Barcelona, Spain
What You Will Learn
Students will learn how American government compares to Spanish and other governments of European countries. Students will be exposed to the social and political culture that shapes the politics of Spain. Contrasting American and Spanish political cultures will give students a better appreciation of the uniqueness of American politics. Students will also learn about the contrast between Texan and Spanish local governments.
Prerequisites
There is no prerequisite for the first two courses. Both courses are required by the state for all Texas college students. Space is limited to about fifteen students. Acceptance into the program is granted on a "first-come, first-served" basis. All students must be approved by the Academic Program Director and be in compliance with Texas Success Initiative regulations.
Payment Schedule
| First Payment | $1,490.00 | February 20, 2008 |
| Final Payment | $1,490.00 | March 17, 2008 |
Participants may lose all or part of the deposit or total payment made if cancellation occurs. There will be a $180 cancellation fee in all cases.
All study abroad registrations and first payments must be made in the Study Abroad Office located at 302 ASB North
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALREADY ENROLLED STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS!
All subsequent Study Abroad Program payments can be made using either of the following two options:A) Online payments: Go to http://uweb.txstate.edu/gao/study_abroad/
B) Cash and check payments are accepted at the Cashier's Office,
located on the first floor of the JC Kellam Administration Building. Be sure
to bring your Texas State ID number with you, and indicate to the cashier
that you are paying for a Study Abroad Program. Please pay the amount
indicated on the payment schedule for your program.
Financial Assistance
For detailed information on financial aid, visit our Financial Assistance page or contact the Texas State Office of Financial Aid, located in JCK 220.
For information and application materials for the International Education Fee Scholarship, download 
IEFS Information and Application. The IEFS application deadline is February 15, 2008.
See What Students Thought of This Program
1. My living accommodations were:
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 20%
Good 33%
Very good 47%
2. The excursion(s) included as part of the program met my expectations.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 27%
Very good 73%
3. The host institution met my needs.
NA 13%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 53%
Very good 33%
4.How much spending money would you recommend to future participants?
a) Less than $500: 0%
b) $500-$750: 13%
c) $750-$1000: 6%
d) $1000-$1500: 18%
e) $1500-$2000: 50%
d) More than $2000: 13%
5. Do you think you learned more by participating in this program than what you would have learned on campus?
Yes 92%
No 8%
6. This program met the learning objectives.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 13%
Very good 87%
7. I was challenged by this program.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 7%
Good 26%
Very good 67%
8. This program was cost effective.
NA 6%
Unsatisfactory 6%
Less than you expected 25%
Good 38%
Very good 25%
9. Do you consider this place a safe destination for TxState students?
NA 13%
Yes 75%
No 12%
If your answer was “no”, please explain why:
• Just be careful of pickpockets.
• It's kind of dangerous at night from the station.
10. Would you recommend this program to other students?
Yes 100%
No 0% (Please explain)
11. Briefly describe your best experience in this program:
• Sight Seeing. There are so many beautiful places to watch. I'm really impressed with how beautiful they are.
• Meeting people from all over the world
• Being able to travel to the Amalfi coast from Barcelona.
• I could visit lots of beautiful places in Barcelona and excursions were interesting and enjoyable.
• Traveling as a group.
• The relationships formed between students and Dr. Tajalli. Traveling to surrounding cities as a group!
• Touring nearby cities and getting to know the diversity in Spain.
• Experiencing another way of life first hand.
• I could go sightseeing almost everyday.
• Texas State paid transportation fees.
• Attending a lot of cultural activities.
• This program was wonderful because I could learn another culture, too.
• Meeting people from other cultures and side trips.
12. Briefly describe your worst experience in this program:
• Not being aware of the costs. There was a curfew at the dorm; I'm twenty-two and a military vet; a little faith in our personal responsibility please.
• At night I couldn’t sleep well since other students (not Texas State) were having parties and were loud.
• Missing home every once in a while.
• It was just hard not having a telephone. I wish I knew Spanish.
• Being stranded in different towns.
• Because there were so many things to see, I didn't realize that I was tired and I got cold.
• Being jumped by six French/Spainiard guys in CERBERE station; South Eastern France. Got punched and kicked in the face.
• Being roughed up by some thugs in a train station.
• Somebody tried to steal my wallet!
13. List information that you did not receive that you think is important for future students to have:
• Food is expensive, very expensive and this includes bottled water-you get sick if you drink the local water. Travel by rail is also very expensive and is going to be your main transportation. Only buy a Eurail pass if you're traveling after the program ends.
• More transportation information…especially on Eurail…list all other options. Trains are very expensive, you have to still pay for train transportation even if you have a Eurail pass!
• Guide book of Spain, adaptor, wear light clothes (it's hot here).
• Key tourist locations, fun places for tourist, change in local laws and language help.
• Common phrases in language/ exchange rate/ how much it is to park.
• Need to reduce baggage as much as possible.
• Packing list and estimated costs.
Comments or suggestions:
• This was a great trip and I've had an overall wonderful experience, but because of the cost and mountain of paperwork I had to go through with the university, insurance companies, airports, etc.; I will not be able to do it again. However, it would be great for anyone to do it at least once.
• Thanks for everything yall.
• That was a great study abroad!
• Dr. Tajalli was very helpful and friendly. He cared about students a lot. And also, I liked his lecture, it was enjoyable and understandable.
• Dr. Tajalli is great. I will support him any time in the future. He will continue to be a shining star of Texas State. Give him a raise, he can make more money somewhere else and he is very valuable to research and education at Texas State.
• It would be helpful to hold some kind of meeting with the students who are going in the summer and those students who have already done stud abroad to give advice and tips on the specific city. I wouldn't mind talking with students who are going to Barcelona next summer about my experience!
• Some tours we participated in were very good. Also, you paid money for cultural stuff after we visited. It was a good idea for us to save money.
• This course was very very good. The instructor was awesome. I was enjoyed a lot of cultural activities in Barcelona.
• I enjoyed this program. The professor was really helpful compared to others.
• Great trip! Dr. Tajalli is a very thorough professor and the side trips are wonderful. I recommend this for any students needing the credit. I recommend that Texas State allow students to take other courses. For instance, you could send a grad student to teach a lower level survey course. This may allow the university to gain students for the trip. Moreover, it may allow the university to make more money while cutting the cost to each student…just a thought.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 20%
Good 33%
Very good 47%
2. The excursion(s) included as part of the program met my expectations.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 27%
Very good 73%
3. The host institution met my needs.
NA 13%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 53%
Very good 33%
4.How much spending money would you recommend to future participants?
a) Less than $500: 0%
b) $500-$750: 13%
c) $750-$1000: 6%
d) $1000-$1500: 18%
e) $1500-$2000: 50%
d) More than $2000: 13%
5. Do you think you learned more by participating in this program than what you would have learned on campus?
Yes 92%
No 8%
6. This program met the learning objectives.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 0%
Good 13%
Very good 87%
7. I was challenged by this program.
NA 0%
Unsatisfactory 0%
Less than you expected 7%
Good 26%
Very good 67%
8. This program was cost effective.
NA 6%
Unsatisfactory 6%
Less than you expected 25%
Good 38%
Very good 25%
9. Do you consider this place a safe destination for TxState students?
NA 13%
Yes 75%
No 12%
If your answer was “no”, please explain why:
• Just be careful of pickpockets.
• It's kind of dangerous at night from the station.
10. Would you recommend this program to other students?
Yes 100%
No 0% (Please explain)
11. Briefly describe your best experience in this program:
• Sight Seeing. There are so many beautiful places to watch. I'm really impressed with how beautiful they are.
• Meeting people from all over the world
• Being able to travel to the Amalfi coast from Barcelona.
• I could visit lots of beautiful places in Barcelona and excursions were interesting and enjoyable.
• Traveling as a group.
• The relationships formed between students and Dr. Tajalli. Traveling to surrounding cities as a group!
• Touring nearby cities and getting to know the diversity in Spain.
• Experiencing another way of life first hand.
• I could go sightseeing almost everyday.
• Texas State paid transportation fees.
• Attending a lot of cultural activities.
• This program was wonderful because I could learn another culture, too.
• Meeting people from other cultures and side trips.
12. Briefly describe your worst experience in this program:
• Not being aware of the costs. There was a curfew at the dorm; I'm twenty-two and a military vet; a little faith in our personal responsibility please.
• At night I couldn’t sleep well since other students (not Texas State) were having parties and were loud.
• Missing home every once in a while.
• It was just hard not having a telephone. I wish I knew Spanish.
• Being stranded in different towns.
• Because there were so many things to see, I didn't realize that I was tired and I got cold.
• Being jumped by six French/Spainiard guys in CERBERE station; South Eastern France. Got punched and kicked in the face.
• Being roughed up by some thugs in a train station.
• Somebody tried to steal my wallet!
13. List information that you did not receive that you think is important for future students to have:
• Food is expensive, very expensive and this includes bottled water-you get sick if you drink the local water. Travel by rail is also very expensive and is going to be your main transportation. Only buy a Eurail pass if you're traveling after the program ends.
• More transportation information…especially on Eurail…list all other options. Trains are very expensive, you have to still pay for train transportation even if you have a Eurail pass!
• Guide book of Spain, adaptor, wear light clothes (it's hot here).
• Key tourist locations, fun places for tourist, change in local laws and language help.
• Common phrases in language/ exchange rate/ how much it is to park.
• Need to reduce baggage as much as possible.
• Packing list and estimated costs.
Comments or suggestions:
• This was a great trip and I've had an overall wonderful experience, but because of the cost and mountain of paperwork I had to go through with the university, insurance companies, airports, etc.; I will not be able to do it again. However, it would be great for anyone to do it at least once.
• Thanks for everything yall.
• That was a great study abroad!
• Dr. Tajalli was very helpful and friendly. He cared about students a lot. And also, I liked his lecture, it was enjoyable and understandable.
• Dr. Tajalli is great. I will support him any time in the future. He will continue to be a shining star of Texas State. Give him a raise, he can make more money somewhere else and he is very valuable to research and education at Texas State.
• It would be helpful to hold some kind of meeting with the students who are going in the summer and those students who have already done stud abroad to give advice and tips on the specific city. I wouldn't mind talking with students who are going to Barcelona next summer about my experience!
• Some tours we participated in were very good. Also, you paid money for cultural stuff after we visited. It was a good idea for us to save money.
• This course was very very good. The instructor was awesome. I was enjoyed a lot of cultural activities in Barcelona.
• I enjoyed this program. The professor was really helpful compared to others.
• Great trip! Dr. Tajalli is a very thorough professor and the side trips are wonderful. I recommend this for any students needing the credit. I recommend that Texas State allow students to take other courses. For instance, you could send a grad student to teach a lower level survey course. This may allow the university to gain students for the trip. Moreover, it may allow the university to make more money while cutting the cost to each student…just a thought.