Frequently Asked Questions
Who should apply?
The Summer Institute in Hispanic Languages and Culture is ideal for a wide range of people contemplating graduate study:
What will I learn?
The curriculum of the Summer Institute aims to cover a wide range of topics related to the study of language, literature, history, and culture. While linguistics courses offer students a chance to better understand the history the language and present-day use of Spanish, the literature and history courses provide an overview of important historical events and literary texts in Spain and Latin America. The Summer Institute's graduate courses in culture, literature and history are designed to highlight the richness, complexity, and diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Beginning with the entering class of 2005, all students will take a Master's exam and write a Master's essay in order to meet graduation requirements. The exam affords students the opportunity to have a broad knowledge of Hispanic language, literature, and culture. The essay allows students to learn more about a specific topic of interest to them.
Who is on the faculty?
The Summer Institute in Hispanic Languages and Cultures draws its faculty from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as from major research and teaching institutions in the Americas. We provide a challenging and rewarding academic experience in the unique environment of a summer immersion program.
What is life like at the Institute?
Institute students live by the total immersion rule where Spanish is spoken in and out of the classrooms for six weeks. Students and visiting faculty live at UCSB's Santa Ynez Apartments. The community center at Santa Ynez serves as a focal point for cultural activities that include lectures, films, and social events organized by a student planning committee. Classes are held on campus and students and faculty share a mid-day meal during the week at the Faculty Club. With beaches, mountains, and the Student Recreation Center nearby, students have a variety of activities from which to choose for their leisure activities. (Click to read LA Times 2002 article.)
Why Santa Barbara?
Aside from being an extraordinarily beautiful community, Santa Barbara is ideally suited for this program because the city is known for its rich Spanish/Mexican history and traditions. The city was shaped by its Hispanic past and that is reflected in its downtown architecture and such sites as the Santa Barbara Mission, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park and the Casa de la Guerra. Santa Barbara and the surrounding communities have a diverse and large Spanish-speaking community. Santa Barbara offers a trove of cultural and outdoor activities, including outstanding art galleries, an art museum, a zoo, and a beautiful botanical garden.
UCSB's Davidson Library has an extensive collection of holdings on Hispanic languages, cultures and histories, from the Middle Ages to the present. The Coleccio´n Tloque Nahuaque offers a unique collection of Chicano/Latino books and periodicals. Students have free access to the library, the Recreation Center, and other student services during their six-week session.
How can I afford the Institute?
The Institute offers a Master's degree at an excellent price, but we recognize that many students have full-time jobs, families, and many financial commitments. For that reason, we encourage students to apply early for financial aid. The Office of Summer Sessions can assist with any questions you might have regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will be included in your application packet.
How can I learn more about the Institute?
If you are interested in studying at the Institute, please contact the Office of Summer Sessions at the University of California, Santa Barbara. We urge you to contact the students who have participated in our program to learn more about the immersion experience at the Summer Institute for Hispanic Languages and Cultures at UCSB.
The following students have offered to share their experiences at the Summer Institute for Hispanic Languages and Cultures with you. We invite you to contact them with questions about the program.
| Stacy MacDonald | Class of 2006 | Dooindace@aol.com |
| Craig Rees | Class of 2004 | mr.rees@earthlink.net |
| Esmeralda Rodriguez | Class of 2006 | Esmer12@umail.ucsb.edu |
| Travis Schroeder | Class of 2006 | ciderking@juno.com |
| Meivis Tetzloff | Class of 2006 | meivis@min.midco.net |
| Oscar Urizar | Class of 2005 | oscar_urizar@yahoo.com |
