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The College of Charleston’s spring semester study abroad program in Trujillo, Spain is designed for students who major or minor in Spanish, or who are interested in earning 12 -15 credit hours of upper-level Spanish; or for students from any academic discipline interested in developing fluency in Spanish while maintaining normal progress towards graduation. Classes are held in the Coria, a 17th century restored convent, from Monday through Thursday weekly, allowing students ample time to explore Spain. Students will live with local Spanish families.  

Program Dates

Mid-January – Early May (dates tentative and subject to change)

Program Requirements

• Students must have completed, or be in the process of completing Spanish 202 prior to participating in the program
• Students must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA
• Students must either already possess a valid passport, or be able to obtain a passport
• Students must apply for a student visa issued by the Consulate of Spain

Faculty Directors

Express I
Devon Wray Hanahan
Senior Instructor
E-mail: hanahand@cofc.edu

Express II
Sarah Owens
Professor of Spanish
E-mail: owenss@cofc.edu

Program Highlights

Trujillo, Spain is located in the Extremadura region of Spain, southwest of Madrid, about 60 miles from the border of Portugal. This program offers students the opportunity to study with faculty from CofC while abroad in Trujillo, Spain. Students are immersed in Spanish language and culture through living with experienced host families. Some Spanish courses are taught by a local faculty from the Universidad de Extremadura. Classes are held at the Coria, a 15th century restored convent, from Monday to Thursday providing students long weekends to explore Trujillo, the Extremadura region, and Spain. Typically, students have completed SPAN 202 prior to participating in the program. During the semester, students as a group will take cultural program excursions to Cáceres‎, Mérida, Córdoba, Granada, Madrid, Sevilla, and Toledo. The courses offered are actual College of Charleston classes, therefore students will earn grades just as they would if they were offered on campus. Grades will factor in the student’s GPA.

Courses Offered

Students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours (4 courses) while in Trujillo to maintain their full-time student status at the College of Charleston. The courses offered are actual College of Charleston classes, therefore students will earn grades just as they would if they were offered on campus. Grades will factor in the student’s GPA at the College. Classes are held at the Coria, a 17th century restored convent, from Monday to Thursday weekly, providing students long weekends to explore Trujillo, the Extremadura region, and Spain.

Express I Courses 

• SPAN 275 - Spanish Skills Review (3)
• SPAN 328 - Spanish Language Study Abroad (3)

Express II Courses 

• SPAN 320 - Introduction to Textual Analysis (3)
• SPAN 333 - Topics in Hispanic Cultures (3)

Full Semester Courses

• SPAN 313 - Spanish Composition

• Note: Students should meet with their academic advisors to verify which courses meet the requirements for their major or minor.

Program Costs

Students will pay their normal College of Charleston semester tuition and a program fee. The program fee of $6,400 (estimated), includes the round-trip airfare from Charleston to Spain, housing with local Spanish families, meals a day provided by the families, and comprehensive international medical insurance. Also included in the program fee is the costs for the two planned program excursions, including the transportation, hotels, 2 meals a day, and entrances into sites and museums.

Additional costs beyond the tuition and program fee are: passport fees, student visa fees, any personal travel and other personal expenses/spending money during the semester, and one meal per day while on the planned program excursions.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Any financial aid that a student currently has at the College of Charleston will apply like normal for their semester abroad in Trujillo, Spain.  Students should meet with an advisor in the Office of Financial Assistance to determine eligibility for aid.

• Scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 each are available to support CofC degree-seeking students to study abroad; eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need and academic merit. Applications can be found on the CIE website here.
• Hispanic Studies Trujillo Scholarship: covers the entire program fee ($6,400) for one successful applicant based on academic merit and financial needs. See the official website here.

Application Process

Applications are due OCTOBER 1. 

To apply, please visit the program application page, on ViaTRM. AFTER you log in using your CofC email and MyPortal password you can copy and paste the below link to the address bar to be directed to the program page in order to apply. 

Please note that a non-refundable $150 application fee is included in the program fee and will be only reflected in your eBill IF you withdraw from the program after submitting your application.