Broaden Your Horizons
Ripon College is partnering with Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (BSAE) to create a customized study abroad program for Ripon College students. Ripon College students have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Barcelona through a faculty-led, semester-long study abroad opportunity.
All participating students will take a course with the Ripon College faculty director as well as three elective courses at the School for International Studies (SIS), all while experiencing life in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. One of the three elective courses can be an international academic internship. Each course carries four semester credits.
As an approved Ripon College off-campus study program, the course titles, credit value and grades appear on the Ripon College transcript with a notation “Barcelona Study Abroad Experience.” Grades are included in the Ripon College GPA calculations.
What is the benefit of studying abroad?
Students will move beyond tourist status and fully immerse themselves in the culture of Spain. Participants will live with Spanish host families, experience daily living in Europe, travel throughout the region, sample local cuisine and visit both famous hotspots and local favorites.
Dr. Robin Forbes-Lorman will be 2026 Director.
Dr. Robin Forbes-Lorman is excited to lead the Ripon College’s Spain Program in Spring 2026. Dr. Robin was fortunate to travel and live abroad extensively as a child and young adult, including studying abroad for two semesters (in Chile and Tanzania). She has led both wilderness and study abroad trips for students in Costa Rica, the Boundary Waters and Canada.
At Ripon College, Dr. Robin teaches biology—primarily Anatomy and Physiology. She also studies the role of hormones on the brain and behavior in rats. She grew up in Madison, WI, and earned a B.A. from Earlham College and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently lives in Ripon with her husband, two kids, a dog, two kittens, a cockatiel, a bearded dragon, fish and chickens. She is a 2x Ironman and hopes to find places to swim and run in Spain.
In the Spring of 2026, she will teach a course focused on the history and current practices of medicine and health in Barcelona. Studying abroad was an integral part of her education, and she is excited to help provide these experiences to students at Ripon College.
The study abroad experience in Barcelona was incredibly beneficial to my growth as a musician and a person. This experience also resulted in great improvements in the Spanish language.
Peter Loewenstein ’24
Music
Program Details
The Spain director will change every year. The 2026 director is Dr. Robin Forbes-Lorman, associate professor of biology, who will be teaching a course focused on the history and current practices of medicine and health in Barcelona.
Any student with a sophomore, junior or senior standing is welcome to apply. A maximum of 22 students will be accepted.
There is not a Spanish language requirement. Students without Spanish language knowledge are encouraged, however, to take an entry-level language course during or prior to their trip. A language or culture course could be taken for academic credit through SIS as one of the three elective courses.
Academic highlights include a pre-departure orientation on campus; a three-day orientation in Barcelona; 4 course units of credit toward your Ripon College degree; and several course-related excursions outside of Barcelona, including trips to other parts of Spain as part of the Director’s Course.
Students will take one class with the Ripon College faculty director. Please note this study abroad experience can fulfill Catalyst 210; additional information will be provided to interested students. Students also will choose 3 elective courses taught at Barcelona School of International Studies (SIS); all classes include multiple field studies. Examples of potential courses offered include:
- Start Ups and the Emerging Economy: Creating Your Own Business
- Diversity in Hispanic Media and Pop Culture
- Marine and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean
- Social Movements: Creating Social and Political Alternatives
- Food and Culture in the Mediterranean
- Sports and Society in Spain and Catalonia
- Black Barcelona: The Experience of Race and Ethnicity in Spain
- Gender and Identity in Modern Spain
- Great 20th Century Artists: Picasso, Dali, Miro.
One of those elective courses may be an academic internship which includes coursework and 150+ hours of customized international experience.
In September, students will be given access to course registration and can select their preferences for SIS electives from the list of classes being offered in the spring. Note the courses offered through SIS are open to other U.S. students studying abroad; courses with fewer than six students enrolled may not be offered.
Final grades will be sent directly to Ripon College’s registrar to be added to student transcripts. Grades normally are communicated around one month after the last day of classes.
The faculty director and your academic advisor will be involved in your spring course registration. This partnership will assure you are taking full advantage of unique courses offered in Barcelona and meeting graduation requirements for your majors and minors.
All activities outlined in the itinerary are aimed at cultural awareness. Students also will receive BSAE’s Cultural Agendas highlighting local events and a “Bucket List with 100 Ways to Explore the City Like a Local.”
Activities held in Barcelona throughout the semester include opportunities such as cooking classes, visits to museums, dance classes, guided tours and scavenger hunts. Day trips and weekend trips outside of Barcelona city center include transportation, guides and entrance fees, and could include the Dalí Museum, Tarragona, Girona, Cava Tours, Calçotadas, Valencia and Tarragona, and Basque Country.
An optional excursion (at added cost) to Morocco will be offered through a third-party partner organization.
Barcelona Beyond Borders: A Study of Medicine, Health and Science
This course focuses on the history and current practices related to medicine, health and science in Barcelona. Students will explore historical figures and events in medicine, from its medieval origins to its current standing as a leader in medical research and innovation. We will visit historic and architecturally relevant buildings, as well as explore ongoing initiatives and innovations that address modern health challenges. By the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how Barcelona’s past and present are intertwined in the field of health and medicine.
Course Learning goals
- Investigate the major scientific discoveries and innovations in medicine that originated in Barcelona, tracing their historical significance and impact on global health and medicine.
- Discuss the current scientific and research initiatives in Barcelona.
- Provide examples of interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists, healthcare professionals, and research institutions that tackle complex health issues in Barcelona.
- Effectively communicate topics related to health and medicine orally and in writing.
Logistics
The 16-week experience begins in early January and lasts through late April (2025 dates are Jan. 7 – April 25). No SIS classes will be held during Spanish Holy Week (the week before Easter) which provides a “Spring Break” opportunity to independently explore Spain, travel throughout Europe or host visitors.
All participants are placed with vetted local families, normally with a few students per household. This immerses students in the local language and culture while providing even more support for students (and their families) who may be nervous about being in a new country.
All bedding and towels are provided, and laundry is arranged with the host family. Daily breakfast and dinner is provided by the host families while a weekly stipend of 60€ will be provided for lunches, snacks and drinks outside of breakfast and dinner or when traveling independently.
Students will pay their spring tuition, room and board as specified in their financial aid package directly to Ripon College; this means each participant pays the same tuition, room and board they would have paid if they were taking classes in Ripon, Wisconsin. Technically, students participating in the program are enrolled at Ripon College during the spring semester.
There is an additional $6,000 fee for the program which will cover all major expenses including airfare to and from Spain and sanctioned travel with the program including overnight stays. A $1000 deposit (applied to the $6000) is due Sept. 2.
If there is a financial hardship or financial barrier to participating in the program, please contact [email protected] to discuss scholarship opportunities.
There are also scholarship opportunities available through BSAE. Please see their website for additional information. Ripon College students are eligible for the following scholarships:
- TODOS Justice, Community & Service Scholarship
- TODOS Academic Study Need-Based Scholarship
- TODOS Social Media Scholarship
Pell-eligible students are encouraged to apply for the early deadline Gilman Scholarship by March 7; this could award up to $5,000 for a semester study abroad program.
Personal items and expenses related to travel outside of the sanctioned program activities.
Comprehensive overseas health insurance is provided through CISI (Cultural Insurance Services International). 24-hour on-site emergency phone service is provided by bilingual BSAE staff who will collaborate with an English-speaking hospital and mental health experts.
Students must be reachable in case of an emergency. If participants don’t have an international phone plan where they can be reached during their stay in Barcelona, BSAE will give advice and help them to purchase a Spanish SIM card or phone.
Students will be flying together from Chicago O’Hare airport to El Prat airport in Barcelona, Spain; students are responsible for getting to and from O’Hare. Barcelona airport pickup and transportation to homestays are provided for students who arrive on the group flight; if arriving individually, students will need to find their own transportation to BSAE staff offices.
An airport drop-off stipend is provided for all Ripon College students. Each student is given an additional 20€ in their final stipend payment to be used to pay for their taxi to the airport (arranging shared taxis with their roommates). BSAE staff will not be at the airport for the departure day but are available by emergency phone should any support be needed.
Students will receive an additional stipend in the first week of the program in order to purchase a metro pass for the duration of the program. This covers unlimited metro, bus and tram rides in zone 1. If a student loses his/her pass, it is up to the student to replace it at their own expense.
All day trips and overnight trips include private coach, bus or flights.
We are working with BSAE on the list of course offerings, which will be forthcoming.
I’m interested
What’s next?
Students who are interested but don’t already have a passport should apply for a passport NOW. A valid passport must be obtained prior to Sept. 15. New passports can take 10-12 weeks; applications for visas require a valid passport, so consult with your local passport issuing branch to determine if an expedited passport application is warranted. Current passport holders, please confirm that your expiration date extends through the calendar year of your study abroad experience.
The pre-departure meetings in September will inform students about the process of receiving a student visa in early October through the Chicago consultant.
You or your families can reach out to President Folse; she has personally led this semester-long Spain Program in partnership with BSAE in the past.
Each year, Ripon College hosts two an on-campus informational sessions (February and September) for students interested in learning more about the Barcelona program. Students who need to adjust their fall schedule to accommodate a spring study abroad program can work with their academic advisor and with the faculty program director.
If I know I want to be part of the Ripon College Spain Program, what can I do now?
Complete a Participation Request Form.
Interested in joining our trip? Download the PDF of the February kick off meeting.
DO MORE YOUR WAY
Become the extraordinary individual you are meant to be at Ripon.