Extended Education and International Programs

Service-learning Summer Program in Spain

California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is proud to announce the Spain 2024 Summer Program! A unique service learning experience hosted in collaboration with Universidad de Leon. This enriching program offers CSUMB students a chance to immerse themselves in an international service learning setting, combining academic rigor with real-world application.

Program Details

•  Length of program: June 1 to June 30, 2024 (4 weeks)
  • Travel to Spain in the last days of May
• Location: Hosted in Leon, Spain
• Application deadline: April 15, 2024
• Successful completion of the program will allow students to gain 6 instructional units, 4 for Service Learning and 2 for the Spanish Culture Course. The program will certify students for Upper-Level Division Service Learning:
  • SBS484S Anthropology of Space. Landscapes and Regions ~ 4
  • UL - Spanish Culture ~ 2 Units

Program Requirements

• Demonstrate an intermedia level of Spanish (Spanish 201 or B1)
• Must have completed Lower-Level Division service-learning

Orientation and Training

• Intensive orientation in the first days of June
• Training in ethnographic and historical methods for data collection and analysis
• Application of these methods at the regional Ethnographic Museum of the Province of Leon (Museo de los Pueblos Leoneses)

Academic Component

• An intensive course on Spanish Culture and Heritage
• Exploration of Leon's rich history and cultural depth
• Focus on the Camino de Santiago, a medieval pilgrimage tradition
• Learning about Leon's Gothic Cathedral, a key site for the Camino de Santiago pilgrims

Field Trips

• First trip: An exploration of Leon to understand the city's nuances
• Second trip: A visit to the region of El Bierzo, known for its wine and cultural traditions
• Highlight: Tour of the medieval castle of Ponferrada in El Bierzo

Program Outcomes

• Equip students with tools to appreciate and understand cultural legacies
• Expand horizons and foster a new appreciation for students' own backgrounds
• Offer a well-rounded experience blending academic learning with cultural immersion

This learning experience is designed to enrich students' understanding of their own and other cultures, providing them with a memorable and transformative educational journey.

Program Costs

IMPORTANT: Students may be eligible for financial aid for this program.

Program Fee Includes:

• Accommodation with a host family in León for the duration of the program, June 1-30, 2024.
• 2 meals a day during week days provided by host family (usually breakfast and dinner)
• Field trips

Additional Costs not covered in Program Fee

• International Flights
• Transportation to the City of León from airport
• Local transportation for the duration of the program
• Personal Expenses
• Other meals and beverages

Information Session

Join us for one of our information sessions to learn more about the summer study abroad program and ask any questions you may have. Location to be determined. Register on the interest form to receive updates. 

• Monday, March 4 at 3:00pm
• Monday, March 18 at 3:00pm