Madrid

Your Madrid Experience

• Universidad Nebrija - Madrid | FIE

  Our academic partner in Madrid, the Foundation for International Education (FIE) is a non-profit organization with a reputation for academic excellence, cultural immersion and student support.

  In Madrid, you'll study at the Universidad Nebrija, a small, private university  (5000 students) accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education. 

  • The historic Madrid Princesa Campus is located in the thriving city center, with easy access via metro and bus. 
  • Comfortable, close-knit community, international student atmosphere, and a vibrant social scene in the “university area” of Madrid.
  • Student-teacher ratio of 10 to 1 ensuring students are given individual attention.

  Site Director

  You'll also have a dedicated iCharleston site director – a College of Charleston graduate who has several years of experience working with first-year students. Your site director will be a mentor, program coordinator and sounding board.

  Visit the FIE Website
• Housing

  Yugo Madrid Emilia Pardo Bazán - Residencia de Estudiantes

  FIE in Madrid offers housing at Yugo Madrid Emilia Pardo Bazán - Residencia de Estudiantes for students to stay in during their iCharleston experience. 

  Location

  • Situated off-campus and provides accommodation to Spanish and international students studying at a range of local higher education institutions.
  • Located in the thriving city center, with easy access via metro and bus. 

  Amenities

  • Double rooms with shared bathrooms.
  • On site catering facilities with Half Board meal plan. (Half Board meal plan includes a daily provision of breakfast and dinner.)
  • Rooms equipped with a small sink, fridge and microwave.   
  • Access to communal lounge and study spaces.
  • High-speed wireless internet connection throughout the building. 
  • Weekly cleaning.  
  • Provision of one full set of bed linen upon arrival. 
  • On site laundry facilities (cashless system).
  • CCTV monitoring surveillance system. 
  • On site fitness center.  
  • 24hrs a day, 7 days a week staffed reception. 

  Yugo Madrid Emilia Pardo Bazán
• Academics
  Your iCharleston academic experience in Madrid includes 15 hours of transferable academic credits upon completion of the iCharleston program.
  

  • You'll need to earn a "C" or better to transfer your courses to the College of Charleston.
     
  • Time in class: Each of your Madrid classes meets for three hours sessions once a week.
    
    
  • Your classmates: Most of your classes will have a combination of iCharleston participants, study abroad students from other colleges and universities and enrolled Spanish students.
    
    
  • Academic accommodations: Accomodations are available for those requesting support.
    
    
  • Passport to College of Charleston: You will also participate in a non-credit seminar each week - Passport to CofC - to bond, develop skills and ultimately support your transition to the College of Charleston in the spring.
    
    
  • Go to Class! FIE and iCharleston policy do not tolerate absences from class. Participants can lose their study visa if they are not present for class. 

  Course Schedule

  All of your courses are taught in English, and features subjects in Business and Management, including International Marketing, Finance, Trade, and Consumer Behavior, International and Intercultural Communication and Liberal Arts, including Psychology, Sports, Art, Architecture, International Relations, and Women’s Studies 
   
  If you would like to start your Spanish language requirement while in Madrid (all College of Charleston students must complete four semesters of a foreign language) you will be able to select a Hispanic Studies language course in the Beginner, Low Intermediate, Intermediate, High Intermediate. If you want to begin this requirement you will complete an online language proficiency exam prior to arrival in Madrid to determine the correct placement level. 
  
  Your 15 hours will include two courses required for all iCharleston Madrid participants:

  • College Writing
    Nebrija Course Number: CH1025
    This course will emphasize academic writing practices such as drafting, revising, and editing, combined with close textual analysis. Through the analysis of literature, media, and political discourse — particularly within the context of Spanish society and culture — students will hone their ability to distinguish between fact and opinion, bias and truth, persuasion and manipulation. By engaging with these narratives, students will strengthen their ability to write clearly, persuasively, and thoughtfully, while also developing critical thinking and analytical skills. These techniques are aimed at encouraging students to reflect on the role of discourse and media in shaping public understanding.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: ENGL 110
    College of Charleston Course Title: Introduction to Academic Writing  

  • Present-Day Spain: Living in Spain
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3661
    In this course, the most significant social and cultural aspects of the present Spanish society will be dealt with, with a special attention to their representation in Madrid. The contents of this course will present the students with a broad panorama of Spanish and Madrid life. Starting form an introduction of Spain, its geography and political system, we will move on to dealing with topics such as population and immigration trends, shopping culture, the fast-growing fashion business, social rights, gender issues, the influence of religion in the Spanish society and its traditional festivities, gastronomy or Spaniards preferred activities. In other words, students will get to know and experience the Spanish way of life from a hands-on approach. A special focus will be put on the experiential learning by means of several out-of class activities such as walking tours, elaboration of surveys and guest speakers. Also, students will be encouraged to compare and contrast the Spanish and Madrid society with their cultures of origin in order to develop their intercultural abilities and knowledge.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: HISP250
    College of Charleston Course Title: Topics in Peninsular Studies 

   
  Select Three Courses from the Elective List 

  • International Communication
    Nebrija Course Number: PB1157 
    This course studies communication as it happens in a world transformed by technology and globalization. Special attention will be paid to the impact of new technologies on the media and to the benefits that come from Innovation. 
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: COMM1EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Communication Elective 100 Level 

  • Women’s Roles in Present Spain
    Nebrija Course Number: CH2161 
    This course consists of an analysis of the roles that Spanish women have plaid for the last 80 years. From a conservative society to our present social situation Spanish women's roles have changed tremendously. From the role of “loving housewife mother” to the nowadays modern professional woman, Spanish women have been and still are very active and influential in the Spanish society. This course will deal with all these roles women play in different areas of society such as politics, literature, work, education and family.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: WGST320
    College of Charleston Course Title: Special Topics in Women’s & Gender Studies  

  • Spanish Civilization & Culture
    Nebrija Course Number: CH2171 
    The syllabus of this course has been programmed from a comprehensive perspective so that the students will be able to gain an overall panorama of Spanish culture in its many diverse expressions. The main objectives of this course are that students understand, comment upon and analyze the most important aspects of Spanish history, politics and society, as well as, the acquisition of general knowledge of the Spanish History and Art (architecture) from the pre-historic period until 20th Century and the outcomes in the Spanish way of life.
    
    Topics covered will include: Roman Hispania, Muslim Al-Andalus, Catholic Monarchs, Habsburg and Bourbon Monarchy, 19th and 20th Century events that made up the unimaginable rich legacy left behind by this assortment of cultures that have paraded across the peninsula turning Spain's into one of the most interesting countries from an historical viewpoint.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: HISP250
    College of Charleston Course Title: Topics in Peninsular Studies 

  • European Studies: Culture, History, & Integration
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3021
    This course consists of an overview of the most relevant political, economic, and social aspects of European history by examining the interaction among nation-states and their impact on other parts of the world. Students acquire basic intellectual skills through critical thinking, considering questions of why and how events occurred. Topics will include European expansion, political revolutions, industrialization, nationalism, colonialism, European wars and the creation of the European Union. The course will also cover differences and similarities among European cultures and their influence on Europe today.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: HIST116
    College of Charleston Course Title: Modern History

  • European Cinema: A Reflection on European Identity
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3101 
    This course on European Cinema, with a broad geographic sweep, offers students an understanding of European culture, society, politics and history through the medium of cinematographic expressions. The aim of this course is to understand European identity through its cinema and make the students aware that despite its economic unity, Europe is characterized by its cultural, social, political and historical heterogeneity.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: ENGL390
    College of Charleston Course Title: Special Topics in Film  

  • International Relations
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3141
    The course provides an introductory training to International Relations, helping students to examine international politics from a scientific perspective. Hence, the course is focused on theory and practice, introducing students to the basics of the main theories and how to apply them in practice.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: POLI260
    College of Charleston Course Title: International Relations Theory

  • Fundamental Aspects of Spanish Art
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3191
    This course will analyze main artistic manifestations in Painting in Madrid and will provide you with the tools to identify, classify, understand, criticize and appreciate the most relevant Spanish art works, particularly those to be found in Madrid. You will have the opportunity to learn by seeing, feeling, and living the art and its expressions in Madrid as you study the painted art works in situ. To this end, you will explore the most relevant museums in Madrid that hold the artistic expressions of the painters studied on this course. In your study of painting, you will be able to recognize and personally analyze the most important works of Spanish painters such as El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya in the magnificent Prado Museum; and Picasso, Dalí, and other contemporary authors at the Centro de Arte Museo Reina Sofía.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: ARTH190
    College of Charleston Course Title: Special Topics in Art & Architectural History  

  • Modern Art & Architecture in Spanish Cities
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3261 
    The course aim is to understand and learn all the different historical and artistic transformations that took place mainly in Europe and the United States during the twentieth century. The analysis of that period will be done through a general review of the different strands and styles of art that appeared in the Western World. As a learning aid, students will take a tour to the most important Spanish Contemporary Art Museum (Reina Sofia Museum) as well as a walk along Gran Via to study Modern Architecture in situ. Throughout the term, the students will be shown how to detect and interpret several arts movements and appreciate, in particular, the Spanish art manifestations. Outstanding national artists like Gaudì, Picasso, Dali, or Miró will be studied to acquire all the knowledge.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: ARTH290
    College of Charleston Course Title: Special Topics in Art & Architectural History 

  • Corporate Psychology
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3612
    This course is covered in the framework of Psychology applied to Human Resources and has been programmed to study psychology from the perspective of the behavior of individuals in the workplace. The course will cover the set of areas that affect the study of people’s behavior in the workplace, corporate culture within organizations and the scientific study of the relationship between individuals and their working environment. The aim of this course is to understand the dynamics and functioning of individuals and organizations from a psychosocial perspective; learn the terminology, methods and techniques commonly used in this discipline; and the basic psychosocial processes that take place in organizations.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: PSYC321
    College of Charleston Course Title: Psychology in the Workplace 

  • Sports Industry & Its Role in European Identity
    Nebrija Course Number: CH3613 
    This course is focused not only on the business side of the sports industry in Europe, but also on the social phenomenon of sports such as football and basketball as part of European identity. A thorough look at the surge and rise of European sports organizations compared to some of the most valuable sports organizations in the world, with a special emphasis on the Real Madrid case. The aim of this course is to understand the dynamics and functioning of the European sports industry, particularly football, from an economic and sociological perspective: Globalization at its best.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: SOCY109
    College of Charleston Course Title: Special Topics in Sociology 

  • International Trade Marketing
    Nebrija Course Number: CM2124 
    The International Trade Marketing course is intended to help students understand the complexities of marketing products and services in the international market environment.
    
    This course uses an analytical and practical approach to the complex business problems concerning the dynamics of implementing marketing management into the framework of the global marketplace. The emphasis will be on applying a multi-disciplinary framework to help students understand the challenges that confront strategic marketing planners when evaluating economic, financial, political, regulatory, social-cultural, and technological issues they are involved in international-market strategic planning and strategic implementation.
    
    Real-world case studies are key to develop this understanding in students who will acquire an understanding in applying some of the various market analysis approaches that are employed in multi-national organizations, including forecasting, trend analysis, country data sets, and more and prepare written reports and oral presentations about their observations and recommendations.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: INTB2EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: International Business Elective 200 Level

  • International Business
    Nebrija Course Number: DE1124
    This course explores challenges facing modern corporations in organizing cross-border activity. This course offers a global perspective on long term change in the world economy, and the interaction between countries, regulatory systems and business firms. The course is focused on current literature in management, economics, and organization theory. Emphasis is placed on empirical research. Students are expected to critique papers, present material to the class, and write a term paper based on a real international business project.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: INTB1EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: International Business Elective 100 Level

  • International Management
    Nebrija Course Number: DE4554
    This course will cover relevant aspects of management in an intercultural context, treating topics normally covered in any management class while including international complications. Special attention will be paid to the impact of culture on planning, organizing, staffing, and communicating. Students should acquire basic skills to help them deal with people from different cultural backgrounds (clients, customers, suppliers, subordinates, bosses) and will learn through a limited number of cases, and real-world examples.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: MGT3EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Management Elective 300 Level

  • Trends of the Global Economy
    Nebrija Course Number: ECO321
    This course aims to analyze the major traits that characterize the global economic landscape and the international competitiveness of countries, as well as their likely evolution. We shall study the enourmus economic and social consequences of the invasion of Ukrania carried out by Russia. Also, the analysis of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the different economic regions of the world and how they are facing the vaccination and its impact on the economic recovery increasing inequality. Globalization and its effects on the growth prospects of emerging economies; also, we will tackle the likely evolution of the population of the world as well as the evolution of the inequality between countries and their citizens within each. We will also study the energy and environmental threads faced by the world at large. Within the context set up by these basic trends, we can analyze the interaction between countries and the role of the existing International Economic Institutions, as well as properly put into perspective the prospects of the global financial system. Thus, we will discuss the major themes that will shape the business and social environment in which the future graduates will develop their professional careers.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: ECON2EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Economics Elective 200 Level 

  • International Finance
    Nebrija Course Number: ECO998 
    Presumed an understanding of basic corporate finance, this course is organized to provide a background on the international environment with a focus on the important role of modern multinational corporations in global commerce. Using a strong corporate perspective, it discusses a wide range of managerial topics and emphasizes the most recent changes in the international environment.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: FINC3EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Finance Elective 300 Level

  • Global Skills for International Business Environments
    Nebrija Course Number: ECO999 
    Globalization affects a very high percentage of organizations and businesses in the world. The number of companies operating internationally increases every day. As a consequence, not only expats or senior managers but also many other workers have to face the strategic development of global businesses and interact in international settings with people from other cultures. This course focuses on the global skills that are and will be increasingly necessary to work in intercultural environments both in and outside national borders. Students will learn about developing abilities related to open-mindedness, cultural empathy, flexibility or tolerance to uncertainty and how these skills apply to negotiating internationally, leading multicultural teams or boosting creativity and innovation among others. Emphasis will be placed on experiential learning, case studies and tools for internationalization and will include a European and Spanish perspective on working among cultures.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: MGT2EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Management Elective 200 Level

  • The European Union: Culture, History, & Institutions
    Nebrija Course Number: HU1172 
    This course will cover relevant political, economic, and social aspects of the European Union by unfolding the process of gradual economic and political integration in the Union. Topics will include European early economic integration, treaties, institutions, actors and names, enlargement, the Euro, the economic and political crisis and the future, if, of the European Union. Students acquire basic intellectual skills through critical thinking and the development of analytical skills considering questions of why and how events occurred. Communication skills and presentation of speeches, papers and case studies, and other skills such as interpersonal ones are important abilities targeted in this course.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: POLI352
    College of Charleston Course Title: Geography & Politics of the European Union

  • Intercultural Communication
    Nebrija Course Number: LM207 
    This course is designed to help students understand the many factors that affect communication, especially when engaging with people from different cultures. We will explore important ideas such as "communication," "culture," and "intercultural interactions." Through discussions and activities, students will learn how these elements influence the way culture is formed and shared, as well as the stereotypes that can emerge. The course will also focus on specific communication styles found in different cultures and the various challenges that can arise during cross-cultural conversations. Students will gain awareness of potential misunderstandings they may encounter when interacting with others in diverse settings. By the end of the course, students are expected to have the knowledge and skills needed to effectively overcome cultural challenges and communicate successfully with individuals from various cultural backgrounds.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: COMM1EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Communication Elective 100 Level

  • Online Marketing
    Nebrija Course Number: MK3001
    Online Marketing in the Digital Era offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary digital marketing. Students will delve into various facets of online marketing, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape effectively. Throughout the course, students will gain insights into crucial digital marketing strategies, including social media marketing, advertising, content creation, search engine optimization, and email marketing. They will also discover the role of artificial intelligence in marketing, web analytics, and data-driven decision-making. The curriculum covers contemporary topics such as influencer marketing, mobile marketing, online reputation management, and ethical considerations in social media marketing.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: MKTG2EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Marketing Elective 200 Level

  • Consumer Behavior
    Nebrija Course Number: MK3002
    This course draws from research in behavioral economics, social psychology, and academic marketing, and is intended to broadly survey the field of consumer behavior from the marketing perspective. Students will become familiar with the terminology of the subject and understand what leads to the individual purchase decisions that are so important to business profitability, and to personal prosperity. Topics covered will include: consumer research and analytics, study and analysis of purchasing, neuromarketing, decision processes and main variables that affect the consumer and their relationship with brands and products.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: MKTG3EE
    College of Charleston Course Title: Marketing Elective 300 Level
    
    
  • Spanish Language A1
    Nebrija Course Number: CH1001
    In this course, students without previous knowledge of Spanish will be exposed to the language for the first time. Students will be introduced to lexical content e.g.: personal information, hobbies, stores products, etc.) as well as cultural content (customs and regions) in order to be able to communicate in different everyday situations and to take part in basic social interactions with Spanish speakers. Students will learn how to introduce themselves, to make questions, and to communicate as well as to show their interests, tastes and preferences.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: SPAN101
    College of Charleston Course Title: Beginning Spanish Through Culture I
    
    
  • Spanish Language A1
    Nebrija Course Number: CH2001
    The student will continue to go deeper into basic grammar contents to obtain a basic user’s command of the language. By the end of this course, the student will be able to confront everyday situations such as getting on in class, buying in stores, visiting touristic places and making recommendations about them, also talking about past habits and about biographies. In order to do so, grammar resources as different past tenses as well as present and future tense will be taught. Specifically, focus will be put on the most common problems when learning Spanish grammar and students will be invited to think over them to find the cause and the solution. Different resources for developing reading, oral as well as encouraging speaking, and writing skills will be used. Lastly, students will be introduced in the diversity of the Spanish culture so they will be able to compare and think over existing similarities and differences with their home countries.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: SPAN102
    College of Charleston Course Title: Beginning Spanish Through Culture II
    
    
  • Spanish Language A2
    Nebrija Course Number: CH2010
    The CH2010 course requires having successfully completed the level A1.
    Oral comprehension and expression are worked on, as well as reading comprehension and written expression. Different functional, lexical, grammatical and cultural contents are presented in order to understand and refer, among others, to the following topics: recommendations for learning Spanish, biographies, personal profiles, housing, health, social situations, leisure activities and places, food, interesting sights and experiences. Students will acquire the necessary skills to communicate in different situations of daily life, provided that the interlocutor collaborates in cases of difficulty.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: SPAN328
    College of Charleston Course Title: Spanish Language Study Abroad
    
    
  • Spanish Language A2
    Nebrija Course Number: 2021
    In this course, students will continue to widen their learning of Spanish. The four basic skills such as reading and oral comprehension and speaking and writing skills will continue to be developed. Besides, new structures will be taught in order to properly confront specific situations in real contexts. An eclectic methodology with a communicative approach is employed with special focus on grammar and functional contents. Students will become autonomous when facing real daily life situations in a Latin American country. The relationship between language and culture will be also stressed upon students’ interest.
    
    College of Charleston Transfer Equivalency: SPAN20
    College of Charleston Course Title: Intermediate Spanish Through Culture III
• Sample Class Schedule

  Monday 
  Passport to CofC: 9:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. 
  College Writing :11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. 
  Present Day Spain: 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. 
  
  Tuesday 
  Sports Industry: 9:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. 
  European Union: 2:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. 
  Corporate Psychology: 5:30 p.m. - 7:20 p.m. 
  
  Wednesday 
  College Writing 11:30 am - 12:20 pm 
  Present Day Spain: 2:30 p.m. - 4:20 p.m. 
  
  Thursday 
  Sports Industry: 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. 
  European Union: 2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. 
  Corporate Psychology: 5:30 p.m. - 6:20 p.m. 
   
  Note: Nebrija and iCharleston policy do not tolerate absences from class and participants can lose their study visa if they are not present for class. 

• Expenses

  $19,495* includes 

  • 15 transferable academic credits upon successful completion of the iCharleston program. 
  • Shared, twin room inclusive of two meals per day. 
  • 24/7 emergency assistance. 
  • Orientation program. 
  • iCharleston site director supporting academic and social transition to college life in Madrid. 
  • iCharleston-specific programming such as cultural outings. 
  • Madrid public transport pass. 

  Flight costs are not included in program fees. A group flight will be arranged and instructions for securing your reservation will be provided. It is required to fly on the iCharleston group flight.

  International health insurance is required and students must purchase directly from Sanitas International Students and is required for their visa.

  *NOTE: All costs are subject to change. No financial aid is available for this location.