are specialists in their academic field and in the field of teaching foreign students.
How to Apply
Click the button below to visit this program's web page for more information about the application process for this program.
About This Program
Live and study in the walled city of Toledo, home for more than 2,000 years to a succession of Roman, Jewish, Visigoth, Moorish, and Christian civilizations. Declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, Toledo is a living museum, a preserved part of Spanish history where people still live, work, and play. A city of approximately 80,000, Toledo offers an environment where you can immerse yourself in Spanish culture through coursework, internships, and daily life.
This program is offered in collaboration with the prestigious José Ortega y Gasset Foundation and the University of Minnesota. Based in a converted 16th-Century convent, the program offers modern learning facilities surrounded by spectacular views of the city and easy access to the downtown area and public transit. In addition to the opportunity to improve Spanish language ability, the program offers a wide range of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. Courses are taught entirely in Spanish by Spanish faculty. You can also take a three-credit internship (3 or 6 credits in the summer) to immerse further in the culture while gaining work experience.
The program is based in San Juan de la Penitencia Residence, which includes dining, classroom, library, and recreational and housing facilities. Meals are included in the program fee and are taken at the residence or with the host family.
Choose to live either in San Juan de la Penitencia or with a Spanish host family. Each housing option has its own benefits. Housing requests are honored on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also choose half dormitory and half homestay.
Four one-day excursions (three in the summer) are included in the cost of the semester program. Visit such sites as Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Cuenca, the grand El Escorial, Segovia, and the route of Don Quixote. An optional extended excursion to Avila-Salamanca (fall semester) or Andaclucia (spring semester) is available for an additional fee.
About the Learning Abroad Center
The Learning Abroad Center in the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance is the University of Minnesota's comprehensive resource for study, intern, community engagement, research, and volunteer experiences worldwide.
The Learning Abroad Center is a leader in providing innovative international learning experiences that expand and redefine the world for a diverse population of students, colleagues, and staff. The Learning Abroad Center staff and University of Minnesota faculty and staff participate in numerous leadership opportunities and serve on the advisory boards of organizations who provide and/or support education abroad programs. Through collaboration and individual attention, the Learning Abroad Center continues to promote empowerment, development, understanding, and responsibility in the global community.
A variety of program options—more than 180 programs in 50 countries—have been developed to address the diverse needs of students. Programs vary in length, level, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and degree of independence demanded of the participant.
