CIEE Liberal Arts Program in Buenos Aires,Argentina

  Argentina

• Buenos Aires: 
Buenos Aires

Term: Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 20 weeks: mid July-mid-December; Spring 20 weeks: mid-July-mid-July; Calendar Year: 39 weeks- mid February- mid- December

Description: Academically, the goals of this program are to provide students with a critical appreciation of Argentina and its importance in Latin America from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities. This is achieved through specially-designed CIEE courses offered at FLACSO and direct enrollment courses in academic departments and faculties at UBA, UCA, and IUNA. Culturally, students will learn to live in rather than visit the Argentine culture by living with a host family or in a student residence hall. Students will work with experienced resident staff to reflect upon and resolve challenges they encounter in their new cultural setting.

Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center in Argentina, established in 1993, includes specialized courses at FLACSO in a variety of disciplines taught by experts in various academic fields, and taught exclusively to CIEE students. In addition, students are required to enroll in direct enrollment courses within academic departments and faculties at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), and the Instituto Universitario Nacional de Arte (IUNA). This arrangement allows CIEE students to combine the specialized, more personalized think tank atmosphere of FLACSO with the vibrant and challenging Argentine university life of UBA, UCA, and IUNA. Given the acknowledged excellence of the faculty and wide range of course offerings at these institutions, the CIEE program is suitable for undergraduate students with very strong language skills. All courses are taught in Spanish.

Academic Culture
At FLACSO, courses are organized and evaluated on a system very similar to that in the U.S., with each professor following a provided syllabus. At UBA, classes normally meet for six hours per week and class time is divided between lectures and discussion workshops. At UCA, students matriculate in courses ranging from 10 to 30 students. At IUNA, class size varies in each department from smaller seminar-style classes to larger survey courses. The atmosphere of the universities is quite distinct in terms of the socio-demographic backgrounds of the student bodies, their political leanings, size of classes, and infrastructure. The opportunity to enroll in more than one Argentine university is unique and provides insight into the diversity of the Argentine educational system.

The academic year program roughly coincides with the North American academic year, taking place from July to July; the calendar year program coincides with the Argentinean academic year and takes place from late February to mid-December. Academic year students have a three-month break between semesters, and calendar year students have a one week break between the first and second semesters.

Because Argentine students follow specialized paths of university studies, their expertise in their area of study is advanced, so the level of difficulty may be higher than what is typical at the U.S. undergraduate level.

Highlights:

• Unique CIEE courses about Latin American and Argentine issues at FLACSO, including a seminar on community service and volunteerism
  
• Facilitated course registration, academic writing workshops, and individualized class tutorials to support students in direct enrollment courses
  
• CIEE field trips to cultural and historical destinations within Buenos Aires and an educational field trip to Tilcara, a northern province
  
• Cultural immersion activities facilitated by "Grupos de Interes" with Argentina peers

Immersion
Mes de la Familia
For one month at the beginning of the program, there are specially planned activities for CIEE students and host families. The organized activities gather families and students living in the same neighborhood to introduce and build a neighborhood network of local Argentines that students will interact with in addition to their own host family.

Volunteer Opportunities
CIEE students can volunteer with organizations involved in social policy, human rights, community service, and health issues. Students interested in this option enroll in the Seminar on Community Service and Volunteer Work course, which includes 15 hours of theoretical coursework and 45 hours of volunteer service.

Grupos de Interés
These special interest groups provide students with an opportunity to participate in cultural activities organized around a particular issue. Examples include soccer, theater, movies, and cooking.

Club de Tango
This activity provides students the opportunity to learn how to dance tango, the national Argentine dance. Lessons meet for two hours on a weekly basis and are taught by an Argentine.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

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

Experience Required: yes