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UNIVERSITAT
DES LES ILLES BALEARS
Palma, Mallorca
Location
& Facilities:
The city of Palma is the
capital of Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands.
Located 132 miles from Barcelona, it is a distinctive constituent
of the rich and varied Catalan culture. The Phoenecians,
Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, and
Arabs have all left significant imprints of their civilizations
in Mallorca and attest to its ancient importance as a cultural
and commercial focal point in the Mediterranean world. It
was first incorporated into a Spanish kingdom in 1229 by
Jaime I, the Conqueror, King of Aragon. The walls of the
historic section of Palma look out onto the ancient port.
The hub of Palma are the architectural monuments of the
old city: the Cathedral, begun in the XIII century, the
XIV century Castle of Bellver, the Almudaina Palace of the
Moorish kings who dominated the island in the Middle Ages.
The more modern parts of the city were built progressively
away from the port, so that walking away from the center
is a stroll through historical time. The natural beauty
of Mallorca includes 400 kilometers of coastline, defined
in the northern part of the Island by mountains and precipitous
cliffs, and in the other parts by coves and expansive beaches
where knowing Europeans and lovers of the arts, beaches,
and good living have found a modern paradise. Palma's modern
airport
is one of the busiest in of all of Europe in the summer.
For information on travel in Mallorca follow this link.
The
Academic Program:
The Universitat de
les Illes Balears is justifiably proud of its new
and modern campus located seven kilometers from the center
of Palma. It is a small university by Spanish standards,
with a student population of 10,000, and it is unique
in significant ways: classes are small and the College
of the Holy Cross has a special agreement of cooperation
with the University. Classes are taught in Catalan
and in Castilian, and all University classes in Castilian
are open to Holy Cross Students. The Holy Cross academic
director in Palma de Mallorca is Professor Jaume Garau
.
Courses taken so far at Palma for Holy Cross credit
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Pre-University
Language School:
The
Holy Cross program in
Palma includes three weeks of intensive language
instruction at the Universidad de Navarra, in Pamplona,
prior to the start of classes at the University
in Palma. The
course includes cultural
material and excursions to area points of
interest
in and around Pamplona.
Orientation
to Palma:
During the first week, faculty advisors
orient students to the
structure of the university;
advise and guide them through
course registration
and acquaint them with
University facilities.
Special
notes: Pre-University Language
Program courses will
be recorded as
'overloads' and may not be
used to make up a college
deficiency. |
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Course
Load:
Students take the equivalent of 8 Holy Cross semester
courses. One of the courses is a mandatory year-long Spanish
language course designed especially for Holy Cross students.
The class, taught by Professor Juan Miguel Monterrubio,
includes grammar, colloquialisms and conversation practice.
Independent
Cultural Immersion Project (ICIP):
Successful completion of the ICIP, in addition to the
required course load, is necessary. The advisor
for the Independent Study Project is Professor Juan Miguel
Monterrubio.
Living Arrangements:
All Holy Cross students are placed with families in Palma within a short commuting (bus) distance from the University. Meals are taken with the family, Sunday excepted. Lunch is also available at very reasonable prices at University restaurants.
Student
Visa:
All students studying abroad in Spain are required to obtain
a Student Visa prior to departure. The application process
can be time consuming and must be done by the student.
Note that you must process your visa at the Consulate with jurisdiction
over the state where you permanently reside (which may differ
from your summer address or college address). For a list of
Spanish Consulates in the United States, follow this link.
The Consulate requires that you submit several official documents in person, and this regulation can only be waived
if a student's parent presents the application in place of the
student. You (or your parent) may have to travel to the appropriate
Consulate during the summer months to present documents, so
you must make plans in advance. Due to the overwhelming
demand for student visas, the Consulate urges you to allow enough
time for the application process. Students who arrive without
a Visa must leave the country after three months and obtain
a Visa.
Students
who reside in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and
Pennsylvania, can obtain further information from the Consulate
General of Spain in New York Students who reside in
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine
should consult the Consulate
General of Spain in Boston.
Study Abroad Contact Person:
Professor Karen Sweetland-Dion - Assistant Director
For more
pictures of Palma, follow this link.
For a photo slideshow of Palma click here.
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