University of Barcelona

This course examines Spanish culture and society today through a study of its history and art. Topics include: Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Metal Age; Iberians and Celts; Roman Empire; Visigoths; Islam and Al Andalus; Christian kingdoms; late Middle Ages and Catholic Monarchs; empire of Charles I; Bourbons in Spain; Enlightenment; colonization and independence of American colonies; first and second republics; Franco dictatorship and transition to democracy; Spain and the European Union.

This course offers a study of human biodiversity. Topics include: morphological variability; life cycle-- fertility, fecundity, and birth; growth and puberty; aging and mortality; mating in human populations; population dynamics; genetic diversity in human populations.

This course explores the complexity of current international society and social inequalities through social indicators, demographic and environmental data, political and economic indicators, and life stories. It analyzes the social policies of Western countries, developing countries, and underdeveloped countries. This course discusses the main international and European programs and organizations fighting and preventing social inequality as well as Catalonia and Spain within the context of European and international social policy.

This course provides knowledge and tools to effectively communicate and overcome challenges in an increasingly multicultural environment. Topics include: verbal, para-verbal, and non-verbal communication; cultural identity, values, stereotypes, and self-awareness; intercultural sensitivity; intercultural communication in various professional fields including health and education. 

This course offers a study of the physical and natural environment of Spain. It examines Spain's territory in relation to its social environment and economy, both nationally and regionally. This course also discusses Spain's diversity through examination of its natural regions and its autonomous communities. Finally, it focuses on the transition to democracy, the Spanish constitution and current institutions, and Spanish society today.

This course offers a study of biomaterials from their history in the ancient world to current developments and the latest progress. Topics include: types of biomaterials; biocompatibility; applications and regulations.

The course examines the development of literary genres in Latin American literature across the history of Spanish language and literature. It places emphasis on the philosophical and aesthetic components of the genre; the fundamentals of literary analysis; and the relationship between the literary work and its historical context. Topics include the origin and history of America; the diaries of Christopher Columbus; an overview of Spanish language Latin American literature (from Baroque to modernism); anti-poetry and conversational poetry (Nicanor Parra y Mario Benedetti); the Latin American Boom (Gabriel Garcia Marquez); and contemporary authors (Roberto Bolaño).

The course introduces students to the core concepts of applied linguistics - history, origin, and scope. It explores how linguistic knowledge can be used to understand and address real-world language and communication issues.  Students will examine language processing, language disorders, and multilingualism from cognitive, social, and educational perspectives. The course also focuses on identifying contemporary language-related social problems, analyzing their causes, and proposing interdisciplinary solutions.

This course focuses on Spanish theater and dramatic literature. It examines the world of the theater: actors, producers, and the public; theatrical movements at the turn of the century; continuity and modernization; innovative playwrights and conceptual theater; tradition and avant-garde; the theater of "urgency" during the Civil War and the playwrights of exile; post-war theater, escapist conformity, and humor; the new realism; theater as spectacle and experiment; and new trends and "theatre groups."

This course offers a study of the status of foreign nationals and immigration in Spain. Topics include: migration, sustainability, and social cohesion; migrant women and cultural diversity; the role of public powers in matters of nationality, foreign nationals, and immigration policies; Spanish nationality and its impact on foreign nationals and immigration; the rights and freedoms of foreign nationals; laws regulating the status of foreign national in Spain; penalties for violations of immigration law.