CIEE Liberal Arts Program in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

  Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 19 weeks: late July-early-December; Spring 19 weeks: early January-early May; Academic Year 39 weeks: late July-early May

Description: The goals of the Liberal Arts program are to provide advanced Spanish language students an opportunity to significantly improve their Spanish language skills in a local context through specially designed Spanish language courses, while gaining a critical appreciation of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean from a social sciences perspective. These goals are achieved through coursework and the opportunity to work in a structured internship with a local grassroots development project, along with non-credit volunteer opportunities, cultural activities, and the chance to live with a Dominican family.

Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center, established in 1998, gives students the opportunity to enroll in classes at El Bonó, UASD, and INTEC. In addition, FLACSO offers specially designed courses for CIEE students in Spanish language and cultural, literary, artistic, political, and social aspects of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean as a whole. Students generally enroll in one Spanish language course and a variety of CIEE-FLACSO content courses, as well as in courses at the other host institutions. This arrangement permits students to combine the specialized, more personalized think tank atmosphere of FLACSO with courses offered through INTEC, UASD, and El Bonó.

The program is suitable for advanced undergraduate students with strong language skills and a background in the social sciences or in Latin American studies.

Academic Culture
Academic culture in Dominican universities is different from that of universities and colleges in the United States. Direct enrollment in Dominican universities is one of the richest opportunities not only for academic learning, but also for immersing oneself in the language, for meeting Dominicans, and for learning about Dominican culture and society. However, it also brings many challenges, which include adapting to and learning from a more formal academic culture and dealing with limited or hard-to-find materials. CIEE students enrolling at INTEC can choose classes from the Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities, with a smaller number of classes selected from the Faculties of Business and Natural Sciences. Students at INTEC tend to be middle- and upper-middle class women and men from Santo Domingo. Classes range in size from 30 to 40. Most of the 100 students at El Bonó are young men studying philosophy on scholarship as part of their training to become priests. The classes are small (2030) and lecture-based.

UASD, a large public university, has an undergraduate population of 160,000 on its main campus in Santo Domingo. Classes tend to be very large and resources and infrastructure may vary from department to department.

At FLACSO, students will find that class content and structure is closer to U.S. universities, and that the atmosphere is more intimate and relaxed. Class size is from six to 18 students. A tutor is available at FLACSO to assist participants. At each institution, students can expect three to four contact hours a week for each class and should dedicate an hour of preparation for each hour of class.

Students are expected to rely on the advice of the Resident Director for their final course registrations during orientation, and any communication with home institutions is the responsibility of the student. The add/drop period varies from institution to institution. Students need to keep track of each institutions deadlines because after the deadline, course selections are final. There is a three-week break between the spring and fall semesters.

Highlights:

• Spanish language courses of varying levels to help students significantly
  improve skills
  
• Optional development internship working with local organizations
  
• Opportunity to focus on a Caribbean Studies track
  
• Excursions to sites of cultural importance, including the colonial zone, Museo del Hombre, ecological preserves, and an overnight trip to the Samaná Peninsula
  
• Independent study option, non-credit volunteer opportunities, and peer advisors

A trip to a market along the Dominican/ Haitian border is also included as part of the coursework. One-day excursions are also offered to national reserves, such as Loma Quita Espuela, Ébano Verde, Las Dunas de Baní, and Bahoruco Oriental; a colonial sugar mill; a religious syncretic altar; and caves with Taíno pictographs. Cultural activities in the city have included theater performances, classical music concerts, and visits to museums.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing

Experience Required: yes

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 5 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent
• Spanish language course within the past year recommended

  This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

  Typical Living Arrangements :

  Home-stays

  Participants Travel to Dominican Republic Independently

  Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

  Scholarships are Available. We have several scholarships that students can apply for. Contact CIEE for details.

  Application Process Involves:

  • Letters of Reference
  • Other
  • Transcript
  • Written Application

  CIEE's Mission Statement: Since 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." Our services to young people studying, working, teaching, and traveling abroad are more important than ever. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that guide this mission statement.

  Year Founded: 1947