San Sebastián Courses – 2025 Summer Session I
Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.
Courses
You may take three to seven credits during Session I and in three to six credits during Session II. At least one 3-credit course is required each session you are enrolled. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.
Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.
Spanish Language Studies
Summer language courses are intensive, with three to five credits of Spanish taught each session. Language courses have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each. Spanish Conversation and Oral Skills is highly recommended to compliment Intermediate Spanish I through Advanced Spanish II.
Session I and Session II
- Summer Session ISpanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.
- Summer Session ISpanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.
Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed for students who may manage in daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, these courses will offer them the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.
Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session IISpanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed for students who may manage in daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, these courses will offer them the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.
Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session ISpanish 300-level 1-3 credits Taught in SpanishSummer Session IISpanish 300-level 1-3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is designed to improve the knowledge, listening, and expressive capabilities of language students. Students will not only learn necessary vocabulary to express themselves in daily situations, but they will also learn to navigate more complex situations through conversation and free discussion of contemporary topics, using visual material, listening comprehension exercises, articles, and other course materials. The objective of the course is to facilitate the acquisition of language necessary to express oneself in daily situations.
Prerequisite: Two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent, or instructor approval
European and Cultural Studies
These elective courses are designed to familiarize you with the region and provide a multi-disciplinary perspective to your studies.
Session I
- Summer Session IAnthropology Basque 300-level 3 credits Taught in English and Basque
This course would touch on the history and evolution of one of the oldest languages in the world, the mythology and symbolism of the Basques, their traditions and culture. General notions of the language will be presented, explaining why this language is of such interest today to linguists and anthropologists. Basic conversational Basque skills will be studied and students will have the opportunity outside of class to interview and practice with local native speakers.
- Summer Session IPsychology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English
Students will explore the concept of emotional intelligence, its definition, and its historical and empirical constitution. We will study the skills that form the emotional intelligence ability model and the relevance of this kind of intelligence to use emotional information for people´s daily lives and the development of groups. In addition, we will analyze the bases that sustain the growth of the field and the aspects that favor its suitable development through the different stages of life. Finally, the course includes cases and situations to analyze how emotional intelligence can promote a person´s adaptation to different circumstances and emotional experiences. Students will focus on practical orientations to improve emotional abilities, both in themselves and others.
- Summer Session IAnthropology Nutrition 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
Coming Soon!
- Summer Session IAnthropology Spanish 300-level 1 credit Taught in EnglishSummer Session IIAnthropology Spanish 300-level 1 credit Taught in English
Coming Soon!
- Summer Session IAnthropology Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course will develop student knowledge of significant geographic, historical, social, economic, and artistic events that have taken place in Spain, starting with the settlers of the Iberian Peninsula. Students will develop a solid theoretical and historical foundation to analyze events throughout Spain’s history effectively. Some topics include the Christian-Islamic cohabitation, the Renaissance, the Baroque, the Neoclassic period, and significant events from the nineteenth/twentieth centuries and the modern period.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
- Summer Session I100-level 1 credit Taught in English and SpanishSummer Session II100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Spanish
This course will introduce students to the sport of surfing. Students will meet twice a week for three-hour sessions. No equipment required.
This course has an additional fee
- Summer Session ISpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
A través de una selección de textos, se estudiarán algunas de las obras más representativas de la literatura española, desde el siglo XVIII hasta la actualidad. Este estudio tendrá dos elementos básicos de análisis: contenido temático y formal.
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish; students who have completed second-year Spanish with strong grades may be considered with home university approval
Session II
- Summer Session IISociology Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
Coming Soon!
- Summer Session IAnthropology Spanish 300-level 1 credit Taught in EnglishSummer Session IIAnthropology Spanish 300-level 1 credit Taught in English
Coming Soon!
- Summer Session IIPsychology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course will focus on the field of research termed Positive Psychology, that studies how to thrive. The focus of this research is on the development of positive emotions, including happiness. This course will help students examine the science to answer fundamental questions of fulfillment – including values assessment, mindfulness, relationships and creativity. The course will address how humans find meaning and wellbeing, as well as explore how cultural influences shape happiness and meaning in different countries. We will explore the up-to-date scientific research on what makes individuals live more meaningful and more satisfying lives.
- Summer Session I100-level 1 credit Taught in English and SpanishSummer Session II100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Spanish
This course will introduce students to the sport of surfing. Students will meet twice a week for three-hour sessions. No equipment required.
This course has an additional fee
- Summer Session IISpanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course offers the study of selected poems from the most relevant contemporary Spanish poets, from the Generation of 98 to the latest publications of the 21st Century. We will view the poets and their poems in their social, political and historical contexts. Throughout the course, we will study different poetic responses to similar historical circumstances in order to understand not only the poets themselves, but also to understand the aesthetic pleasure of poetry.
Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu
U.S. Visiting Professors
While most USAC courses are taught by local faculty, the following U.S. professor will also teach in this program:
Summer Session I, 2025
Course: Food and Culture
Keiko Goto, Ph.D., CSU, Chico
Dr. Keiko Goto is Professor of Food and Culture and International Nutrition at California State University, Chico. As a nutritionist, she has worked in various countries such as Guatemala, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Philippines, and Tanzania, and has developed a deep appreciation of diversity in people and food. Her current research interests include food and culture, international nutrition, mindful eating, food behaviors, and the application of community-based participatory research methods in food and nutrition.
Summer Session II, 2025
Course: Positive Psychology
Marian Berryhill, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno
Dr. Marian Berryhill is Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She directs the Memory and Brain Laboratory at UNR, and her research focuses on cognitive domains including working memory, perception, and attention. She teaches courses on cognitive psychology and human memory.