Valencia Courses – 2024 Spring

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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.

Academics

You will enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester comprised of language courses plus electives in literature, culture, business or STEM fields. All students must complete a minimum of one language course, although we strongly encourage students to complete an entire language track. 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 Tracks

USAC offers intensive language courses grouped into tracks in which courses are taught sequentially (back to back) within one semester. If you have already taken the first course in a track, you do not have to take it again for credit, but you must audit it to be prepared for success at the next level. Language courses are small and typically have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each.

Language Courses

• Elementary Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 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.

• Elementary Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Intermediate Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Intermediate Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Spanish Composition I

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Spanish Composition II

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Advanced Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 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

• Advanced Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 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: seven semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

Spring Semester

Spanish Culture, Language and Literature Electives

• Dances of Spain

  Spring

  Dance 100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Spanish

  This course will introduce students to a variety of Spanish dances including Salsa, Merengue, Cha-cha-cha, and Flamenco. Students will develop an understanding of the spirit of dance, as it is understood by the Spanish community.

  This course has an additional fee

• Spanish Conversation and Oral Skills

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is an optional course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in Spanish classes, emphasizing the verbal mode of the Spanish language. It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as social interactions.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish Cuisine and the Mediterranean Diet

  Spring

  Nutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English

  An introduction to local Spanish cuisine in a hands-on kitchen environment. Authentic preparations of several local dishes including paella valenciana, lentejas estofadas con chorizo, and semifrío de chocolate y coco will be taught. Correct cooking techniques are emphasized. Readings and lectures on local food customs and traditions will support and contextualize the cooking instruction.

  This course has an additional fee

• Spanish Culture and Civilization

  Spring

  Anthropology Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course will develop student understanding of topics related to contemporary Spanish culture and civilization. Students will build a strong theoretical and historical foundation to effectively analyze life in Spain in the present, and the changes that have taken place in society related politics, religion, economy, and society.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish for Health Professions

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is for students interested in health and its various subfields (medicine, public health, bioethics, medical humanities, psychology, health law, politics, etc.). It provides the student with language competence to communicate in specific medical activities in different contexts. Moreover, there will be a strong focus on analyzing the Spanish health system and its current changes. It will also focus on the differences with the US health system and the cultural differences between these countries and between the Hispanic communities living in the US. Finally, there will be a focus on the current legislation of the Spanish public healthcare system, which students will compare with other public systems.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Survey of Spanish Literature II

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course examines the development of Spanish literature through the analysis of various literary movements and the study of the most important authors of each period from the 18th through the 20th century. Texts from different literary genres are selected, which demonstrate underlying ideas, the idiosyncrasies of the Spanish people, and universal values, as well as the literary characteristics of the works themselves.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish; students who have completed second-year Spanish with strong grades may be considered with home university approval

• Windsurfing in the Mediterranean Sea

  Spring

  Recreation / Physical Education 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  This course is offered by a local windsurfing school at one of the best surfing locations for beginners: Valencia. The class will meet 11 times for 2.5 hours each session. The programmed order of sessions is subject to changes for reasons beyond our control, such as inclement weather, strong rip currents, etc. The windsurf school will provide all necessary equipment (including wetsuits), as well as a changing area and a locker room.

  This course has an additional fee

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and Business Electives

• Applied Linear Algebra

  Spring

  Mathematics 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Introductory course emphasizing techniques of linear algebra with applications to engineering; topics include matrix operations, determinants, linear equations, vector spaces, linear transformations, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors, inner products, norms, and orthogonality.

  Linear algebra might be considered a mathematical toolkit for analyzing data and geometry. In virtually every area of human endeavor, data and geometry are or can be used to further understanding and to assist in making predictions. Indeed, linear algebra is behind the majority of technical and scientific discoveries.

  Prerequisites: two semesters of college-level calculus

• Calculus III

  Spring

  Mathematics 200-level 4 credits Taught in English Cancelled

  This course is a continuation of Calculus II, infinite series, three-dimensional calculus.

  Emphasis in this course will be placed on understanding the underlying concepts rather than memorization: knowing why the key is to knowing how.

  Prerequisite: Calculus II (passed with at least a C-)

• Differential Equations

  Spring

  Mathematics 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Theory and solving techniques for constant and variable coefficient linear equations, a variety of non-linear equations. Emphasis on those differential equations arising from real-world phenomena, particularly in Engineering applications.

  Prerequisite: Calculus II (passed with at least a C-) Calculus III recommended

• Dynamics

  Spring

  Mechanical Engineering 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The overall goal of this course is for you to learn how formulate and solve the equations of motion (i.e. the differential equations) that describe motion of a system of particles and/or rigid bodies. To do this you will use Newton’s laws and the principles of work-energy and impulse-momentum to solve a variety of problems involving both the kinematics and kinetics of a system of particles and/or rigid bodies in two and three dimensions.

  Prerequisite: Statics, Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, and Calculus II

  Co-requisite: Calculus III

• Elements of Material Science

  Spring

  General Engineering 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Describing the conceptual internal structure of materials, its evolution into the real model of microstructure in order to understand the dependence of properties upon these structures. Connecting properties to the behavior of materials in service and materials selection.

  Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and lab, introductory college-level course in general chemistry for scientists and engineers

• Engineering Thermodynamics I

  Spring

  Mechanical Engineering 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course focuses on the principles of engineering thermodynamics, including a study of the first and second laws, entropy, and ideal and real gases

  Prerequisite: Calculus II, General Chemistry I

  Co-requisite: Physics for Scientrists and Engineers II

• General Chemistry II

  Spring

  100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course is designed for general chemistry students whose academic plans require advanced study in chemistry. Fundamentals of chemistry including reaction stoichiometry, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, states of matter, intermolecular forces, solutions, and thermochemistry will be covered.

  The Laboratory Course: concurrent enrollment in General Chemistry Laboratory II is required with General Chemistry II except by prior department approval. These are co-requisites, if one course is dropped, the other must be dropped as well, no matter the level of success in that course.

  Prerequisite: General Chemistry I and lab, or equivalent

  Co-requisite: General Chemistry II Lab

• General Chemistry Laboratory II

  Spring

  100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  This course provides the laboratory component to accompany General Chemistry II in examining the fundamentals of chemistry including solutions, kinetics, equilibrium, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and properties of inorganic and organic compounds.

  Co-requisite: General Chemistry II

• International Business

  Spring

  International Business Management 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will cover topics related to the challenges of competing in a global economy. Students will acquire knowledge in strategic management in a global competitive environment and develop the ability to effectively analyze how culture impacts motivation, leadership, communication, negotiation, decision-making, HRM practices, and management of a multicultural workforce.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college business

• Operations Management

  Spring

  Supply Chain Management 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course covers topics related to decision-making concepts of operations planning, implementation, and control. Students will develop a strong theoretical foundation to effectively forecast and analyze customer service inventory management processes, just-in-time productions, supply chain management processes, and quality assessment/improvement in services and manufacturing.

• Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

  Spring

  Physics 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course provides an introduction to physics for engineers, especially in the fields of mechanics, which includes kinematics, motion in one and two dimensions, dynamics, the laws of motion, energy, conservation of energy, rotation of a rigid object and angular momentum, statics and elasticity, fluid mechanics, oscillations, and mechanical waves. This course aims to teach basic concepts for understanding the physical world. The acquisition of specific skills and understanding of the material is crucial to problem-solving ability. The lectures are oriented toward helping students understand the concepts and how to solve problems.

  Prerequisite: Calculus I

  Co-requisite: Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab I

• Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory I

  Spring

  Physics 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  The purpose of the physics laboratory is to allow students to witness the concepts and physical laws introduced in the lecture. Students will also be exposed to elementary laboratory techniques. Every class will have a short course introducing the procedures, concepts, formulas, and instructions relevant to the experiment. The lecture will also cover what is expected in your lab report. Attendance and participation are mandatory. Experiments will usually be performed in pairs, but each student will turn in an individual lab report.

  Co-requisite: Physics for Scientists & Engineers I

  This course has an additional fee

• Physics for Scientists and Engineers II

  Spring

  Physics 100-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Physics for Scientists and Engineers II is an introductory, calculus-based physics course covering mainly electromagnetism and matter. Topics include:

  • Thermodynamics (laws, kinetic theory, states of matter).

  • Electrostatics and electrodynamics (charge, fields, force, potential, current, dielectrics, circuit elements).

  • Magnetism (fields, forces, sources, materials).

  • Electromagnetic oscillations.

  Prerequisite: Calculus II and Physics for Scientists and Engineers I

  Co-requisite: Physics for Scientists and Engineers Lab II

• Physics for Scientists and Engineers Laboratory II

  Spring

  Physics 100-level 1 credit Taught in English

  The purpose of the physics laboratory is to allow students to witness the concepts and physical laws introduced in the lecture. You will also be exposed to elementary laboratory techniques. Every class will have a short course introducing the procedures, concepts, formulas, and instructions relevant to the experiment. The lecture will also cover what is expected in your lab report. Attendance and participation are mandatory. Experiments will usually be performed in groups, but each student will turn in an individual lab report.

  Co-requisite: Physics for Scientists & Engineers II

  This course has an additional fee

• Professional Communication

  Spring

  English Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In this class, students will develop writing and communication skills for professional and business settings. Students will also learn traditional and new media design for letters of interest, applications, resumes, email etiquette, social media, and PowerPoint presentation formatting.

• Statics

  Spring

  Mechanical Engineering 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The engineering of humanity’s superstructure marvels all started with the basic statics of equilibrium (Newton’s First Law). This introductory course on statics (required of most engineering and architecture programs) includes topics of force decomposition, equilibrium of force systems, friction, centroids, moments of inertia, cables, beams, fluid statics, and work.

  Prerequisite: general physics and one semester of college calculus

To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

Host University Courses

Field Studies

Optional field studies are an excellent way to deepen your academic experience abroad. During your 1-credit field study course, you will participate in carefully planned excursions that allow you to explore the cultural, historical, and natural features of Spain. These overnight field experiences, combined with required academic components such as readings, research, and written assignments, will increase your understanding of the sites and locales visited.

Internships

For eligibility requirements and application information, see the USAC internship page.

For more information about placement options, see the Valencia internship page.