10 - Spain - Branches of study, specialisation

The information on the branches of study and specialisations in higher education, both university and non-university, is available in the following subsections.

University tertiary education

University education is organised into cycles with specific educational goals and autonomous academic value. As a result of this organisational model, there are currently four types of studies:

• First cycle studies (short cycle), lasting three years.
• First and second cycle studies (long cycle), lasting five or six years.
• Second cycle studies, lasting two years.
• Third cycle studies, which last one or two years.

University studies are grouped into five branches: Humanities; Experimental Science, Health Science; Social and Legal Sciences; and Technical Education. Licenciados, Engineers and Architects may enrol in third cycle studies in their respective fields to specialise in a scientific, technical or artistic discipline, and acquire research expertise. After successfully completing such courses, students are awarded a certificate-diploma which accredits the level of the higher studies completed, allowing them to present a doctoral thesis on an unpublished research topic so as to obtain the Doctoral degree in the relevant discipline.

The adaptation process of the Spanish university regulations to the European Higher Education Area has led to the establishment of a new legal framework for university education which comprises the 2007 Act modifying the Act on Universities and the October 2007 Royal Decree establishing the organisation of official university studies. This new framework fixes the new structure of university studies, which are organised into three cycles: Bachelor, Master and Doctorate:

• Bachelor studies: They lead to the awarding of the Bachelor’s degree and include a minimum of 240 credits, which must cover all the theoretical and practical training the student has to acquire. The university will propose the assignment of the corresponding Bachelor’s degree to any of the following branches: Arts and Humanities, Sciences, Health Sciences, Social and Legal Sciences, Engineering and Architecture. The syllabus must include a minimum of 60 credits of basic training and a maximum of 60 credits of external practice. These studies also include the preparation and defense of a final project, which will have between 6 and 30 credits.
• Master studies: They lead to the awarding of the Master’s degree and include between 60 and 120 credits, which cover all the theoretical and practical training the student has to acquire. These studies also include the preparation and defense of a final project, which will have between 6 and 30 credits.
• Doctorate: In order to obtain the Doctoral degree it is necessary to pass a training period as well as an organised period of research. The Doctoral programme consists of all the training and research activities leading to the awarding of the degree. The programme also includes the preparation and presentation of the corresponding doctoral thesis, consisting of an original piece of research work.

The new structure of university studies will have to be fully implemented by the 2010/11 academic year, so universities will not be allowed to offer new places for the first year of the current Diplomado, Licenciado, Technical Architect, Architect, Technical Engineer and Engineer degrees.

Non-university tertiary education

The information on branches of specialisation in non-university higher education can be found in the following subsections.

Advanced Specific Vocational Training

Advanced vocational training as well as some advanced studies of Plastic Arts and Design comprise a series of ciclos formativos, with a modular organisation, of varying length (one or two years) made up of theoretical-practical knowledge areas and broken down into 22 different occupational families. Each ciclo formativo lasts between 1,300 and 2,000 hours. Up to 25% of the total training is carried out within a company, that is, in a business where the production processes as well as the provision of services are developed in a real-time setting. The módulo professional of on-the-job training is the part of specific training where the contents are organised around practical-based activities corresponding to the specific professional profile.

Enseñanzas de régimen especial

The information of the branches of study of the different advanced enseñanzas de régimen especial is available in the following subsections.

Artistic studies

There are 60 specialisations in advanced Music studies which are divided in two branches:

• Non-instrumental specialisations: Composition; Choir and Orchestra Conducting; Musicology, Flamenco music and Ethnomusicology; Music Language Teaching and Music Education.
• Instrumental specialisations: Accordion; Harp; Singing; Clarinet; Double Bass; Bassoon; Flute; Recorder; Guitar; Plectrum Instruments; Oboe; Percussion; Piano; Saxophone; Horn; Trumpet; Trombone; Tuba; Viola; Viola da gamba; Violin; Violoncello; pedagogy referring to the instrument specialisations mentioned above; Instruments of Traditional and Folk Music; Renaissance and Baroque String Instruments; Harpsichord and Organ; pedagogy related to Harpsichord and Organ; Flamenco Guitar; Jazz, Ancient Music Instruments.

Advanced Music studies have a duration of four or five years depending on the chosen specialisation.

Advanced Dance studies comprise a single cycle lasting four years. There are two specialisation:

• Dance Pedagogy.
• Choreography and Dance Interpretation Techniques.

Higher Dramatic Arts studies comprise a single cycle lasting four years. There are three specialisations:

• Stage Management and Playwriting.
• Stage Design.
• Interpretation divided into four different options organised in terms of the expressive elements involved: Textual, Body Language, Handling of Objects and Music Theatre.

The various subject areas, course contents and schedules are set in accordance with each specialisation and option and provide different training paths depending on the diverse professional profiles students wish to develop.

Advanced Plastic Arts and Design studies last three years and comprise advanced studies in Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets, Ceramics, Design and Glass.

• Advanced studies of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets are organised into five specialisations: Archaeology; Sculpture; Graphic Documents; and Textiles. The first year of these studies is common to all five specialisations.
• Advanced studies of Design are organised into four specialisations: Graphic; Product Design; Interior Design; and Fashion Design.
• Advanced studies of Ceramics includes two paths: Art and Ceramic Design, and Science and Technology.
• Advanced Glass studies.

The occupational families and their corresponding ciclos formativos which comprise the ciclo formativo advanced Plastic Arts and Design studies are the following:

• Sculpture-related Applied Arts: Sculpture-related Applied Arts, Stone-related Applied Arts, Wood-related Applied Arts and Metal-related Applied Arts.
• Jewellery of Art: Artistic Bijouterie, Artistic Jewellery, Artistic Gold and Silver work.
• Wall-related Applied Arts: Wall-related Applied Arts and Mosaics.
• Book Art: Artistic Binding, Art Edition, Engraving and Printing Techniques.
• Artistic Ceramics: Paving and Ceramic Coverings, Artistic Ceramics, Modelling and Ceramics Die-stamping.
• Graphic Design: Graphic Advertising, Illustration and Artistic Photography. Design.
• Industrial Design: Model Making, Industrial Design, Furniture Design.
• Interior Design: Furnishing, Ephemeral Architecture, Window Display, Garden Design, Projects and Management of Decorative Works.
• Artistic Textiles: Textile Art, Artistic Lace, Embroidery, Printing and Artistic Dyeing, Openwork Textile Styling, Collection Colouring.
• Enamel Art: Fired Artistic Enamelling on Metal.
• Floral Art: Floral Art.
• Artistic Glasswork: Glassworks, Artistic Glasswork.

The total duration of these ciclos formativos ranges between 1,800 and 1,950 hours.

Sports studies

Advanced Sports studies consist of a single cycle which may last from 750 to 1,100 hours.

This type of provision is structured into the following branches and specialisations:

• Mountain and Climbing Sports: High Mountain, Climbing and Downhill Skiing.
• Winter Sports: Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing and Snowboarding.
• Football.
• Five-a-Side football.
• Athletics.
• Handball.
• Basketball.

 

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MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN Y CIENCIA
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E-mail: infoedu@mec.es
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