Academics

Since its founding in 1958, NYU Madrid has focused its curriculum on language acquisition and cultural immersion. Students can study literature, history, art history, sociology, politics, anthropology, economics, and environmental studies, among other topics, while significantly advancing their command of the Spanish language. Students of all language abilities will find classes suited to their needs. More information regarding the Spanish language placement process, and coursework available by Spanish level is found below.

Determining Spanish Language Placement

Students at NYU Madrid register for courses according to their language level, demonstrated either through previous coursework or placement test. Students that have some experience with Spanish, but do not have an AP/IB/SAT score or prior university coursework must take NYU’s Online Language Placement Examination, to determine placement. Placement exam results and AP/IB/SAT test scores are good for 18 months. Upon arrival in Madrid students will have the opportunity to meet with staff and adjust their level from initial placement if appropriate.

Students at the Elementary Spanish level

For students with no previous knowledge of Spanish, both elementary Spanish I and Intensive Elementary Spanish classes are offered. Many elementary students that have some backgound in Spanish can qualify to take Intensive Spanish for Advanced Beginners (which covers the content of Spanish II and III in one semester). Beginner students complete the rest of their courses in English choosing from courses offered by a wide range of departments.

It is recommended that all beginner students take the online placement exam before registration to confirm their level. Many beginner students - even those with little or no previous coursework - qualify for Advanced Beginners due to previous exposure to the language. All students must register for the level at which they are placed. If necessary, staff in Madrid will assist students in making changes to their original placement at the start of the semester upon reevaluation.

Students at the Intermediate Spanish level

Students at the intermediate level enroll in Intensive Intermediate Spanish or Intermediate Spanish II. It is strongly recommended that intermediate students also enroll in one or two complementary content courses specially tailored to the language abilities of those at the intermediate level: Spain Today and Music, Cinema and Literature in 20th Century Spain. For their remaining courses intermediate students can choose from a wide variety of courses taught in English.

Students at the Advanced Spanish level

Students at the advanced Spanish level (SPAN-UA 100 or SPAN-UA 9100 - Advanced Grammar and Composition and above) can choose from the program’s wide selection of courses in advanced Spanish literature, business, translation, cinema and politics conducted in Spanish at the NYU Madrid Center and/or the affiliated Universidad Autonóma de Madrid. In order to achieve language immersion, it is recommended that advanced students plan to enroll only in courses conducted in Spanish.