• Description

  The Community Public Health study abroad program in Buenos Aires, Argentina is designed for students whose academic objectives include learning about health and healthcare from a social science perspective, and is intended for undergraduate students with intermediate and advanced Spanish language skills. This program is primarily oriented toward students focusing on Public Health, Biology, Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Political Sciences, Communication, and Environmental Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Sciences, Health Management, among others. Over the course of the program, students should expect to learn about strategies for overcoming challenges in the health arena by comparing the context of public health in developing nations (Argentina & Uruguay) with that of the United States and Canada. Additionally, participants will be able to improve their Spanish language skills significantly. The program involves intensive classroom-based theory, language instruction, and field work placements in diverse public health sites throughout Argentina and Uruguay.

  Academic Program:
  Students enroll in three required courses consisting of two components - academic coursework and fieldwork. The academic component prepares students linguistically in Spanish and provides a theoretical framework for understanding the healthcare system in Argentina as compared to healthcare systems in other parts of the world. During their fieldwork, students are placed in small groups to observe and participate in the healthcare system, and are involved in such initiatives as healthcare promotion. Students come to better understand the social inequities that impact health in various parts of Argentina. In addition, students learn from their peers and, after their fieldwork, have a broader vision of healthcare challenges, as well as strategies for meeting those challenges.

  The field component is in one of six geographic areas:

  Buenos Aires City and Buenos Aires Province (AMBA): The project in this region focuses on a network of maternal-perinatal centers in an urban environment with the objective of improving the quality of prenatal and postnatal services based on a research-action process. AMBA provides an example of a large organization that serves one-third of the country's population.

  City of Mendoza (Mendoza Province - 15 hours from Buenos Aires City): This province, bordering Chile, is working on how it manages public health policy through cooperative efforts between the Department of Education and the Department of Health. The project in this region allows students to observe how governmental departments cooperate to provide healthcare services.

  Concepcion del Uruguay (Entre Rios Province - 2 hours from Buenos Aires City): This province, which borders Uruguay, has a largely rural population and offers students the opportunity to observe how healthcare services are dispersed in a rural environment.

  Olavarria (Buenos Aires Province - 4 hours from Buenos Aires City): A county located in the heart of Buenos Aires Province, Olavarria offers students the opportunity to observe how healthcare services are dispersed in a rural environment.

  Montevideo (Uruguay, 3 hours from Buenos Aires by ship or a 30 minute flight): This city is located on the Rio de La Plata and offers students the possibility of learning about youth health programs and inclusive approaches to working with people who have disabilities.

  Buenos Aires City, Pasteur Institute: This institution belongs to the government of Buenos Aires and is in charge of developing primary care programs and services related to urban zoonosis (disease transmission between humans and animals). The purpose of this experience is to understand the contribution of veterinary public health in large urban settings as an expression of the quality of the environment and quality of life for its population.

  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 syllabus provided to students, and assessments made based on a range of assignments that include papers, exams, and final presentations. Academic tutorials are offered for each course. With CIEE support and supervision, students meet with tutors who help them maximize their classroom experience.

• Highlights

  * Enroll in three weeks of public health and Spanish courses, followed by four weeks of public health field work placements
  * Intensive Spanish courses focus on public health terminology
  * Study with experts and university researchers in specially designed interdisciplinary courses in public health
  * Learn about healthcare in Argentina and Uruguay through hands-on field experience guided by local public health practitioners and academics

Culture
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
This program includes guided visits to sites of historic and cultural importance in Buenos Aires and other cities in Argentina. There is a weekend trip scheduled outside Buenos Aires. The program also involves field placements for all students in the program.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Culture
• Languages / Linguistics
• Public Health
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing.

Program Fees Include:

The CIEE fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, tuition, housing and two meals per day, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, predeparture advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Experience Required

yes

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 5 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent
• College-level coursework in public health recommended
• College-level coursework in history or politics of Argentina or Latin America recommended

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

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.

Year Founded

1947