Society and Culture in Madrid

Unique study opportunities

• Take classes with students from across the UC campuses that incorporate site visits and excursions throughout the city.
• Take a Spanish language and culture course that includes tours of Madrid’s world-class museums, visits with local representatives, and other educational trips in and around the city.
• Learn about Business the Spanish way with visits to sports venues, marketing agencies, wine and olive oil production centers, and more.
• Explore traditional Madrileño food culture with tastings and visits to local neighborhood markets.

Language

Spanish Language Study: Optional

There are two optional language courses for you to choose from if you wish to study Spanish language in Madrid: 

Exploring Madrid: Language and Culture -- Explore Madrid's rich culture and learn the basics of Spanish language; the culture section of the course examines the city of Madrid through a series of on-site experiences, and the language section gives you the tools and skills to navigate the city and complete tasks in real-life situations and specific contexts.

Elementary Spanish -- This is a traditional language course with an intensive immersion approach, focusing on communication. 

Courses and credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program: 

• Take two courses for a total of 10 quarter/6.6 semester UC units.
• You may take one course as pass/no pass.

Current Program Courses

Exact offerings may vary depending on enrollment and instructor availability. Final course offerings are announced before the start of the program. Course enrollment is held on a first-come, first-served basis; enrollment in your top course preferences is not guaranteed, so be sure to have back-up courses in mind. Recent courses include:

Spanish Language Courses

• Elementary Spanish (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, lower division)
  This intensive language course aims at developing a basic understanding of Spanish grammar and vocabulary, enhancing the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing, familiarizing students with the culture of Spain and Spanish America.
  Subject area: Spanish
• Exploring Madrid: Language and Culture (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, lower division)
  Discover Spain's history, culture, and language with Madrid as your classroom. Learn practical Spanish language for daily life and explore Madrid through walking neighborhood tours, museum visits, and meetings with local representatives. This is a beginner level course.
  Subject area: Spanish

Elective Courses

• Spanish Food: Farm to Fork (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, upper division)
  This course delves into Madrid's food culture through tastings, market visits, and expert talks, exploring traditional cuisine, molecular gastronomy, sustainable agriculture, and innovations like the Mediterranean diet, biodynamic wines, food security, Slow Food, culinary tourism, and the Madrid Food Innovation Hub.
  Subject areas: Anthropology, Environmental Studies
• Culture and Business: Branding Spain (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, upper division)
  This course examines Spain’s most successful industries—banking, fashion, telecommunications, soccer, gastronomy, and tourism—through the lens of marketing and branding, highlighting major players like Banco Santander, Zara, Telefonica, Real Madrid, and FC Barcelona. Students engage with industry professionals and visit key sites, including retail hubs, sports venues, marketing agencies, and producers of iconic Spanish goods: wine, olive oil, and pork.
  Subject areas: Business Administration, Communication
• Spanish Culture and Mental Health (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, upper division)
  This course explores the psychological and mental health impacts of Spanish culture, focusing on traditional lifestyle behaviors, diet, work-life balance, and community. Students examine how recent shifts—such as changes in food habits, increased sedentarism, technological use, and growing cultural diversity—affect health, relationships, and society, while analyzing responses through collective and individual initiatives.
  Subject areas: Psychology, Sociology
• Contemporary Spain through Icons & Images (5.0 quarter/3.3 semester UC units, upper division)
  This course explores how 20th and 21st Century Spanish artists draw on religion, politics, identity, gender, and popular culture, reinterpreting historical icons to challenge traditional narratives. Through key artworks and public manifestations, students examine Spain’s contemporary history, from the Civil War to today’s crises, and how Madrid reflects the complexities of a Post-Modern society.
  Subject areas: Art History, History

Major/minor/GE or foreign language requirements and course equivalencies are all determined differently at each campus. Discuss these questions with your UC academic advisor.

Additional or optional coursework, internships, and research for academic credit are not possible on this program.

Catalogs and resources

• UCEAP Course Catalog: See a list of courses UC students have taken on this program.
• Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location.

Academic culture

You will take courses alongside other UC students in relatively small classes. Regular classes are typically held Monday through Thursday. Additional activities are scheduled on some weekends. You are expected to attend all field exercises and excursions, which are integral components of the courses. 

Whenever possible, elements of the Madrileño surroundings are incorporated to lend authenticity to class instruction. Many of the courses include experiential learning outside of the classroom and visits to local neighborhood settings such as museums, local companies, and cultural centers.

The intensity of this program requires active participation to maintain the pace. Attendance is taken at every course meeting and class participation is mandatory. To avoid falling behind and to succeed up to the final weeks of the program, attend all classes and complete all assignments. Given that there is ample time allowed for more informal experiences of Spain, your academic studies should have your full attention during the short span of the program.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Grades for this program are usually available in early October. They may not arrive in time to accommodate the summer degree verification deadline.