WFU/Salamanca: Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture – SPA 202 (Summer)

Dates: May 29 – July 1, 2027

The SPA 202 Summer Program in Salamanca, Spain, is a unique way for students of Spanish to fulfill their basic language requirement. The immersion setting provides the best environment for improving language skills and furthering cultural knowledge. Students live with Spanish families selected by Cursos Internacionales at the University of Salamanca.

This is an ideal program for students who have completed SPA 201 on campus and are interested in achieving a higher degree of language proficiency and cultural knowledge. No particular major is required for eligibility.

Salamanca is a beautiful, historic university city approximately two hours from Madrid. Students are drawn to it not only for its stunning architecture, but also for its lively social atmosphere. Designated a University of Excellence for the Teaching of Spanish in 2017 by the European Union, the University of Salamanca is a summer destination for students from all over the world. Other cities in Spain are easily accessible from Salamanca. Madrid, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, and Barcelona are a few of the cities that students enjoy visiting.

SPA 202: Intermediate Spanish II
3 hrs.
Prerequisites: SPA 201

The second course of a two-semester sequence. Designed to help students communicate in Spanish at the ACTFL intermediate mid level and compare cultural products, practices, and perspectives from around the Spanish-speaking world. Credit may be earned for no more than one course between SPA 202-213. P–SPA 201 not earned through AP/IB credit.

Dr. Claudia Valdez
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Spanish
Greene Hall 527

(336) 758-3961

Dr. Claudia Valdez received her B.A. in Linguistics from Universidad de Sonora, Mexico, her M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics from The University of Arizona, where she also pursued a Ph.D. in Spanish. Her areas of teaching interests include Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, Spanish in contact with other languages, and Lexicography. She has published articles on Phonology, The Gestural Origin of Language, The American Imaginary during the Mexican Revolution, Language Choice in Service Encounters, etc. In her free time she likes reading, traveling, and cooking.

Students may live with a Spanish family or stay in a university residence hall.

The homestay allows for full cultural and language immersion. Families are selected by Cursos Internacionales of the University of Salamanca. Homestays include 3 meals/day and weekly laundry.  

The residence hall includes 3 meals/day and costs an additional fee of $1000

NOTE: All students participating in the WFU Salamanca: SPA 202 program are required to live in program-provided housing. Housing accommodations you may have on campus do not automatically transfer to abroad and certain housing accommodations (single rooms and private bathrooms, for example) may not be available.

Program excursions include two day trips. The first will be to the city of Segovia, where students will visit the Royal Fortress that inspired Walt Disney´s castle, a Roman aqueduct, the gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja, and sample local cuisine.

The second day trip will be to the region of Arribes del Duero on the border of Spain and Portugal, where students will take a boat trip through a nature preserve, visit a winery, and sample local wines and ports.

Throughout the stay in Salamanca, students will tour sites around the city, including the 800-year-old University, the Old and New Cathedrals, a Jesuit Park, the Casa Lis Decorative Arts Museum and local hot chocolate shops. 

The day trips to Segovia and the Arribes del Duero are a required academic component integral and mandatory part of the 202 program. Consult this calendar for the dates of these trips before making plans for personal travel.

Students must be in good academic standing and have earned a grade of P (in pass/fail mode) or C (in grade mode) in SPA 201 to be eligible for the program. Students from all career paths are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to those with a serious commitment to language immersion.

Application Deadline: February 15th
Early application is recommended. The program fills quickly and is limited to 18 students.

The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:

Program Fee – Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.
Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2026 summer rate was $950/per credit hour.
Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students’ spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.

Billed by Wake Forest:
Program Fee – $2,900 (estimated)
Tuition – $2,850
                      +
Personal costs (will fluctuate per student):
Airfare (estimated) – $1,700
Personal Expenses (estimated) – $675

Estimated total cost – $8,125

Estimated total cost will be finalized in March and may fluctuate depending on number of students and changes made to the program.

Scholarships are available through the Center for Global Programs and Studies.

Scholarship application deadline for the Center for Global Programs and Studies is February 1st.

Passport Information
Students need to check their passport’s expiration date and ensure that it will be valid for at least 6 months after the program’s end date.

Students going on a summer program need to make sure their passport is valid through at least mid-February of the following year.

US passport holders who need to renew their passport should visit the U.S. Department of State’s passport website for information on this process.

Non-US passport holders who need to renew their passport should refer to their home country’s passport office.

Visa Information
If you are a US citizen, you most likely will not require a visa for your summer abroad program. If you do, details will be shared with you by GPS. Non-US passport holders should check with their host country’s embassy or consulate to find out if a visa is required for their program or not.

Salamanca programs Application Officer:
Rebekah Morris

(336) 758-4943
Greene 515

Salamanca Resident Professor Summer 2027:
Claudia Valdez
Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Spanish
Greene Hall 527

(336) 758-3961

Kathryn Mayers 
Associate Professor of Spanish
Director, Salamanca Programs
525 Greene Hall

(336) 758-4739

Claire Tynan
Study Abroad Advisor
(336) 758-4072

Full Website with more FAQ can be found here