Catalog
Bates Fall Semester Abroad
Professor López (Spanish); Associate Professor Melvin (History)
The Bates Fall Semester in Tarragona provides the opportunity for an intensive immersion experience in Spanish language and culture in a unique location, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Mediterranean coast. Tarragona has a storied heritage: The capital of the former Roman province of Hispania Tarraconensis and a meeting point between Christian and Muslim Spain during the medieval period, it is home to ancient Roman ruins, narrow medieval streets, and a twelfth-century cathedral. It is also a modern city, with a bustling port and the region's premier university, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). A thriving local culture includes theaters, museums, concerts, and traditional fiestas celebrated in the city's streets. Tarragona is located approximately one hour south of Barcelona in southern Catalonia. The program is affiliated with the URV, an institution attended by approximately 12,000 students. Founded in the sixteenth century, URV is one of Spain's oldest universities. Known for the quality of its teaching, URV has a reputation as one of the leading universities in Europe.
The program begins in late August with a short intensive language program designed to help students of all abilities improve their proficiency and comfort with Spanish. Students continue their study of Spanish throughout the semester with two courses taught by URV faculty. While some knowledge of Spanish language is helpful, it is not required. Two other courses are taught in English by Bates faculty members. The program ends in mid-December.
BSAS 001. Intensive Spanish Language I.
Courses at novice, intermediate, and advanced levels are designed to help students communicate with their surroundings. Course work focuses on the rapid improvement of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Open to first-year students. Staff.Concentrations
This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations
BSAS 002. Intensive Spanish Language II.
Courses at novice, intermediate, and advanced levels are designed to help students communicate with their surroundings. Course work focuses on the rapid improvement of comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Open to first-year students. Staff.Concentrations
This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations
BSAS 003. Spain in the Twentieth Century: National Narratives Old and New.
The defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War (1898) marked the end of the Spanish Empire and propelled the country back to the margins of European society. A century later, however, Spain once again appears to have overcome its sociopolitical marginality. The turbulent events of the 1930s —including the fall of the monarchy, the founding of the Second Republic, and the Spanish Civil War—resulted in economic stagnation and a dictatorship that eventually gave way to rapid economic development, democracy, and European integration. In this course, students consider to how all of these events shape and are shaped by the struggle to define the Spanish nation according to specific and often opposing paradigms: territorial, cultural, political, economic, and ethnic. Open to first-year students. F. López.Concentrations
This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations
BSAS 004. Spain's Golden Age of Empire.
The events of 1492 sparked the transformation of Spain. The voyages of Columbus and his successors propelled it from a collection of kingdoms at the margins of European society to a powerful global empire—the world's first—whose territories stretched from Italy to the Americas, Asia, and Africa. That same year the Reconquest and expulsion of Jews marked a shift from a multicultural and religiously plural society to one recognized as the guardian of Christianity. This course explores what happened to Spanish culture and society during this era of intense change from 1492-1800. Topics include the Armada and the rise of Spanish imperial power; the expulsions of Jews and Muslims; migration and its consequences; and the Inquisition and religious culture. Open to first-year students. K. Melvin.Concentrations
This course is referenced by the following General Education Concentrations