Today's marketplace demands that potential employees be cross-culturally aware and proficient in a second language. The Ibero-American Studies Certificate Program at SLU Madrid is designed for those who seek to enhance their undergraduate degree with a multidisciplinary education on the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world. This certificate program, offered on Saint Louis University's Madrid campus, allows students to add value to their undergraduate degree with a rich, interdisciplinary education in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking world. The program goes beyond academic study and places cultural and political issues in a contemporary context. Courses drawn from the fields of history, political science, anthropology, archaeology, economics, philosophy and theology, as well as Spanish literature and Portuguese, enable students to explore the complex dynamics of Ibero-American societies, from the prehistoric era to the present. By living and studying in Madrid and taking part in academic trips to Latin America and different regions of the Iberian Peninsula, students not only study the Ibero-American experience, they also live this experience. The certificate requires 2 semesters or 1 semester and 1-2 summer sessions at SLU's campus in Madrid, Spain -- the social, political and economic capital of Iberia. The program culminates in a once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning trip to South America, where students interact with local cultures, participate in university seminars, tour historical sights and volunteer in the community.

With certified expertise in Ibero-America, students will have prepared themselves for a career in a variety of fields, including with government agencies, international development and nonprofit organizations and multinational corporations. Additionally, IAS students are equipped with valuable interpersonal skills for working with the significant percentage of the population in the U.S. whose cultural roots are in Spanish-speaking countries.