Dominican Republic

About Santiago

With a population of nearly 700,000, Santiago de los Caballeros was founded in 1504 and is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic. It is located in the northwest portion of the country, surrounded by mountains and accessible to the Atlantic coast. Santiago serves as the provincial capital and is the commercial and cultural center of the fertile Cibao Valley. Despite its status as the second largest city in the country, Santiago retains its regional, “small-town” feel that will encourage students to immerse themselves in the dynamic culture of this Caribbean nation.

The Program
The Dominican Republic program, sponsored by a consortium of schools (Colgate University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, LeMoyne College and the University of Illinois at Chicago), is designed to offer students interested in Latin America and the Hispanic Caribbean the opportunity to study a vibrant multicultural society from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will attend classes at Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), recognized as among the finest academia institutons in the Caribbean, and will reside with local families for a full cultural and linguistic immersion experience.

Courses
The academic program will be conducted in Spanish. There are two required courses, including a language course and a director’s seminar on an aspect of the Hispanic Caribbean. Students will also choose two electives offered in the humanities, social sciences or area studies at PUCMM. It is strongly recommended that students take the community service or social themes course with community service placement as one elective.

Workshop in Spanish Conversation
Students will develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in this course. The class will meet five hours each week. Students who are at a very high level of Spanish (native or near native proficiency) are exempt from the Spanish language course and will substitute another elective.

Spring 2008 Director’s Course
Taught by the Resident Director, this course will relate to some aspect of the Hispanic Caribbean region, culture or society. This course will provide students the opportunity to share an academic experience with each other and the director.

(recommended elective) Community Service: Theory and Practicum
The course will consist of a practicum and theoretical aspects of community service. Service opportunities are typically in public health, education, and community organizations. There will be regular required meetings with the resident director each month during the program to discuss the students’ experiences working in the community.

Elective courses
The elective courses on offer include: “Afro-Caribbean Cultures”, “Culture and Society Through the Cinema”, “Dominican Social Themes”, “Introduction to Dominican Folklore”, “Short Story of the Spanish Caribbean,” “Current Social Problems of the Dominican Republic,” “History of the Caribbean,” “Literature of Women in Latin American and in the Caribbean,” and “Dominican-Haitian Relations”. For very advanced students regular courses at PUCMM may be possible. Students can also enroll in the ESL/EFL training course taught at the Dominican/American Institute as an elective. For more information on course possibilities, go to www.pucmmsti.edu.do.

Academic Focus
This program is applicable for those studying Spanish language, Latin American and Caribbean studies and Women’s Studies, as well as other academic fields.

Eligibility
Open to all sophomores, juniors and seniors in good academic and social standing with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and who have demonstrated competence in Spanish level. Due to the challenging nature of study abroad, student academic and disciplinary records will be carefully screened.

Accommodations
Students will live with a family in Santiago de los Caballeros. The homestay provides students a perspective into Dominican family life and the opportunity for daily practice of the language. During the excursions students will be housed in hotels and hostels.

Excursions
Students will visit the city of Santo Domingo (the first urban center in the Americas established under Spanish colonial rule) for a colloquium involving lectures by prominent scholars who live in the capital and will participate in a number of cultural activities including visits to museums and historic sites. Excursions to other parts of the island such as Jarabacoa, a site in the mountains, La Isabela, the first settlement established by Columbus in the Americas, Montecristi, a traditional town with century old homes, and Samaná, a resort town on the northwestern coast, will expose students to the history, contemporary socio-economic conditions, and vivid beauty of the Dominican Republic.

Extra Costs
Air transportation from Chicago to Santiago, the orientation site, and back; books, materials, and toiletries; personal travel and entertainment; and other personal expenses. Passport and visa.

Estimate of student expenses(link under construction)

Application Deadline
* This program is offered every spring semester
* Applications are available at the SFIP Office(1727 UH,UIC)
* Applications are due at the 1727UH.For the specific date contact 1727 UH in October 15

NOTE: The information contained in this brochure is subject to change. Please see the 1727UH for more information.

Web link for Dominican Republic:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/hispanic/dr/dr.html