Spain Fall 2026 – Experiencing Spain: Ecology, Economy, and Socio-Political Transitions

Experiencing Spain: Ecology, Economy, and Socio-Political Transitions

This interdisciplinary and civically engaged program is perfect for adventurous travelers eager to live in Spain and immerse themselves in the country’s rich political, social, historical, economic, and cultural fabric—all while mastering the language.

My name is Palmar Alvarez-Blanco and I joined the Carleton Spanish Department faculty in 2006. I have a BA from the University of Valladolid (Spain), an MA from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and a PhD from the University of Colorado at Boulder. My commitment to Academic Civic Engagement and Public Scholarship deeply informs my research and teaching practices. For my work in this area, I was recently awarded the Broom Fellow for Public Scholarship.

When we travel to another country, are we tourists or travelers? What are our expectations when traveling? How do we get to know a place, its people, its history, and its culture? The Madrid program that I have designed will walk you through the history of some of the most important cultural, political and historical landmarks that represent the different transitions that Spain has been experiencing in the past 80 years.

During our stay, we become travelers who read, think, observe, and reflect upon political, cultural and social questions connected to each text we read, every person we meet and every place we visit. I like to tell the students who join me in this adventure that by the end of the program, they will understand that Spain is not a country but a nation experiencing multiple crises. It is also a political laboratory for current events. When students travel with me to Spain, they quickly realize that they are not just tourists, but travelers in the true sense of the word.

This study abroad program demands inquisitiveness, open-mindedness, and a sense of adventure, but it will also provide rich cultural experiences and a chance to get a feel for what it’s like to live in another country. Participants must show a genuine interest in learning about Spain and they need to be committed to using Spanish as the only language of communication

This 10-week experience requires intrepid students willing to step out of their comfort zones and leave behind the familiar in order to embark on a journey where questions abound and challenges loom around every corner. You need to be curious and accept these challenges involved in a complex coexistence with different points of view and ways of being in the world.

Throughout the ten weeks, we will spend long periods of time together; hence empathetic people are needed to explore the sense of community, interdependence and mutual support while discovering their own autonomy. A sense of humor is important to be able to laugh at our own mistakes and misinterpretations. In order to experience and embrace every moment, we need to leave behind the perfectionist self and approach each day as a unique opportunity to learn something new.

Palmar Álvarez-Blanco, Broom Fellow for Public Scholarship, Professor of Spanish

Learning Goals

To become travelers who critically engage with and reflect on the ecological, economic, political, cultural and social challenges of life in the 21st-century globalized world.
To develop the ability to think systemically and across disciplines.
To make real use of your language skills by immersing yourself fully in Spanish society.

18 Credits

Students enroll in regular courses and an additional language skill development course for a total of 18 credits. All credits count towards the Spanish major and minor. In addition to their coursework, students will have the opportunity to participate in academic civic engaged activities.

SPAN 347: Experiencing Spain: Welcome to the Spanish Revolution. From the “Spanish Miracle” to the “Indignant Movement” (1940-2021) (6 credits)

The ‘Spanish economic miracle’ refers to the period of accelerated economic growth in Francoist Spain from 1959 to 1973. This unprecedented economic expansion laid the groundwork for the rapid development of a capitalist system within a dictatorship, resulting in a profound transformation of Spanish social structure. This course will analyze the underlying factors that supported this structural transformation, the subsequent 2008 financial crisis, the Indignados Movement and the rise of the Commons—a system promoting equitable and sustainable life for all. This course features engaging workshops with expert guest speakers, exciting travel opportunities, and meaningful interactions with diverse social collectives.
Professor: Palmar Álvarez-Blanco

SPAN 340: Experiencing Spain: From Urban Planning to Climate Action (1939 to the present) (6 credits)

The management and planning of urban areas, in the context of the current climate crisis, have become the major challenge facing contemporary cities. Similarly, other problems such as tourist gentrification and socio-spatial segregation are increasing. In this course, we will explore the transformations experienced by Madrid, in its adaptation to political, social, and economic change from 1939 onwards. We will pay special attention to the development of urban planning and mobility policies that focus on ecological sustainability and social well-being. The course is a combination of theoretical and practical classes, including tours and visits to places of interest.
Professor: Nuria Rodríguez Martín, PhD

SPAN 264: Experiencing Spain: Ecological Systems and Environmental Challenges (6 credits, ENTS Society, Culture and Policy, SPAN Peninsular Literature, International Studies, Social Inquiry)

The course analyzes the environmental dimensions of global change in Spain from an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates ecology, political economy, recent history, and socio-environmental justice. It examines Spain’s development model since the mid-twentieth century—marked by late industrialization, mass tourism, rapid urbanization, rural abandonment, and EU integration—and its role in shaping current environmental challenges. Key topics include climate change, water management, desertification, biodiversity loss, energy transition, and socio-environmental conflicts, with particular attention to territorial inequalities and rural depopulation. The course combines theoretical approaches with case studies, fieldwork, experiential learning, and the analysis of public policies, social movements, and community-based initiatives.
Professor: Cristina Herrero Jáuregui

Excursions

We will share several 3-day trips and other shorter ones. Each trip will be an opportunity to put everything we study into context. We will also take some day trips, and there will be plenty of time for participants to take some trips on their own.

Housing

Students will stay with families at their homes.

Other

Workshops with field experts, artists, film directors, writers and social collectives.
Opportunities to do community engagement.
Cultural outings and activities (attending concerts, visits to museums, movies, one-day field trips in Madrid, cooking class, etc).

Information Meeting

If you have questions, please contact the faculty director.

Application

Applications are found on the OCS Student Portal. Search by program name and click Apply Now to open an application. Applications were due on February 2, 2026.

Program Dates

Program dates will roughly match the Carleton term. Specific dates will be communicated to participants at least one term prior to the program.

Program Fees

Carleton programs cost the same as a term on-campus plus airfare and visa (if applicable). Financial Aid is applied as on campus. Admitted students receive an additional cost estimate at the time of acceptance to the program. Additional scholarships are available by submitting a Budget Worksheet to Student Financial Aid by the application deadline one term prior to the program.