Spain Program (Leadership Across Difference: Lessons from Medieval Spain)

Program application now closed. This program is currently full for May 2024. We plan to offer it again in May 2026.

This program is scheduled to occur from Monday, May 20, 2024 to Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The dates may change by a few days at the most, but we will depart for Spain no earlier than May 19, 2024 and return from Spain no later than June 4, 2024.

Program application now closed. Here is the link to apply: Application-Spain-May 2024. This program has rolling admission: the earlier you apply, the greater your chances of being able to participate. This program filled up the last time we offered it and we had to turn students away, so the earlier you apply, the more likely you will be able to participate.

Read a George Mason University article about the May 2022 Spain program here: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2022-07/study-abroad-experience-and-lesson-leadership

May 2022 Group Photo- Toledo, Spain

May 2022- Group Photo- Granada- Alhambra

How do I apply and submit the application fee?
Here is the link to apply: Application-Spain-May 2024. Note: the last time we offered this program it reached capacity, so be sure to apply early for the May 2024 program. If you wait to apply there may not be space available.

Program dates are scheduled to be Monday, May 20, 2024 – Wednesday, May 29, 2024 (the dates may change by a few days at the most, but we will depart for Spain no earlier than May 19, 2024 and return from Europe no later than June 4, 2024).

There will be group meetings before our time in Spain. We will start in Toledo, Spain on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 (overnight flight departs on Monday, May 20). We will end in Málaga, Spain on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Before applying please make sure you are able to be in Europe for 10 days sometime between around May 18-June 4, 2024.

 

“This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great ‘world house’ in which we have to live together—black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Hindu—a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

“To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition, but because of it, is the heart of pluralism.” ~ Eboo Patel, IFYC Founder and President (Acts of Faith)

 

Are you ready for a life-changing study abroad experience in Spain (Toledo, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda & Granada)? Note: we fly into Madrid and out of Málaga, but will not spend much time in those 2 locations.

  • Want to earn 3 credits as part of this 10-day experience?
  • Interested in examining the idea that Muslims, Christians and Jews collaborated and lived together, relatively peacefully, for hundreds of years in Medieval Spain?
  • Ready to learn about leadership and ethics from historical examples of conflict, cooperation and collaboration?
  • Curious about what we can do today to move towards mutual understanding, respect and a focus on the common good?
  • Want to have a leadership course/experience on your transcript and/or resume?
  • Undergraduate or Graduate credit available (see below).

It is not too early to start thinking about how this course can fit into your schedule. Space is limited.

Increasingly, polarization is acknowledged as a significant and dangerous problem in the United States and around the world. In an age of filter bubbles and echo chambers, how can we move towards a more pluralistic society where there is a greater focus on mutual understanding, respect and the common good? During the medieval era, part of what is now Spain was ruled by an Islamic civilization called Al-Andalus. Muslims, Christians and Jews collaborated and lived together relatively peacefully for hundreds of years. However, this history is also contested. What can today’s students learn from the history of this region of Spain? Using an interdisciplinary approach, this faculty-led study abroad course will help prepare students to be more effective, ethical leaders by introducing them to historical examples of conflict, cooperation and collaboration across difference in Spain. We will examine the history of this region with a specific focus on what we can learn about ethics and leadership across difference that is applicable to students and life today.

Ethics and leadership across difference will be explored from a wide range of disciplines, contexts, and professions. Students and the course facilitator(s) will work together to explore questions such as: How are values and ethics established in individuals, groups and organizations with different backgrounds and worldviews? What are the responsibilities of leaders to establish ethical climates in their organizations and communities? What are the responsibilities of followers and bystanders? Are there, or should there be, universal values and ethical principles in leadership? How does culture influence ethics and leadership? Why do ordinary people behave unethically? Why do good people do bad things? What are some helpful approaches to leading across difference in an ethical manner? How does this all relate to you, today?

This traveling learning community will connect formal knowledge with real world experiences. Student participants will return better prepared to unite communities across difference and have a positive and powerful impact on the Mason community, and beyond.

This program will count as a Summer course.

Undergraduate credit will be available through:

  • School of Integrative Studies (INTS 498):
    • For those in the Leadership concentration or minor, this study abroad program can count as a substitute for the INTS 404 (Ethics & Leadership) requirement. If you have already taken INTS 404, this study abroad program can count as an approved elective in the leadership concentration or minor.
  • Psychology (PSYC 461)
  • History Department (HIST 388)
  • Honors College (contact Vanessa Correa (vcorrea4@gmu.edu), Honors College Director of Advising & Adjunct Faculty, for course number)
  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CONF 385)

Graduate credit will be available through:

  • School of Integrative Studies (INTS 595)
  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CONF 695)

The cost for this unique program includes tuition for the course (3 credits); round-trip air transportation (including departure fees); transportation within Spain with a full-time bilingual tour director from our partner Hart Travel; 8 nights accommodations (twin rooms with private bathrooms); 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners; 24hr emergency service during program; and sightseeing tours with local expert guides and site entrances. The cost for this unique program will be $4,995. Please don’t forget that this price includes flights to & from Spain from the Washington DC area (many other programs do not include flights in the cost), as well as 3 credits of tuition which you would be paying for anyway if you took an on-campus or virtual course. Scholarships are available, particularly for students who may have thought that studying abroad was not possible for them (see FAQ below).

You should be able to apply your financial aid to this course as you would to any other official Mason summer course, but please confirm with the financial aid office regarding your specific situation. Please check the following website for more information: https://www.gmu.edu/financial-aid/study-abroad

If you would prefer to work with our partners at Hart Travel to adjust your flights to/from Spain (i.e., not be on the group flights), we would need to know this by February 10, 2024 and there may be an additional charge depending on your itinerary.

Spaces in this course will be limited!

 

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

What is the deadline to apply?
This program has rolling admission. The earlier you apply, the greater your chances of being able to participate. The last day to apply is February 10, 2024, but this program filled up the last time we offered it and we had to turn students away, so the earlier you apply the more likely you will be able to participate.

How do I apply?
Here is the link to apply: Application-Spain-May 2024. If that link does not work, please visit Mason’s Global Education Office (GEO) website at https://studyabroad.gmu.edu/ and search for “Leadership Across Difference” under “Search Programs.” Note: Space is limited.

When should I apply for (or renew) my passport?
Passport renewal is taking longer than normal, and can sometimes take months, so please check your passport (or apply for one) as soon as possible. Please make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond our last day in Spain (or your last travel day, whichever is later).

Can I be a part of this program if I don’t speak Spanish?  
Yes! Participants who do not know any Spanish at all can definitely participate. We highly recommend learning some basic phrases in Spanish (e.g., please, thank you, excuse me, etc.), but you do not need to know the Spanish language to participate in this program.

Are university students from all backgrounds welcome on this program?  
Absolutely! We welcome university students from all backgrounds, viewpoints, etc. Through the example of Medieval Spain we will be learning about leadership across difference and how it applies to YOU, TODAY. Medieval Spain is the case study, the lessons are applicable to all. Note: our philosophy of leadership is that everyone has the potential to be a leader and that leadership does not require a formal position. GPA requirement: Undergraduate students must have a 2.25 GPA or above to participate, Graduate students must have a 2.75 GPA or above to participate.

Can students who have DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) participate?
Students who have DACA, and who can apply for advance parole to travel abroad, should be able to participate. Please check out the following website: https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/effective_practice/traveling-on-advance-parole-for-educational-purposes-a-guide-for-daca-recipients/

I am not a George Mason University student, can I still participate?
Yes, you should be able to enroll as a non-matriculating student, which will allow you to transfer credit to your home institution. Please check with your department first however to be sure the credits are applicable to your degree.

Is there a travel company that will be taking us around Spain?
Yes, we are working with Hart Travel Partners (https://www.harttravelpartners.com/). A well-respected company that has helped teachers and students discover the world through culturally immersive educational travel. We will have a full-time tour director from Hart Travel Partners with us 24 hours a day.

Can I travel in Spain and/or other parts of Europe before and/or after this program?
Yes! Participants often like to travel before and/or after a study-abroad program. If you let us know in advance (as soon as possible, but no later than February 10, 2024), you can work with Hart Travel Partners (our 3rd party provider) to schedule an extended stay in Europe. There may also be the option to purchase your own round trip airfare to Europe so that you have the flexibility to travel to and from Europe when it works best for you, but please let us know if you are hoping to take this option so we can see if it’s possible. Please note that final class assignments will be due around June 30, 2024 (approximately 1 month after our time together in Spain) so if you are traveling after our last day together in Spain, please make sure you will have time to work on the assignments.

Where will we meet in Spain?
For those who wish to arrange different flights to/from Spain (please let us know this as soon as possible, but no later than February 10, 2024), we will meet at a clearly specified day/time at our hotel in Toledo, Spain. For those who would like to be on the groups flights to/from Spain, Hart Travel Partners will meet us at the airport in Madrid, Spain and transport us to our hotel in Toledo. You will receive more specific details after you have applied.

What is the itinerary (where will we be visiting each day)?
A sample itinerary is listed below (itinerary is subject to change).

Approximately 2-3 pre-departure meetings at times to be determined during spring semester.

  • DAY 1: Overnight flight from Dulles to Madrid.

  • DAY 2: TOLEDO – arrival in Madrid airport and meet travel director, transfer to Toledo for hotel check in. Upon arrival there will be a panoramic drive around the city of Toledo with a stop for photo opportunities. In the afternoon there will be an orientation walk around this former capital of Spain. Welcome dinner.

  • DAY 3: TOLEDO – a local guide will introduce you to the highlights of Toledo. Visit the stunning gothic cathedral, the Santa Maria la Blanca synagogue, the Tránsito synagogue and the Santo Tomé Chapel to admire the Burial of the Count of Orgaz by El Greco. Lunch followed by course meetings and some brief free time.

  • DAY 4: SEVILLE – drive to Córdoba where a local guide will lead a visit of the Mezquita and the jewish quarter including the Synagogue. You will also stop for a view of the Mezquita from the other side of the Roman bridge. In the afternoon continue to Seville for dinner and overnight.

  • DAY 5: SEVILLE – a guided tour of the highlights of the city includes the Plaza de España, the jewish quarter (Barrio Santa Cruz), the Cathedral and the Royal Palace (Alcázar). The afternoon will include course meetings and some brief free time. If available there will be a visit to The Sephardic Museum.

  • DAY 6: RONDA – drive to Ronda. Upon arrival enjoy an orientation walk including the bullring. Course meetings and some brief free time in the afternoon. Dinner.

  • DAY 7: GRANADA – drive to Granada. Upon arrival visit the Royal Chapel to see the tombs of the Catholic Kings. Dinner.

  • DAY 8: GRANADA – in the morning upon arrival a local guide will lead a tour of the Alhambra Palace the inspiration for music and stories such as those by Washington Irving. The tour includes a visit to the magnificent Generalife Gardens and the Summer Palace. Evening flamenco show in Sacromonte.

  • DAY 9: GRANADA to MALAGA – morning walk of the Albaicín including the Mirador de San Nicolás. Course meetings and some brief free time in the afternoon.  Transfer in late afternoon or early evening to hotel near Malaga airport.

  • DAY 10: Transfer to Malaga airport for return flight to the United States.

  • Note: Itinerary is subject to change.

I do not have any educational background in leadership, ethics or Medieval Spain, can I still attend?
Definitely! We welcome participants from all disciplines and levels of understanding about these topics. There are no prerequisite courses. GPA requirement: Undergraduate students must have a 2.25 GPA or above to participate, Graduate students must have a 2.75 GPA or above to participate.

What’s the cost, and what is included in the cost, of this program?
The cost includes tuition for the course (3 credits); round-trip air transportation (including departure fees); transportation within Spain with a full-time bilingual tour director from our partner Hart Travel; 8 nights accommodations (twin rooms with private bathrooms); 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners; 24hr emergency service during program; and sightseeing tours with local expert guides and site entrances. The cost for this unique program is $4,995 which includes your airfare from the Washington D.C. area to/from Spain. If you would prefer to work with our partners at Hart Travel to adjust your flights to/from Spain (i.e., not be on the group flights), we would need to know this as soon as possible, but no later than February 10, 2024, and there may be an additional charge depending on your itinerary. You will also need to bring some spending money. It may be possible to apply your financial aid to this course (summer financial aid). Please don’t forget that these prices include flights to/from Spain (many other programs do not include flights in the costs), and 3 credits of tuition which you would be paying for anyway if you took an on campus or virtual course.

Are there any Scholarships available?
Scholarships are available through the Global Education Office (GEO). See: https://studyabroad.gmu.edu/how/explore/index.html#scholarships.

The “Increasing Access: Spain Program Scholarship” applications are now closed (applications for these program specific scholarships were due by Friday, December 1, 2023). 

What is the rooming like?
Participants will be in twin rooms (2 people per room), assigned based on gender. There may also be the option to upgrade to a single room for an additional charge of approximately $550 (we will need to know your intent to upgrade to a single room by February 10, 2024). There may also be the option to self-select into Gender Inclusive housing- this is dependent on the number of participants who are interested in this option.

Can I use my Financial Aid for this program?  
You should be able to apply your financial aid to this course as you would to any other official Mason summer course, but please confirm with the financial aid office regarding your specific situation. Please check the following website for more information: https://www.gmu.edu/financial-aid/study-abroad

Which George Mason University course numbers apply?  This program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The course can count as a School of Integrative Studies (SIS) course (INTS 498 or INTS 595), a Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution course (CONF 385 or CONF 695), a History course (HIST 388), an Honors College course (contact Vanessa Correa (vcorrea4@gmu.edu), Honors College Director of Advising & Adjunct Faculty, for course number), or a Psychology course (PSYC 461).

  • Undergraduate: INTS 498, PSYC 461, HIST 388, HNRS (TBD), or CONF 385
    • For those in the Leadership concentration or minor, this study abroad program can count as a substitute for the INTS 404 (Ethics & Leadership) requirement. If you have already taken INTS 404, this study abroad program can count as an approved elective in the leadership concentration or minor.
  • Graduate: INTS 595 or CONF 695

Which semester will the 3 credits count towards? Summer.

How much work will this class be and when will assignments be due?
This is a 3-credit class, so the amount of work will be equivalent to other 3-credit classes. This not a vacation trip- it is a great opportunity to learn while we travel in Spain. Our time together will be condensed (traveling together as opposed to meeting a couple times a week in a classroom), but we will have academic discussions each day. Please plan to complete most assignments AFTER our time together in Spain. The course syllabus will have more details about readings and assignments. Almost all class assignments (e.g., papers) will be due around June 30, 2024 (approximately 1 month after our last day in Spain), so if you are traveling after our last day together in Spain please make sure you will have time to work on the assignments. Note: The assignments for this course will all be due at the same time so it’s essential that you make a schedule for when you will work on each one and that you don’t leave them all until the week they are due. This is likely a major difference from other classes you have taken.

Can this course count towards the School of Integrative Studies (SIS) Leadership Concentration or Minor?
Yes, for those in the Leadership concentration or minor, this study abroad program can count as a substitute for the INTS 404 (Ethics & Leadership) requirement. If you have already taken INTS 404, this study abroad program can count as an approved elective in the leadership concentration or minor.

Once I apply, how do I register for the actual course at George Mason University (Undergraduate: INTS 498, PSYC 461, HIST 388, HNRS (TBD), or CONF 385; Graduate: INTS 595 or CONF 695)?
Once you are committed to the program, you will complete a questionnaire to select your course. Mason’s Global Education Office (GEO) will then register you in the course – you will NOT register via PatriotWeb. After you have been registered for the course, it will show up in your student account. You will pay for the program through your student account in Summer 2024.

Who is the instructor?

Nick Lennon, PhD
Director, Leadership Education and Development (LEAD)
George Mason University

nlennon@gmu.edu