GVSU IN SEVILLA

Winter Advanced Program

Program Overview

The Advanced Spanish program is for students who have completed SPA 321 (Composition and Conversation I) or 320 (Composition and Conversation for Spanish Heritage Speakers)  AND 322 (Composition and Conversation II). Advanced students may take courses at the Campus Universitario EUSA and from many departments at the Universidad de Sevilla. Advanced students will also take COWA courses designed by the program specifically for them. These courses are taught by local professors.

Advanced – Course Listing and Equivalencies

Students in the Advanced Spanish program must take the intensive course, SEVI 410 – Intensive Spanish Language and Culture, at the beginning of the semester and then choose 3 or 4 additional courses. Students will take courses offered for COWA students and 1 or 2 regular university courses at the Campus Universitario EUSA or the Universidad de Sevilla with Spanish students. All COWA courses will be pre-approved for credit by GVSU. Students must seek credit approval from GVSU for EUSA and Universidad de Sevilla courses.

***Courses offered each semester vary***

SEVI 410 – Intensive Spanish Language and Culture / Lengua y cultura española 

An introduction to issues in contemporary Spain: politics, nationalism, and cultural diversity, gender issues, immigration, and the arts. Topics on contemporary Spain are complemented by lectures and on-site visits to the major monuments of Seville, Cordoba, and Granada.

GVSU Course Equivalency: TBD

SEVI 301– Introduction to Literary and Cultural Analysis

Prepares students to formulate and communicate critical analyses of literary works in various genres (theater, poetry, essay, narrative, and film), while placing the readings within a cultural context.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 330

SEVI 325 — Spain Today / España inmediata

Historical analysis and contextualization of daily occurrences in Spain. This course renders special attention to the Spanish political, social and economic situation, and the analysis of its international relations (mainly European Union, Arab countries, Latin American countries, and the U.S.A.). It also analyzes topics such as the relations between the Catholic Church and the State, Spanish nationalism, and immigration.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 380

SEVI 331 — Spain and the Americas/ España y las Américas 

Study of the historical, social, and political consequences of the age of discovery and colonization: Spain at the time of expansion, the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the form and function of colonial government, social unrest, independence, and the decline of Spain.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 380

SEVI 334– Global Issues on the First Trans-Atlantic Culture / Aspectos globales en la primera cultura transatlántica

This course analyzes how the first transatlantic culture, which originated from the encounter between Europe and the New World in 1492, changed the course of history and the modern world. We will discuss the unfolding of events and ideas that shaped the minds and actions of people from this period while tracing a timeline of events crucial for our understanding of the modern world. We will also explore how the first transatlantic culture based on commerce influenced our modern globalized trade system.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 360

SEVI 335 — Spain and Islam / España ante el Islam

A study of the history, art, and culture of Islam and Spain and Europe’s relationship with Islam.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 380

SEVI 341– Art and Culture of Spain / Arte y cultura española

Introduction to the history of Spain and the major styles of Spanish art. Includes visits to monuments and museums.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 310

SEVI 343 — Spain and the European Union / España y la Unión Europea

The history of the development of the European Union with special attention to its current and future political and economic structure, its agencies and institutions, the role of Spain, relations with Latin America, and the future of the Union within the international community.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 380

SEVI 361 — History and Analysis of Spanish Film / Historia y análisis del cine español

A brief tour of the history of Spanish film from its origins through today. This course will analyze films in order to help students better understand Spanish Society and increase confidence in their ability to communicate (via reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in Spanish.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 361

SEVI 371 — Studies in Spanish Literature / Análisis de la literatura española 

Study of the literature of Spain centering on representative authors and texts from various literary movements within their socio-historical contexts.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 331

SEVI 373 — Studies in Latin American Literature 

This course offers a panoramic vision of Hispanic American Literature from before the arrival of the Spaniards until the present.  Through the readings of texts and active discussions in class, students will become familiar with the most relevant literary movements and genres, as well as the sociopolitical contexts in which these literary works were produced.

GVSU Course Equivalency: SPA 332

SEVI 375 — SOCIAL JUSTICE POLICY & PRACTICE IN MODERN SPAIN / Construyendo igualdad: lecciones de la España moderna

The course focuses on social justice principles like equity and access within the context of Spanish social policies since 1975. It includes site visits to public institutions in Seville and guest lectures to explore how these principles affect daily life in Spain. Students will engage in service learning, critical discussions, and reflections on historical contexts, including the Spanish Civil War and contemporary issues such as migration. The course aims to enhance understanding of social justice systems and encourage comparisons with students’ home cultures. Overall, it emphasizes experiential education and integrative thinking.

GVSU Course Equivalency: TBD

  • Students in the Advanced Program (AP) may choose courses from the regular offerings of the grados universitarios at the Campus Universitario EUSA. Note that the “curso” (i.e., Curso 1°) refers to the year of the class in the Spanish curriculum (1° = ‘first year’, 2° = ‘second year’, 3° = ‘third year’, etc). The higher the course, the more background information you will be expected to know.

    How to find courses and syllabi:

    You should look for course information on the website of Campus Universitario EUSA. On this page, under “COURSES TAUGHT IN SPANISH SEMESTER 2” you will find a list of spring semester courses offered in Spanish, organized by major and then by year. Syllabi are available on the Courses page. For language, enter “Spanish” and select your semester. Alternatively, you can find a course by entering the “Course Code” (“Código”) indicated on the list of classes.

    IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

    1. When looking at classes, only the classes taught in the semester in which you are studying are available to you. These classes are listed as Semestre 1 or Semestre 2. You should look for Semestre 2 when searching for second semester (Spring) classes.
    2. The syllabi are not given for the “Asignaturas optativas” which are degree elective classes. All degree elective classes may not be taught every semester. The university will publish the full list of classes at the beginning of the academic year.

    Websites for the university degree programs at the Campus Universitario EUSA:

  • Students in the Advanced Program (AP) may choose courses from the regular offerings of the Universidad de Sevilla. Note that the “curso” (i.e., Curso 1°) refers to the year of the course in the Spanish curriculum (1° = ‘first year’, 2° = ‘second year’, 3° = ‘third year’, etc). The higher the course, the more background information you will be expected to know.Classes for Spanish majors and minors

    If you are looking for classes that would count toward your Spanish major or minor, your best option is to look at the Facultad de Filología (like a School of Business or Journalism, this is a School of Languages, and it has several departments within it, including Filología Hispánica).

    Facultad de Filología: Literature, Language, Linguistics

    *Spanish language and Literature classes are under Filología Hispánica. Most students choose classes from Filología Hispánica for Spanish major and minor credit. However, you are also allowed to take classes in the other departments. (To see other departments, click on the Filología´s Horario de clases. On that page, click on “Grado y Doble Grado” and then click on “Todos los cursos”.) 

    Schedule of Classes – Filología Hispánica: Consult the Filología Hispánica Schedule page to know when a class will be offered. Use the tabs (in white on the bottom left side: “SEGUNDO”, “TERCERO”, “CUARTO”) to navigate to each “curso” (meaning year within a degree). “PRIMERO” or first-year courses are not available to visiting (non-degree seeking) students. For spring semester classes, you are only able to take classes listed under “C2” (in the black separation bar). 

    Syllabi – Grado Filología Hispánica: To find a course syllabus, click on the Gestion de Programs page. Choose the class from the dropdown menu in “Asignatura”. The “Programa de la asignatura” will be in a pdf in the second gray box.

    Important Reminders:

    • **Due to high demand, 1st year Grado courses are not available in any facultad. You will only be able to enroll in 2nd-year classes and above.
    • There are year-long and semester-long classes. When looking at schedules, only the classes taught in the semester in which you are studying are available to you. Depending on the facultad, they will denote whether a class is first semester, second semester, or year-long in different ways. You should look for 1ºC, primer cuatrimestre, 1C, or C1 when searching for first semester (Fall) classes. Spring semester students will look for 2ºC, segundo cuatrimestre, 2C or C2.
    • When you look at the class schedules (horarios), you should look at the schedules for the GRADO. The classes in the MASTERS level are not open to you.

    Information for other facultades at the Universidad de Sevilla:

    While students are allowed to enroll in classes in other facultades, students should keep in mind the following:

    • It is recommended that you be a native or near-native speaker of Spanish. You will need to have not only a very high level of Spanish, but also significant background knowledge of the subject area to be successful in a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year course.
    • Students should also keep in mind that all facultades have their own policies regarding registration, and these policies may change without notice being given to collaborating institutions like COWA. 
    • When choosing classes, remember that the different facultades of the University of Sevilla are spread throughout the city and are not located on one central campus. Travel time between facultades varies, but students would need to plan for a minimum of 15-20 minutes. You will need to take this into account if you are interested in a class in Filología from 10-11 am, and another class in Empresariales from 11-12. These are not in the same building and you will not be able to take the classes back to back.
    • To select courses, you will need to obtain the list of courses offered for the particular facultad in which you are interested. There is no central registration system or course listing, so you will have to check each facultad separately. 

    To find course information for other facultades, start with the website of Universidad de Sevilla. Scroll down and click on “Centros Propios”; you will arrive at a list of all the escuelas and facultades of the Universidad de Sevilla. Click on the escuela or facultad then on the web page listed under “Sitio Web” to go to the homepage for the facultad. Not all will have the course listing and syllabi online. A syllabus is called a programa, so a list of the course syllabi may be called “Programas de las asignaturas”. Schedules and syllabi may normally be found under headings such as Docencia or Ordenación Docente.

    Facultad de Psicología

Academic Info

Course Equivalencies

Please go to the GVSU Study Abroad website for more information regarding credits and course equivalencies for this program.

Registration

You will not register for classes until you arrive in Seville. An academic meeting will be held to provide you with further information on the registration process.

Registration Deadlines

The final SAS Course Registration Form will be submitted to the program office by:

  • Fall Semester: late September.
  • Spring Semester: late January

*The actual dates will be confirmed by the on-site staff once you arrive in Seville.

The drop deadline for courses depends on when regular university courses begin at EUSA and the Universidad de Sevilla. You will be informed of the deadline well in advance.

Course Load

You will earn a minimum of 12 credit hours for the semester as follows:

In the SAS program, students usually enroll in a minimum of four courses in a given semester. The specific number and types of courses you take will depend on your personal linguistic and academic preparation and needs:

  • All students will receive 3 credit hours for the September or January Intensive Spanish Language and Culture course.
  • After the Intensive Spanish Language and Culture course has ended, students will combine COWA courses with 1 or 2 regular university courses at EUSA and the University of Seville with other Spanish students.

Notes on Registration

As is true for registration at your home college or university, it is the responsibility of each student to make sure that (s)he has officially registered all course changes with the program.

Note that: If you are given a “no presentado” in a course because you stopped attending a course in which you were registered and failed to make the change in your registration, you will be given a failing grade on your official program transcript. The grade for a failed class will also appear on your GVSU transcript and impact your GVSU GPA.

Course Information

For regular university courses, you can usually obtain a course description/syllabus online on the website for a particular degree program. This description/syllabus should be kept with any written work you do for the course in case your home university asks for documentation concerning course content. See “Campus Universitario EUSA” or “Universidad de Sevilla” under “Course Offerings” for information on how to locate course information.

Class Attendance

Although different university professors will have different rules concerning class attendance, you are expected to attend classes regularly, take all exams as scheduled by the professor, and turn in written work as required for the individual course. In no case will the COWA staff come to your defense if you receive a low grade in a course due to your failure to attend class or to turn in written work.

You should also be aware that:

  • Traveling is an educational experience, but you are expected to schedule your traveling around your academic needs, not vice versa. If you are out of town and miss an exam or fail to turn in written work, you will receive an “F” for that portion of your grade.
  •  To receive credit for a course you must be in Seville for the entire semester and take the final exam at the end of the course. If you decide to drop out of the program before the completion of a semester, you will receive no credit for courses that you began but did not finish.
  • If you miss a final exam due to illness or other legitimate reason, you are expected to reschedule the exam with the professor and remain in Seville until you complete the requirements for the course. It will not be possible to make up work in the U.S.

Grades

All grades (notas, calificaciones) in courses will be based either on a number scale (1-10, 10 being the highest grade) or the words sobresaliente, notable, aprobado, suspenso.

Calendars and Schedules

GVSU Advanced Winter 2026 – Calendar 

 

Sábado, 10 de enero Llegada de los estudiantes a Sevilla

Cada estudiante irá directamente a la casa de su familia española.

Domingo, 11 de enero Reuniones de Orientación en COWA (11:00 am)

Cena de bienvenida en restaurante Barrabar’s (8:30pm)

Lunes, 12 de enero Comienzo de las clases de COWA
Lunes, 26 de enero Comienzo de las clases de EUSA y la Universidad de Sevilla*
Jueves 19-sábado 21 de febrero Viaje a Madrid
Sábado, 28 de febrero Día de Andalucía (festivo)
Viernes 13-domingo 15 de marzo Viaje a Córdoba y Granada
Domingo, 29 de marzo – Domingo, 5 de abril Semana Santa (festivo – no hay clases)
Lunes, 20 de abril – Domingo, 26 de abril Feria de Sevilla (festivo – no hay clases)
jueves, 30 de abril Finalizan todas las clases de COWA
Viernes, 1 de mayo Día del Trabajo (festivo – no hay clases)
lunes 4-miércoles 6 de mayo Exámenes finales de las clases de COWA
miércoles 6 de mayo Show de flamenco y cena de despedida
TBD Finalizan las clases de EUSA y Univ. Sevilla*/ Comienzan los exámenes finales de primavera de EUSA y Univ. Sevilla
Viernes, 22 de mayo Final del programa

GVSU Advanced Winter 2025 – Orientation

Sábado, 10 de enero Llegada de los estudiantes a Sevilla
Cada estudiante irá directamente a la casa de su familia española.
Domingo, 11 de enero 11:oo am Programa de orientación general en COWA
TBA Reunión académica AP
Cena de bienvenida en restaurante Barrabar’s (8:30pm)
Lunes, 12 de enero Primer día de clases de COWA

GVSU Advanced Winter 2026 – Visits and Excursions

The following visits are mandatory for all students:

Antiquarium y mercado de la Encarnación 23 de enero TBD
Catedral de Sevilla   10 de febrero TBD
Viaje a Madrid   Jueves 19-Sábado 21 de febrero TBD
Visita a fábrica de aceite Basilippo 24 de febrero 10:00 am COWA
Reales Alcázares de Sevilla 3 de marzo TBD
Viaje a Córdoba y Granada Viernes 13-Domingo 15 de marzo 8:15 am COWA
Clase de cocina 27 de marzo 10:15 am Plaza del Altozano 
Visita a Bodegas Góngora 14 de abril TBD
Show flamenco y cena de despedida  6 de mayo TBD

COURSE SCHEDULE: Click here for the COWA Advanced Winter 2026 course schedule

EXAM SCHEDULE: TBD

Information and Application

  • Duration: January 10 – May 22, 2026
  • Requirements: must have completed SPA 321 (Composition and Conversation I) or 320 (Composition and Conversation for Spanish Heritage Speakers)  AND 322 (Composition and Conversation II) and meet GPA requirement (2.9 cumulative GPA)
  • Housing: Homestay with Spanish host family OR residence hall (for extra fee TBD)
  • Academic Credit: All COWA courses will be pre-approved for GVSU credit. Advanced students must seek credit approval for EUSA and Universidad de Sevilla courses. Students will take a minimum of 12 credit hours.
  • Total cost: €9950 (optional residence hall fee and airfare not included)

Application Deadline: October 1

A complete application must include:

  • All COWA post-acceptance documents (click the Post-Acceptance button to access them)

*Students must also complete an application with the GVSU Study Abroad Office to be considered for the program.

Request Information

Need more information about the GVSU in Sevilla Program?

You can contact us at contact(at)cowa.es!

Click the button below to access COWA’s Post-Acceptance documents!