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Alicante, Spain

Professors Laurie Massery and Kathy Fox are both familiar with Alicante. 

Professor Fox visited the city and the Universidad in May of 2009, while meeting with the director of the CC-CS program there.  She loved the beautiful promenade along the sea, the historic city-center, the University of Alicante, and all the modern amenities in the city, including great transportation and delicious, affordable restaurants.  Professor Massery studied in Alicante as an undergraduate and is thus very familiar with the city and the university. She had a wonderful experience there which she would be happy to share with you.  Feel free to stop in or make an appointment to visit with Professors Fox and Massery about Alicante—their offices are located in the Modern Languages Department on the first floor of McMullen Hall.

Population: city proper: 350,000 (not including the suburbs)—similar in size to the Quad Cities.

Industry:  Construction, Education, Tourism (especially national tourism—Spaniards often vacation here), Public Services, Film Industry

Location: A port city on the Mediterranean Sea, along the famous “Costa Blanca” (White Coast), in the province of the same name (Alicante). Also a part of the Valencian community of Spain.

Climate:  Mediterranean climate of mild temperatures and generous amounts of sun throughout the year. Average high/low temps:

In January = 62F/43F

In July = 86F/67F

City Description:

“Alicante, the jewel of the Costa Blanca beaches stretched along the Mediterranean, is a harbor city that is both rich in history and pleasantly relaxed. The city’s long promenades and endless white beaches have long been guarded by the Castle of Santa Barbara on top of the Benacantil Mountain. The culture, architecture, language and people have all been shaped by the traders and conquerors – Phoenicians, Greeks, Roman and Arabs – who left their imprint on this axis of trading routes over the centuries.
The kilometers of beaches, the civil and architectural legacy of the historic quarter, and the varied cuisine of the area are the main reasons Alicante is a major tourist destination for Spaniards. The city is also alive at night and during traditional regional holiday periods, like the Moorish and Christian festivities and the papier-mâché bonfires on the Night of San Juan in late June.” (from CC-CS website: http://www.cccs.com/index.php?id=318)

Campus Universidad de Alicante (May 2009).

In Alicante (or online before you go), you will take a placement test to determine which language level you will start in. The courses you take and the way that they will transfer to SAU, will depend on the results of your placement test. Your SAU Spanish advisor will help you choose the courses you will most likely take and tell you how they will transfer. Your Spanish advisor must pre-approve your courses before you go abroad. The first month in Alicante, you will take an Intensive Spanish Language class appropriate for your level (intermediate, advanced or high advanced) and begin a semester long course called “Social Realities of Spain”.  When the intensive language class ends, you will add language, literature and/or culture courses appropriate for your level. Remember, your Spanish advisor must pre-approve your courses to be taken abroad. In addition to the courses below, a service learning experience may be possible.  Twenty hours of service throughout the semester = 1 credit hour of SVLN at SAU.

First month (Intensive Period):

Remainder of the semester (Continuation Period):