Spain & Morocco Study Abroad

May 15, 2023 – May 25, 2023

This three-credit study abroad Department of Art History course offers an interesting mix of European and North African art and architectural history along with the chance, especially in Madrid, to see some of the most dynamic spaces for contemporary art on the continent!

Open to sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students as well as all graduate-level students, this study-abroad travel experience course will give students the unique opportunity to explore Spain and Morocco from the point of view of an art historian. Students may apply the 3 credits to an upper level art history degree requirement.

Developed by the Liberal Arts department at the College For Creative Studies, this program is led by adjunct faculty member Morgan Meis with support from EF College Study Tours.

Registration Deadline

Feb 9, 2023

Register by the deadline at EF College Study Tours 

You will be automatically enrolled in the course after your application is submitted and reviewed. The course charges will appear on your CCS bill for summer tuition.

Program Details

Locations
Day 1: Fly overnight to Spain
Day 2: Madrid
  • Meet your Tour Director at the airport
  • Take a walking tour of Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city
  • Visit the Prado, Madrid’s famed art museum where you can behold Velázquez’s Las Meninas and Goya’s paired canvases
  • Enjoy dinner in Madrid
Day 3: Madrid
  • Take a guided tour of Madrid
    • With your expert local guide you will see:
      • Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s busiest squares
      • Plaza Mayor, the center of old Madrid where you’ll learn about the grand square’s history of bullfights, royal weddings, and public executions
      • Plaza de Oriente, the Royal Palace square, located across from the Royal Palace
  • Visit the Royal Palace and get a glimpse of regal Madrid, where you’ll wander the fabulous palace interior
Day 4: Madrid • Granada
  • Travel by train to Granada, where you’ll explore the Andalucia region and see Don Quixote’s windmills
  • Take a guided tour of the Albayzín District, a former Islamic district of Granada and current UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Enjoy dinner in Granada
Day 5: Granada
  • Guided learning: Tour Granada with an expert local guide and take in its laid-back atmosphere, Islamic architecture, and the history and culture of this unique city
  • Visit the Alhambra, Granada’s crowning jewel widely recognized as the world’s premier example of Islamic architecture, and built as an all-in-one alcazaba (fortress), alcazar (palace) and small medina (city)
  • Independent exploration: Spend a half day exploring Granada on your own
Day 6: Granada • Tarifa • Tangier
  • Travel from Granada to Tarifa, the southernmost end of the Iberian Peninsula
  • Cultural engagement: Enjoy a seaside lunch in Tarifa
  • Travel to Tangier via ferry
  • Enjoy dinner in Tangier
Day 7: Tangier
  • Visit the Hercules Caves, partly natural and man-made caves located at the base of Cape Spartel, which hold mythological importance and still contain Phoenician wall markings
  • Take a guided tour of Tangier, one of Morocco’s main ports to Spain
    • With an expert local guide you will see:
      • The Medina, a labyrinth of alleyways that attracts visitors from around the world
      • Grand Socco, a large marketplace with artisan wares, cafes, and gardens
      • See breathtaking views at Spartel Cape, a 1,000 foot tall promontory right at the entrance of the Strait of Gibraltar and the most northwestern point in Africa
  • Enjoy dinner in Tangier

Day 8: Tangier • Fez
  • Travel via Chefchaouen, striking for its blue-washed buildings and leather and weaving craftsmanship, on your way to Fez
  • Enjoy dinner in Fez

Day 9: Fez
  • Guided learning: Take a tour of Fez
    • With an expert local guide you will see:
      • The ornate Royal Palace of the King of Morocco notable for its mechouars, or courtyard entrances
      • Mellah Jewish quarter, a separate district home to Morocco’s oldest Jewish community
      • Bab Bou Jeloud, also known as the Blue Gate, represents the color of Fez on one side, while green on the other represents the color of Islam
  • Cultural engagement: Take a walking tour of Old Medina and see Morocco’s former capital up close
  • Enjoy dinner in Fez and reflect with your group over Moroccan cuisine

Day 10: Fez • Meknes • Rabat • Casablanca
  • Travel to Meknes, a city known for its imperial past and see Bab El-Mansour and the Royal Stables
  • Explore Rabat with an expert local guide, the capital of the country and home to the Royal Palace Mechouar, the official residence of the king of Morocco
  • Enjoy a farewell dinner in Casablanca

Day 11: Depart for home
Accommodations

Accommodations will be arranged through EF College Study Tours. The trip is also designed to offer participants the opportunity to learn from and connect with their peers, therefore we encourage students to room with each other.

Cost

$4,584– for 3 credits 

Cost includes payment for three undergraduate or graduate credit hours, as well as accommodations, studio fees, museum fees, some meals, and all transportation and international airfare.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The College for Creative Studies only offers GLOBAL FUNDS scholarships to select students enrolled at the College. This small scholarship helps to offset the price of the overseas plane ticket. Please apply at the International Student Services Office. Scholarships are limited. Guest students, please check with the study abroad office at your educational institutions regarding opportunities that may be available. Check with the CCS Financial Aid office to see what is available to you for additional aid for study abroad.

EF College Study Tours offers merit, financial need, and diversity & equity scholarships. Annually, 24 scholarships are awarded ranging from $500 – $2000 each.

Course Credit

The Spain & Morocco Art History Study Abroad course is an official academic course of the College for Creative Studies Liberal Arts department. CCS is a fully accredited art and design college offering BFA and MFA degrees. Students who successfully complete this course will receive three (3) credit hours. These can be transferred to your home institution to be applied toward your BA, BFA, MA or MFA degree.

Travel

The flights are included in the price for EF.

Passport/VISA or Entry Requirements

Citizens of the United States with a valid US passport can travel to 26 European member countries of the Schengen Area for a maximum of 90 days for short-term tourism or a business trip without having to apply for or obtain a Schengen visa.

However, this policy changes when it concerns US residents of other nationalities. Foreign nationals residing in the United States who wish to visit Europe may or may not need a visa, depending on their nationality.

  • US residents coming from countries that have established visa-free entry to the EU do not need to obtain a visa to enter Europe.
  • On the other hand, US residents arriving from countries that have not established visa-free entry to the EU will have to apply for a Schengen visa in the United States in order to enter any of these countries.
  • Please check your status  here:

Despite the fact that US citizens do not need to obtain an EU visa prior to their travel to Schengen, they still need to have certain documents with them in order to be allowed to enter a European visa-free zone.

When American travelers arrive at the border to enter the Schengen Area, they will be asked by border guard to present the following documents:

  • A US Passport. It must not be older than 10 years and it should be valid for at least three more months beyond the intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
  • Evidence of the purpose of entry. Documents that show why the US citizen is traveling to the Schengen Area.
  • Proof of sufficient financial means. Documents proving that the US traveler has the financial means to support themselves during their entire stay in Europe.

Contact

Katherine Campbell
Director
International Student Services department

313.664.7448