Córdoba: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations

Córdoba is one of the most fascinating cities in Spain and indeed in Europe. Caught up between Europe and Africa, between the cultural pull of the Atlantic and the Middle East, the city perhaps best represents the Medieval melting pot of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions and cultures. In the midst of its Jewish quarter, its grand mosque-cathedral and synagogue are contemporary with key intellectuals such as Maimonides and Averroes. In ancient times too, Córdoba stood as the capital of the richest Roman province in Hispania, the Baetica province, cradle of imperial families and famous writers, such as Seneca and Lucan. Córdoba provides a fascinating window into southern European history: from the encounters between indigenous groups and the Phoenicians and Greeks in the early first millennium BCE to the Roman conquest (itself a byproduct of Rome’s conflict with Carthage, the Punic Wars), to the brief oversight by Visigoth and Byzantine Christian rules and the seven centuries of Islamic dominance, which deep cultural impact is visible in every aspect of Andalusian culture.

In the early modern and modern periods, Córdoba becomes a Christian center, as most strikingly represented by the gothic cathedral inserted in the midst of the still-standing grand mosque. A minor player compared to Seville, Toledo, or Madrid, Córdoba bears all the scars of the changes and vicissitudes of a southern European city: the weight of Catholic counterreformation, the rise and decline of the Spanish empire in the Americas and Asia, the fight against the Napoleonic juggernaut, the political revolutions and counter-revolutions that shook Spain leading to the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship in the twentieth century, and the democratic process of modernization and integration in the post-war European scenario.

This course-sequence will engage with those three main periods, ancient, medieval, and modern, from a cultural-historical perspective, with special attention to cultural contact across linguistic and religious groups. Threads running through the three courses will highlight the signs of resilience and change brought on by abrupt or long-drawn contact and conflict, and the reception of this complex past in a modern European city, in the midst of current political and demographic challenges.

The below offerings are planned for Spring 2026 and remain subject to changes.

Course 1 (weeks 1, 2, 3) 
Córdoba: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations I: From the Iron Age to the Roman Period 
Instructor: Carolina López-Ruiz

Course 2 (weeks 4, 5, 6) 
Córdoba: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations II: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Andalusia 
Instructor: Pamela Klasova

Course 3 (weeks 7, 8, 9) 
Córdoba: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations III: A modern city between American, European, and African Networks 
Instructor: Ghenwa Hayek

Housing abroad can vary from year to year, and precise details will be confirmed during the pre-departure process. Córdoba program students may reside in shared student housing or shared apartments throughout the city. It is important to recognize the cultural context of housing in Spain and understand that the size and location of housing may vary. Although some of these differences may take some getting used to, remember that cultural differences extend to all aspects of your experience abroad. Having realistic expectations for your term in Córdoba will help you approach the study abroad experience with a positive attitude.

Participants in the Córdoba program remain registered as full-time students in the College. They take and receive credit for four courses: the three-course civilization sequence and the Spanish in Córdoba course. The civilization sequence meets the College’s civilization requirement. Students who have already met this requirement may use these courses as electives. Their use, partial or total, in a program of study (major) must be approved by the undergraduate chair of the student’s respective major. The language course will normally count as an elective. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on the College transcript.

Study abroad students pay regular College tuition, a program fee, and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition and program fee are paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Precise figures for the Córdoba program during the 2024-2025 year are listed below:

Spring tuition: as set by the Bursar’s Office

Study abroad administrative fee: $675

Program Fee: $5,960

Program participants can expect to spend in the range of $150 to $200 per week on meals and incidentals while on the program, though frugal students may spend less, and others could spend much more. Bear in mind that the cost of living abroad can be relatively high and that, while it is possible to live frugally, it is also possible to run short of money if you are unwary. It is therefore essential that you budget your funds, managing your resources so that they last for the duration of the program. If you are planning to travel before or after the program or on weekends, you should budget accordingly.

Study abroad students retain their financial aid eligibility. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.

The Córdoba program is open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.

The program is designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing who are beyond their first year in the College. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, an applicant’s transcript should demonstrate that they are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity. Because the civilization sequence is taught in English, there is no language prerequisite, although students are encouraged to take Spanish on campus before the program begins.

Because of the considerable demand for the Chicago civilization programs abroad, no student may participate in more than one of these programs. Each application is examined on the basis of the student’s scholastic record and personal statement. If you are interested in applying for this program please fill out the online application.

To discuss the Córdoba: Crossroads of Mediterranean Civilizations program and the possibility of participating, please contact Xhesika Bardhi.