Courses

Each student in The Barcelona Experience takes all four of the following courses.

Barcelona in Historical Context: Roman Origins to the Spanish Civil War

Students trace Barcelona 's development from its origins at the end of the 1st century B.C. through the 20th century.

Topics examined include how a small Roman city became a major medieval metropolis, the impact of the Islamic world in the early Middle Ages, the trade and economy of the Mediterranean world in the 13th and 14th centuries, politics and government in the city in its period of medieval splendor, how the discovery of the New World affected the Old World, the effects of the War of Spanish Succession, the impact of industrialization, and the Spanish Civil War in Barcelona. Placing these aspects in a broader Spanish and European context, students gain a wider appreciation of how European cities have evolved.

Classes include visits to archaeological excavations, museums, palaces, monuments, and houses. In order to further delve into the history of the city, students investigate less immediately obvious aspects of Barcelona's history, such as street names and the plan of the city.

The course meets for 3 1/2 hours one morning a week, starting at the residence hall and then spending much of the class time on foot, viewing the sites.

Instructor: Philip Banks
Philip Banks holds a B.A. and Ph.D. in archaeology and history from the University of Nottingham, England. Dr. Banks is an expert on the development of medieval Barcelona. A resident of Barcelona since 1975, he has taught English as a Foreign Language at the Language Center of the University of Barcelona since 1977; he coordinated the Center’s academic programs from1980 to 2008. He has written and lectured widely on medieval Barcelona, translated works on medieval history into English, directed archaeological excavations in England and Spain, participated in several Master's Degree programs, and been a regular contributor to the Walking Through Barcelona courses organized by the University of Barcelona. He also has led archaeological and historical study tours of Roman and medieval Barcelona and Spain for the University of Exeter and other institutions.

Barcelona--The Community: Catalonia, Spain, and the European Union

Students examine how communities are formed in Europe and how they are connected to and interact with larger political and economic unions. Beginning with an exploration of the emergence of The European Union (EU), the course focuses on the roles played by members within the EU and the challenges that the EU faces in the future. Questions explored include how Barcelona and Catalonia relate to Spain, how Spain relates to Europe, and how the EU relates to the world.

Students complete a course project consisting of a series of debates on topics such as immigration policy in Europe and the U.S., American and European approaches to free trade, and other issues of contemporary import.

The course meets for two hours two mornings a week, at the University of Barcelona's Continuing Education facility.

Instructor: Joan Carles Suari
Joan Carles Suari received his doctorate in economics from the University of Barcelona, where he teaches the courses Foreign Trade in Practice and European Integration. He is Adviser to the Barcelona Port Authority and has worked as an international consultant in Morocco, Israel, Peru, and Uzbekistan. He was a trainee at the European Commission in 1981 and is now a member of the GroupEuro and Team Europe.

The City: 20th-Century Architecture, Urban Development, Art, and Design in Barcelona

Students explore Barcelona‘s different periods and discover how art, architecture, and the city evolved together. While exploring modern, urban development against the backdrop of Barcelona's history, emphasis is placed on the dynamic interplay of architecture, art and design, and urban planning in the 20th century.

The course combines classroom sessions with extensive exploration of the city's urban layout, architectural sites, museums, and residential neighborhoods.

The course meets for morning classroom sessions at the University of Barcelona's School of Continuing Education and then goes off-campus for site visits in the afternoon. On the last course day, students present their final projects.

Instructor: Zaida Muxí
Zaida Muxí holds a degree in architecture from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was awarded a master’s in architecture from the University of Barcelona and a doctorate in architecture from the University of Seville. Muxí is Professor in the Urban Development Department of the School of Architecture of Barcelona. She has published articles on urban development, architecture, and design and has coauthored and contributed to numerous books on public/private spaces. She has lectured on urban and architectural design in various venues in Spain and Argentina, including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and Elisava School of Design Barcelona.

Spanish Language Workshop

Designed to enhance students' experience of living in Spain, the workshop provides a more formal opportunity to develop language skills, focusing on everyday conversation, reading, and writing. Students are grouped according to language proficiency.

Beginning students learn to understand simple messages in daily life and to express themselves in basic, everyday situations. The curriculum centers on oral and written exercises that introduce students to the Spanish language from a communicative point of view. It provides an initial approach to the social and cultural domains of the language.

Intermediate students expand on their basic skills so as to be able to express complex ideas and arguments, and read and understand more difficult texts of their own interest. The course seeks to expand their awareness of cultural and linguistic differences of Spanish.

Advanced students with a strong command of Spanish sharpen their written and oral communication skills through a series of level-appropriate exercises. The course pays special attention to oral usage, so that students become able to explain their ideas and opinions and defend their own points of view. The program emphasizes the social and cultural domains of the language.

Classes meet at the University of Barcelona's Continuing Education facility.