Liberal Arts in Spanish 

Key Differences

• Because Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) follows a different academic calendar, you must stay beyond the regular SU Madrid Center program end date. Please note that a fall-only option is not available; participation must be for the full academic year or spring only. 

• UAM spring semester is January 30–May 31, 2024. 

  • • Spring break is March 23–April 1.

• All students will participate in Syracuse Abroad online registration November 8–14 to register for Madrid Center courses. In addition, UAM has its own online application and registration processes, in which you will also take part.  

• After you are accepted to the program, the Madrid Program Advisor will work directly with you to guide you through UAM-specific admissions and registration procedures. 

Deadlines

• You must upload passports and official transcripts to OrangeAbroad by DATE. 

• You must complete the UAM application and online registration processes by the deadlines established by UAM. 

• IMPORTANT! Note that UAM will email you directly regarding enrollment for UAM courses. It’s vital to check your UAM emails; otherwise, you may miss registration at UAM. 

UAM Course Selection Process

You will receive a list of UAM courses. In the meantime, as you complete your SAF, you will find a placeholder selection for a UAM course at the bottom of the dropdown menus for Primary Course Selections (“UAM Liberal Arts course(s) TBD [3 cr]"). Please select 4 Madrid Center courses of interest (Primary and Alternative Course Selections). Then use the UAM course placeholder on the SAF to indicate your intention to take one or two courses at UAM. 

Once you have received the UAM course list for Academic Year 2023-2024, select four (4) UAM courses of interest (both primary and alternative selections, in descending order of preference). Share these courses with your academic advisor(s) and have them approved as you do the courses on your SAF. 

As you pre-select your Madrid Center courses, please be aware that the commute by train from the Syracuse Madrid Center to UAM takes about 30-45 minutes (the train stop is located on the UAM campus). This means that you cannot take a course at the Madrid Center that meets immediately before or after a UAM course. Therefore, you may need to change your Madrid Center course choices after you learn more about the timing of the classes available at UAM this fall. 

Planning a schedule that includes one or two UAM courses, the required Spanish language course, and other Center courses may be challenging or not possible. This will depend on your language level, what Center courses you need or want, and the final UAM class schedule. If you participate in this special program, our Madrid Center staff will work with you to balance these considerations as you finalize your schedule during the schedule adjustment period. 

Recommended Center Courses

Courses taught at our Madrid Center that we recommend for students in the UAM liberal arts program include the upper-level Spanish instruction courses (SPA 302 and SPA 428) and the following content courses taught exclusively in Spanish:

• SPA 364/HOA464 – Modern Spanish Art

• SPA 400.2 – De Madrid al Cielo: The Culture of Modernity and the Urban Experience in Spain’s Capital

• SPA/HST/WGS 417 - The History of Women in Spain (offered in spring only)

Grades

Grades for courses taken at UAM may not post to your SU transcript until our office receives your official transcript from UAM (as late as August). At Syracuse University, you must complete all work for registered classes on or before the degree certification date. If you are graduating, seek advice from your home college regarding your degree certification date.