Exchange Program with Universidad de La Coruña

Beginning in 1999, the Doctoral program in counseling psychology and the Universidad de La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain, entered into an exchange agreement. Doctoral students in their third year (or beyond) who are reasonably fluent in Spanish may go to Spain for a period of 2 months to 1 year to train in La Coruña’s interdisciplinary Postgraduate Family Intervention Program, directed by Dr. Valentín Escudero. See this page for a description of the program. This training program, which combines didactic material with seminars, case studies, tutorials, research, and a family therapy practicum, is taught by faculty from Spain and the U.S.

See this page for information on Meniños a community clinic for families with maltreated and neglected children, a popular practicum site. More information on the city of La Coruña, which is in Galicia, in northwestern Spain can be found on this page. Also see the city's official tourism web site.

Eligibility for the program is determined by the Director of Doctoral Training in consultation with the faculty. To be eligible, students must demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, be in good academic standing, and have completed all required practica in the program.

Students must enroll for at least 3 credits per semester at UAlbany (Fall or Spring; 1 credit in the summer session). Tuition at the Universidad de La Coruña is waived in exchange for 5-6 hours of research assistance.

A description of the exchange program was published in The Counseling Psychologist:

Friedlander, M. L., Escudero, V., & Guzman, M. (2001). International exchanges in family therapy: Training, research, and practice in Spain and the U.S. The Counseling Psychologist, 30, 314-329.

The ongoing family therapy research program that is being done both at UAlbany and in Spain can be seen at www.softa-soatif.net.

Below is a photo of our first Spanish exchange student, Ana Martinez-Risco, who received her Master's degree diploma in December, 2003.

Ana at Graduation