Hopkins is partnering with Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), a university in Barcelona, to offer a five-year BA/MA program in World History to eligible students currently majoring in International Studies or History, who also speak Spanish.
“I believe that the new Hopkins Barcelona program is an exciting opportunity for Hopkins students. The high-quality of the MA program in World History at UPF, which is situated in the heart of one of Europe’s most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities, makes the BA-MA a perfect fit for Hopkins students who aspire to become fluent in Spanish, deepen their knowledge of History, and live in a dynamic urban yet Mediterranean setting,” Gabriel Paquette, a history professor, wrote in an email to The News-Letter.
The BA/MA program is specifically designed for those studying History, as well as International Studies majors who are on the Global Connections and Historical Comparisons track. Students with other related majors, such as sociology and political science, who meet most of the program’s requirements can also apply. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and must have taken a certain number of history and Spanish courses prior to the time of application.
During their senior year at Hopkins, program participants will take “Approaches to World History,” a 300-level history seminar, in order to prepare for graduate-level history courses.
Students in this program would also have to spend either the fall or the spring semester of their junior year studying abroad in UPF. At UPF, they would take five classes, which would be taught entirely in Spanish. Students who are interested in applying for the program and have spent at least a semester abroad in Latin America or elsewhere in Spain would also be eligible to apply.
“Students who love history and have studied Spanish, or plan to study Spanish, with a view toward being fully proficient are eligible,” Paquette wrote.
Directly following graduation from Hopkins, a student in this program would spend a year at UPF working toward a masters degree in world history. Students would apply the credits earned from UPF during their junior year toward their masters degree.
“UPF boasts an excellent Humanities Department (including History), with special strengths in world, global, and transnational history,” the program’s website reads. “Situated in the heart of Barcelona, one of Southern Europe’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities, housed in a mix of historic buildings and state of the art facilities, UPF offers students rigorous training in the methodologies and approaches essential for the in-depth study of world history.”
During their undergraduate semester at UPF, students can choose to live in a university residence hall with both Spanish and international students or stay in the homes of host families that live in Barcelona. During the one-year masters program, students may have to find housing on their own.
The M.A. in world history during the second year of the program could be pursued in either English or Spanish. Some of the courses available in the program include “Diasporas, Hunger in the World,” “Nation and Nationalisms” and “Europe and the Islamic World.” Students in the masters program will also conduct an original research project.
In addition to being an educational experience in itself, Paquette believes the program has future value.
“The program will prepare students for either further graduate study or work opportunities in the US and abroad,” Paquette said.
Given that this program has a number of requirements, a relatively small amount of students are projected to participate in it.
“There are no firm limits with regard to the number of students Hopkins can send to UPF, but I imagine Hopkins won’t send more than 4-5 students per year,” Paquette said.
Students who are interested in this program must apply at the end of their sophomore year and can be conditionally accepted; their admission will be confirmed once they receive their BA from Hopkins. Application materials must also be submitted to the Office of Study Abroad by March 1 if they are planning to study at UPF during the fall semester and by Oct. 1 to study abroad during the spring semester.
The organizers of the program will be hosting an information session in Mattin 161 on Feb. 18 from 5-6 p.m.
Hopkins offers a number of other five-year BA/MA programs related to international studies. One program allows its participants receive master’s degrees from Sciences Po Paris. Students can take courses in English or French and get a research master’s or a degree from the School of Journalism, the School of Communication or the School of Law.
In the five-year program with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), students spend three years at the Homewood campus and two years at SAIS, which is located in Washington, D.C., working toward a master’s degree.
