Office of International Education and Development

Program Dates: May 20, 2024 - June 3, 2024

This program offers a unique experience for students to acquire knowledge of the advertising and public relations practices in the Spanish wine industry. We will visit universities, advertising and PR agencies, and wineries in Barcelona. You will learn how wine is produced and marketed to local and global audiences. This experiential learning opportunity can enrich your understanding of how culture influences advertising and other communication artifacts. All majors are invited to participate. No prior advertising or PR experience is required.  

Locations

Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea. Barcelona is a major cultural, economic, and financial centre in southwestern Europe, as well as the main biotech hub in Spain. As a leading world city, Barcelona's influence in global socio-economic affairs qualifies it for global city status. 

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain range near Barcelona. It is well known as the site of the Benedictine abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat, which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary. "Montserrat" literally means "serrated mountain" in Catalan. It describes its peculiar aspect with a multitude of rock formations that are visible from a great distance.

Academics

The following classes will be offered during this program. Students can choose to enroll in 1 or 2 courses.

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Shanshan Lou
Associate Professor, Advertising
Department of Communication
lous@appstate.edu

With more than 10 years of international travel and education experience, Dr. Lou is dedicated to building bridges among classroom learning, international travel and internships. Dr. Lou is a big believer of learning through travel. As an international faculty and scholar, Dr. Lou is passionate about delivering content from different perspectives and encouraging students’ global thinking. Dr. Lou has been a leader of study abroad programs since 2016.

Dr. Jiangxue Han
Assistant Professor, Public Relations
Department of Communication
hanj2@appstate.edu

Dr. Jiangxue (Ashley) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication. Her teaching and research interests focus on public relations and intercultural communication. Dr. Han has abundant international travel experiences and she served as an associate of the study abroad program to China for 3 years.

Program Cost: $4,589

Program cost includes some meals, lodging, in-country transportation. 

Please note - Students are responsible for the total program cost upon submiting the application and deposit. Refunds are contingent upon meeting the minimum enrollment of the program. If a student decides to withdraw before departure, that student may be eligible for a refund if the program has met minimum enrollment and is therefore viable. 

Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted. Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. 

Appalachian reserves the right to cancel or alter the program format or to change costs in case of conditions beyond the university's control.  Further details about Appalachian's withdrawal/cancellation policy can be found at this link.

Application Process

1. In order to apply for this program, you will need to contact one of the program leaders and provide your Banner ID and email address. Program leaders may request additional information or a meeting to discuss the details of the program and your interest.
2. When permission to apply for the program is granted, you will receive an email from your program leader with instructions to apply.
3. Apply to the program following the instructions from the program leader.
4. Print, sign and drop off your application at the Office of International Education and Development at Plemmons Student Union (PSU), Suite 321 ( 3rd floor), 263 Locust Street Boone, NC 28608. Your application will be considered complete when you have submitted your digital application, paid the $300 deposit, and dropped off your printed and signed application. The fee cannot be paid until it appears on your student account. Please note that it may take 2–3 business days for it to post to your account. You will receive an email with Instructions for paying the deposit fee. Instructions can also be found in the application.