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Studies & Degrees in Catalan Studies

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Catalonia is an interesting region in Spain. This community emerged in the 12th century when Catalunya (Spanish derivative) was coined in reference to the Spanish March counties. For a long time, it has been used to describe the “Land of Castles”, which happens to be the Spanish Empire. Now, it is confined to a region that consists of four provinces: Girona, Lleida, Tarragona, and its capital Barcelona. These provinces also correspond to the old Catalan counties. The regional scope covers over 32,000 sq km land area, holding 16% of the national populace. In effect, it ranked 6th among other regions in terms of territorial range. Consequently, this local niche happens to be the subject matter of Catalan Studies.

Although Spain has been known as the land of conquerors, Catalonia also fell into the hands of invaders for centuries.  As a matter of fact, it was first colonized by the Greeks in the Second Punic War (218-202 B.C). Upon the defeat of the Carthaginian armies, it was relinquished in favour of the Roman Empire along with nearby counties. Some other colonial rulers came thereafter in the likes of Visigoth, Moorish al-Andalus, and Franks. In the 13th century, freedom was declared by virtue of the Treaty of Corbeil. Later on, it became a member of the Aragon Kingdom that merged with the Castilian Kingdom to form the great Spanish Empire. Since then, it has paid tribute to the kingdom by way of sustainable economic growth in the region.

Catalan Studies comprise another branch of area of studies that encompass interrelated disciplines such as Humanities and Social Sciences. Academic research though is focused on various societal aspects pertaining to Catalonia. In turn, it may delve into its culture made known by the art of making human Castells (Castles) that depicts the great Castilian Kingdom. In the same way, it may deal with political and economic issues that gravely affect the region. Furthermore, the study includes many other domains like arts, history, geography, language, law, literature, sociology, etc. The study may also include diaspora and migration trends of ethnic groups found in the area.

The academe offers an array of degree courses in Catalan Studies both in undergraduate and graduate schools. In some Spanish universities, this field of study forms part of various curricula in business, law, and sociology. There are also bachelor’s programs relating to Catalan studies such as language, literature, culture, and the like. There are also postgraduate programs in form of master’s and doctoral degrees in Catalan Studies specializing in literature and culture, teaching for linguistic inclusion, and related Hispanic studies. Short courses may be accessible by means of certification as well as associate degree programs.

There is an array of career options for graduates of Catalan Studies. Research centres comprise an ideal employment niche to degree holders. In fact, colleges and universities all over the globe maintain their own research hubs manned by expert professionals. For instance, the University of London is home to the Centre for Catalan Studies. These academic entities are likely to provide teaching posts to eligible practitioners. State agencies dealing with Catalan people may hire language and culture specialists for correspondence. Private companies planning to settle in the region may employ corporate advisors on local business culture.