Why Your Study Abroad Experience Starts with Your Course List
Classes, studying, and homework. Not exactly the things at the top of the list for a study abroad program. At least this was the case for me; instead, I was focused on trips and delicious food. However, once my study abroad experience began, I found myself looking forward to my classes increasingly as the semester continued. The last thing I expected was for my classes to help shape my entire experience abroad. In the end, it was the learning, other students, and professors from these classes that helped me connect with my host city—Barcelona, Spain— the most. Keep reading to hear my tips on picking classes, and how this decision developed my own study abroad experience.
Me on my apartment rooftop. Notice the Sagrada Familia in the back!
How Courses Transform Your Time Abroad
Think of the classes you take abroad as more than just mandatory credits—they shape how you personally connect with the city. You picked your host city for a reason, so take classes that help you explore what makes it unique! Every cultural tradition, monument, and street I walked down became more meaningful because of what I learned through my coursework.
When I went abroad in the fall of 2024, I took the following CEA CAPA courses:
Introduction to Global Climate Change
Architecture and Painting in Barcelona
Sport and Culture in Barcelona
Advanced Spanish
As I began classes, I quickly realized how amazing this class schedule truly was. All of my professors were incredibly knowledgeable, and happy to engage with students about anything. In Global Climate Change, we learned about climate change, but also how Europe and Barcelona in particular were both affected by and reacted to it. Advanced Spanish helped me be a lot more confident navigating and engaging with the city and locals.
Architecture and Painting history and Sport and Culture were crucial to my understanding of Spain and Barcelona’s cultural history. Combined, they taught me the complex history of Catalonia, and how this story is told and tracked through the culture of sport tradition, and the ideas emerging from the art world over time. This all gave me a newfound appreciation for how the place I was temporarily living in came to be. Not to mention, my professors were incredibly kind and gave me some awesome recommendations for things to do around the city. Thanks to them, I became filled-in to how even my walk from home to class was filled with iconic cultural landmarks and moments.
My Sport and Culture Professor recommended us to see the traditional Castellers sport in person at the La Mercé festival. Located at Plaça de Sant Jaume.
The beautiful scenery alongside the fauna and flora at the Botanical Garden. Located atop Montjuïc.
Learning Outside the Classroom
A key feature of CEA CAPA classes is how field trips and excursions are worked into academics. The ability to be on-site for the course content was incredible and truly unique to studying abroad. Together, the projects built into the excursions helped make Barcelona and its rich culture truly come alive for me.
Learning on-site at these historic neighborhoods, museums, and landmarks deepened my appreciation and my learning retention. As someone who loves art history, touring Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Mila Museum for free was an awesome addition to my Architecture and Painting class. Really, everything I learned was emphasized by attending field trips. Whether to the local aquarium, art and science museums, or an old bull fighting arena, there was always a new experience to add to my learning. My personal favorite was a self-guided tour of the Barcelona botanical gardens on top of Montjuïc, a hidden gem in the city I never would have learned about otherwise.
Another highlight was learning about the history behind the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, and how this event changed the trajectory of the city to become what it is today. Visiting the Salts Terrasa Bar at the Olympic diving pool was a magical moment, knowing how important this site was to the city and its people. This impact was truly special, and I have my class to thank for it. In addition, when friends and family visited Barcelona, I became a personal tour guide and could teach them in turn about what I had learned. Taking my loved ones to all of the special places I learned about felt incredibly rewarding!
Salts Terrasa Bar is located at the Olympic diving pool constructed for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. This pool overlooks the entire city's skyline, which became the backdrop of iconic photographs from the games.
My guide and Tips
Read the list below for a summary of my tips for picking the right classes for you! Besides reading the course descriptions and checking for graduation credits, here are other things to consider getting the most from your study abroad experience:
Find classes that directly relate to your host city
Take one class outside your major to try something new. For me, Sport and Culture was entirely outside of my usual interests, and I loved it!
Choose classes you think you would appreciate the field trip studies the most!
Fill your schedule with a class that will either teach you something practical, such as the local language, or that aligns with your personal interests
Check out CEA CAPA Instagram or your schools’ study abroad Instagram to see what classes other students have enjoyed
Talk to alumni ambassadors for recommendations
Tibidabo, a church and amusement park located at the top of the tallest hill in Barcelona. This site was recommended to me by my Global Climate Change professor as an iconic place to visit.
Shaping Perspective
Each of my classes had its own lasting impact on me. Learning about sport and art history improved my understanding of how history, culture, and politics intertwine. Being up to date on climate change policies is incredibly relevant to today’s world. Lastly, Spanish is an essential skill I can continue to practice for the rest of my life. My new skills and knowledge even extend into my own career in the design, packaging, and printing industries.
Finally, I met other students in these classes who shared my interests, or that taught me new things. I am incredibly grateful for these friendships, and they made going to classes all the more fun. My friends expanded my worldview just as much as the classes themselves. They encouraged me to try new experiences, go to local and CEA CAPA events together, and overall be someone to spend our precious time abroad together. Now, when I look back, it's clear to me that my experience abroad, from my friendships to the places I visited, was shaped by my classes.
This post was written by Andrea De la Vega, a CEA CAPA Alum from Cal Poly, and studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
