Spain: Seville

In cooperation with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), this program provides language intensive academic and experiential learning through a rigorous curriculum consisting of university courses and program-specific courses.

With two universities offering classes taught in Spanish, plus a variety of excursions and options for research, volunteering, and internships, this program is all about flexibility. Students can choose from a wide variety of classes at young, dynamic Universidad Pablo de Olavide on a 300+ acre campus beyond the city center, or in town at the larger, more traditional Universidad de Sevilla.

Andalucía’s capital is a beautiful and ancient city on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Seville is known for its sunshine, its small-town atmosphere and its authentic character. From its cobblestone streets, to the world’s largest gothic cathedral, to the balustraded balconies of the Plaza de España, there’s always something beautiful in sight. And though the city inspired a slew of operas and the birth of flamenco, it also looks forward, with a ground-breaking solar power tower and Jurgen Mayer’s modern Metropol Parosolis.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits.

Major/Minor Requirements: 

This program fulfills the overseas study requirements for the Hispanic Studies major, the World Languages Major with Spanish as the primary language, and the Hispanic Studies minor. (Students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers are not able to retroactively declare a Hispanic Studies major or minor after program completion). (Please note that students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers may still be required to take a language placement exam in order to place them in appropriate courses on site).

For majors in Hispanic Studies and WLL with Spanish as the main language, a minimum of two academic courses should be direct enrollment courses taken at the local universities associated with the program.

Additionally, students can draw on the local university course offerings to potentially fulfill requirements for other majors or minors.

Credits: Credit earned varies based on courses completed, but students may earn up to 19 credits. Overloads are not permitted.

Curriculum: Students may take up to five courses (3 credits each). Lewis & Clark students choose all of their coursework from the offerings that are taught exclusively in Spanish. A possible schedule might be comprised of the following: one advanced Spanish Language course (unless the student tests out in their on-site language evaluation) and 3-4 courses in a wide variety of disciplines at the local universities, including the option of a directed research project based on field research in a local site.

This program offers students the opportunity to take classes at the two public local universities (Universidad Pablo de Olavide on a 300+ acre campus beyond the city center, and in town at the larger, more traditional Universidad de Sevilla). Students may also choose to participate in a part-time, credit-bearing internship at placements that may include Spanish family businesses, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Students undergo an individually tailored placement process and collectively take part in a methodology seminar that culminates in a final paper and presentation. Throughout the semester, students acquire real-world work experience while developing intercultural skills and experience which are critically important to personal, academic, and professional success.

Housing: Students stay with local families in different neighborhoods of the city. Seville is one of the largest cities in Spain; however, for US standards, Seville is a small city the size of Portland in population. Seville is a very tolerant, safe, and walkable city, with an amazing system of public and private transportation. Only one student stays with each family, and all meals are provided. Given the local customs around extended family, students may regularly interact not only with those family members they live with (often including adult children), but also extended family during regular family gatherings. A single bedroom, shared bathroom, and desk or other designated place to study is provided. Laundry is also included.

Extracurricular Activities: Program excursions are all designed to include a rigorous academic dimension, and are important elements in the development of cultural immersion and understanding of Seville and Andalusia. The program includes excursions to nearby sites, such as the Roman city of Itálica, and the monumental city of Cordoba - typically one per semester. The program also includes a multi-day excursion to the beautiful city of Granada. All of these excursions are clearly connected with the idea of Spain and especially Andalusia being a land of historical migrations and coexistence among both ancient and modern civilizations ( Romans, Muslims, Jews, and Christians).

Volunteer Experiences: Students can choose to include a semester-long volunteer experience. IFSA organizes non-credit bearing volunteer opportunities throughout the semester, usually as one-time events. IFSA works with organizations such as Cruz Roja, a voluntary humanitarian institution that serves as the Spanish affiliate of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Students may have opportunities to assist in local food banks, help refugees seek gainful employment, and tutor immigrant children as they enter the educational system. The University of Sevilla runs a University Community Service Office where those students who are interested in volunteering will be provided with practical help, information, and guidance about how to collaborate with local humanitarian and non-governmental organizations.

“I think that students preparing for this program should know that Spanish culture is quite different from American culture and that it’s going to be hard the first few weeks being in a completely new place with new people and a different language but in the end it is so worth it.”

“I wish I had known more about Andalucía specifically, and not just Spain as a country. This is because information about Spain in general will not necessarily apply directly to the region that you are traveling to. The differences between regions can be huge, and Andalucía has its own specific history and cultural differences. If you take classes with Juan Carlos, you will learn a bit about this, however, I would recommend doing some research on your own and maybe watching a documentary or two! It is a great and complex place.”

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals.

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to SVQ): $1,000 - $1,500

Estimated Travel Document Fees: $160 - $190*

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

*This cost is for the visa application fee and processing only. Students are required to attend an in-person visa appointment at a consulate. The nearest consulate to Portland is San Francisco, so students should consider additional travel fees associated with this.

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: Student must first submit a Lewis & Clark Application one year in advance. Once admitted by Lewis & Clark, the students will receive instructions for submitting their pre-departure materials to IFSA.

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into the Sevilla airport (SVQ), or they fly into the Madrid airport (MAD) and take a bus or train to Sevilla. Upon arrival, students make their way directly to the homes of their host families.

Visa: Students will be required to apply for a visa in order to participate in this program. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Spain.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Spain page.