If you have a keen interest in exploring human rights and public policy issues related to gender, minorities, and other social issues in Spain and the European Union--and a strong desire to attend law school in the future--consider the CIEE Legal Studies program in Madrid. The only program taught in Spanish in the Spanish-speaking world for U.S. students,  you'll immerse yourself even further in Spanish culture by studying alongside local students and by living with legal practitioners or scholars.

What You'll Learn
The Legal Studies program offers highly motivated students with a strong Spanish background from any academic discipline the opportunity to further develop their Spanish language skills, while pursuing a co-curricular program focused on law, mediation, and human rights in Spain. The program goals are achieved through a specially designed language course, a course on legal issues in Spain, an optional internship, and law and mediation elective courses at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

Program Snapshot

• Take an advanced Spanish language course with a focus on legal terminology
• Focus on the Spanish legal system through a CIEE core course; take regular University courses in law and political science; consider a law-related internship
• Live with other Legal Studies students and a CIEE Resident Fellow affiliated with the Universidad Carlos III
• Continue class outside the classroom through activities such as visits to Congress, Parliament, and guided tours of the historical district

Subject Areas

• Criminal Law
• European Union Studies
• Family Law
• History of Law
• International Law
• Internship
• Labor Union Law
• Philosophy of Law
• Political Economy
• Political Science
• Public Government Law
• Public Policy
• Religion and Law
• Roman Law
• Spanish Law
• Spanish Legal Language

Eligibility Requirements

• Overall 3.0 GPA 
• 6 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent

Academic Program

The CIEE Legal Studies program is designed for advanced Spanish language students who are highly motivated to improve their Spanish language skills through coursework focused on law, mediation, and human rights, while also participating in a Legal Studies internship in Madrid.

Academic Culture

The Law Department at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid offers various degree programs with a total enrollment of nearly 1,200 students. All courses are held in classroom buildings on the Getafe campus, where the Department of Law and the CIEE Study Center office are located. Courses are academically challenging, dynamic, and involve daily reading and homework assignments, as well as required attendance at lectures. The size of regular University courses varies from 25 to 80 students. The Advanced Spanish and Legal Language and Law in Contemporary Spain courses have an average of 15 students per class. University classrooms are modern, comfortable, and equipped with the most up-to-date technology used for instruction. Students undertaking an internship meet regularly with the course coordinator and other CIEE students, but participants spend the majority of their internship for credit with an individual supervisor at the practicum site.

Universidad Carlos III is one of the only public universities in Spain with new education guidelines according to European Union regulations set forth in the Bologna Agreement, resulting in an academic schedule that is very similar to U.S. higher education. The CIEE courses offered in the fall semester begin in late August and end in December. Students enrolled in regular courses in the Law Department during the fall can arrange to take early exams in December. The spring semester program begins in late January and runs through late May or late June. Early departure is not allowed. Any extended travel should take place prior to the start of the program, during vacation periods, or upon completion of the program.

Where You'll Study:

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Established in 1989, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has become one of Europe's preeminent public universities, and after receiving the European Campus of Excellence award in 2010, is now recognized as Spain's most prestigious institution of higher education. It was the first and one of a few public universities to have adopted a U.S.-style academic calendar, and it has one of the highest percentages (42%) of full-time and tenured female faculty in Spain. The University is the educational center for some 20,000 students with 4,000 students attending programs at the Getafe campus, located in the southern metropolitan area.

Program Requirements

All students enroll in two CIEE courses: Advanced Spanish and Legal Language and Law in Contemporary Spain. Students complete their academic program by selecting two or three elective courses through the Department of Law or a Department relevant to their specific interests at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

Students have the option of enrolling in a Legal Studies Internship and/or the Seminar on Living and Learning in place of one or two of the elective courses if approved by their home school and if the academic requirements are met.

Upon arrival in Madrid, all students take a placement exam. Students who place below the advanced level may be required by the Estudios Hispánicos faculty to enroll in an additional language course for advanced intermediate composition. In this case, students will not be permitted to register for a direct enroll class and are asked to choose their courses from selection of offering in the Estudios Hispánicos department.

Recommended Credit

semester: 15-18 semester/22.5-27 quarter hours
academic year: 27-33 semester/40.5-49.5 quarter hours

Duration

• Academic Year: 36 or 48 weeks late August - late May or early June
• Spring: 18 or 24 weeks late January - late May
• Fall: 18 or 24 weeks late August - mid-December
• Academic Year: 36 or 48 weeks late August - late May or early June
• Spring: 18 or 24 weeks late January - late May

CIEE Fees - Check the CIEE website for current fees.
CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

Online Pre-Departure and On-site Orientations
Students begin their study abroad experience in Madrid before leaving home--by participating in a CIEE Online Pre-Departure Orientation. Meeting with students online, the Resident Director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving students time to ask questions before leaving home. The online orientation allows students to connect with others in the group, reflect on what they want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. The CIEE goal for the pre-departure orientation is simple: to help students understand more about the program and site, as well as their goals for the program, so that they arrive to the program well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards their goals.

A mandatory two week, on-site orientation conducted at the beginning of the program starts with an intensive language componenet designed to assist students with the legal vocabulary they encounter during the rest of the term. It also introduces students to the country, culture, and the general academic program. In addition to providing practical information about living in Spain, and in particular, Madrid, students have the opportunity to meet local peers through the CIEE Spanish Student Network with whom they frequently interact during their stay. Themes such as the Spanish university system, youth culture, mobile phones and social networking, security and safety, and cultural adaptation are covered. A diagnostic language skills examination is also conductedat the University to determine the linguistic level of all participants, ensuring that each student is placed in appropriate language courses. Orientation includes both structured cultural activities and independent sightseeing. Ongoing support is provided on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

The Universidad Carlos III also holds a two-day orientation for study abroad students which is included in the CIEE orientation program.

Housing & Meals

Housing and meals are included in the program fee. Students live in furnished apartments with other CIEE students and with a CIEE Resident Fellow or CIEE host. Fellows are law professionals, graduate students, and/or staff members at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. They provide general guidance during the students' time in Madrid.

All apartments are located in the city of Madrid and, in most cases, are in the same building and/or neighborhood. Students have an individual room and full kitchen access with a variable meal plan in an informal academic and social community. To accommodate student class and internship schedules, the meal plan comprises a meal service, University cafeteria meal tickets and a supplementary food stipend. The CIEE Resident Fellow also arranges weekly group meals to help foster cultural reflection among participants. Students take public transportation to their classes at the Getafe campus, which is easily accessible by public transportation and is approximately 30 minutes by bus and 15 minutes by train from the Atocha train station.

Internet

Students receive an individual University email account and full access to Aula Global, where they can check their course registration and grades as well as professors' notes and additional course materials. Students have unlimited access to an extensive network of computer workstations and labs for class-related activities on campus. The University campus has public wireless Internet service and students are encouraged to bring wireless-enabled laptops to use on campus and in the CIEE office. All CIEE accommodations provide unlimited Internet access.

Cultural Activities

The academic program is supplemented with required field trips and excursions. These may include visits in Madrid (Congress, Parliament, the High Courts, or guided tours of the historic district) and day excursions to historic Toledo to explore its Jewish and legal heritage, the Natural Park of Hoces de Duratón, the Monastary of El Escorial, the Roman architecture of the city of Segovia, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alcalá de Henares, and the Royal Palace and gardens of Aranjuez. CIEE offers one weekend trip which may be to Asturias, Galicia, Extremadura, or Andalusia. Field trips and excursions supplement class work and introduce students to the rich diversity of the geographic, linguistic, and cultural areas of Spain and its major cities.

The University's Espacio de Estudiantes and Aula de las Arteso rganize a number of cultural and sports activities in which CIEE students are expected to participate alongside Spanish students. Students can choose from hiking, regional excursions, theater, dance, orchestra, kayaking, swimming, and much more.

Intercambios
CIEE, in collaboration with the University's Aula de Idiomas, organizes conversation exchanges (Intercambios) between Spanish students at the Universidad Carlos III and CIEE participants. Intercambios give students the chance to put into action what they are learning in their language courses, meet their Spanish peers, and set up individual language activities.

Community Involvement
Through the Universidad Carlos III community program, CIEE students can participate in volunteer work. Students may assist disabled students, coordinate games and other activities with children, or visit with the elderly. Volunteer opportunities also exist with organizations focused on immigration and other social issues.

Personal Skills Development and Culture Workshops
In conjunction with the Universidad Carlos III, CIEE coordinates a series of non-credit workshops each semester dealing with personal development while living abroad. Some workshops are only open to CIEE students, while others allow interaction with Spanish students and invited speakers. Past workshop topics have included culture shock, dating across cultures, race and identity issues, eating well and basic cooking methods, stress management, job interview skills, and re-entry at the end of the semester.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language
A workshop on Teaching English as a Foreign Language is offered for students interested in teaching during their time in Madrid. Basic teaching methods and cross-cultural issues are discussed. Students receive a packet of essential teaching materials to support their individual initiatives on site.

Message from the Colleges of the Fenway
Global Education Opportunities Center

Please be aware that study abroad involves two application deadlines - the application deadline for "the Council on International Educational Exchange" (CIEE - the provider of this study abroad program), and the deadline to seek approval from your home campus Study Abroad Director (in order to receive credit for participating in this program). 

In general, you will need to inform your home campus Study Abroad Director by the "Application Deadline" indicated below.  By pressing on the "Apply Now" button, you will begin the process of notifying your home campus Study Abroad Director of your intent to study abroad.  In order to participate in this program, you will also need to follow the application instructions of CIEE, as indicated above.

Keep in mind that if it appears that a deadline date has already passed for the time that you wish to study abroad, you should still make contact with both your Study Abroad Director and the program provider, by pressing on the "Request Info" button and stating clearly your desired dates.  While it can never be guaranteed, there are cases when last-minute requests can be accommodated.