Credits
6
Prerequisites
None
Courses taught in
English
Dates
Jun 1 – Jul 12
Program Countries
Spain
Program Base
Bilbao
Critical Global Issue of Study
Development & Inequality
Climate & Environment
Explore different approaches Spanish cities are taking to pursue sustainable urban development while confronting social justice issues.
6
None
English
Jun 1 – Jul 12
Spain
Bilbao
Development & Inequality
Climate & Environment
On this six-week, six-credit summer program, you will examine sustainable urban development and social justice in the European Union, where cities and local governments have control over the decisions that affect them. As a result, cities such as Bilbao are developing strategic plans for their future.
This program looks at multilevel governance in praxis: how a city actively participates in planning for its development. Explore how Bilbao is integrating territory, environment and sustainability, transportation, well-being, identity and other characteristics to balance the needs of institutions, corporations, NGOs, and, of course, its people. Learn how civil society becomes part of the discussion about how cities function and how housing is—or is not—a right in a post pandemic economic crisis. You will have the opportunity to compare and contrast Bilbao’s experiences with other cities, including Vitoria, Girona, and Barcelona.
None.
You will take several short excursions around Bilbao to gain a firsthand look at how the city is pursuing sustainable urban development.
You will take a week-long excursion to Barcelona and Girona in Catalonia to learn about civil society engagement and meet with grassroots leaders, city officials, and human right advocates. You will have classes with lecturers from the University of Girona, members of local government, human rights observatories, and social movements, among others.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Sustainable Urban Development in the Basque Country – syllabus
(URST 3000 / 3 credits)
EU regions and cities have considerable influence over decisions that affect them. Cities like Bilbao are developing strategic plans for the future. This is governance in praxis in which civil society takes an active part in planning for how the city will develop. Bilbao is integrating territory, environment and sustainability, transportation, well-being, identity and other characteristics to balance the needs of institutions, corporations, NGOs, and, of course, its people.
Housing Rights and the Right to the City – syllabus
(URST 3500 / 3 credits)
In this course, students will approach the topic of cities from a grassroots, social justice, and civil society perspective. They will learn about the “right to city” versus gentrification; the right to decent housing and how it is recognized in national and international legal frameworks; and the difficulties that Spanish cities have been confronting since the 2008 financial crisis such as high rents, gentrification, evictions, and squatting.
Students on this program may consider career paths in different sectors including:
Public policy
Advocacy
Public relations
Government and administration
International development
SIT Study Abroad is committed to making international education accessible to all students. Scholarship awards generally range from $500 to $5,000 for semester programs and $500 to $3,000 for summer programs. This year, SIT will award more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students.
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