Buenos Aires - Advanced Spanish Immersion

Students pose in Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Overview

Quick Facts

City:

Buenos Aires [1]

Country:

Argentina [2]

Program credits:

15-19 per semester (5-6 courses)

Language(s) of Instruction:

Spanish

Language prerequisites:

5 or more semesters of college-level Spanish

You read, write, and speak Spanish well—so why not take your education to the next level? Live and study in Buenos Aires! Specially designed for students with advanced Spanish language proficiency, our program allows you to build your language skills and cultural literacy as you immerse yourself in the culture of Argentina.

Buenos Aires will also be your classroom. Perfect your Spanish skills and make new friends while chatting with local Argentine students. Land an internship and gain real-life experience in your field of study. Welcome to study abroad!

In addition to advanced language study at the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center, you will choose courses from a variety of Spanish-taught IES Abroad courses focusing on areas such as Literature, Latin American Studies, Political Science, the Arts, and International Economics. You are also required to take at least one course at one of IES Abroad’s prestigious partner universities.

Finally, we want you to feel at home in Buenos Aires, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Buenos Aires. From internships to cultural activities, you will have numerous opportunities to get to know Argentina.

Program Dates

These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.

Academics

Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.

We offer unique courses that explore Argentine Language, History, and Culture, as well as other topics, through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class.

While in Buenos Aires, you must take 15–19 credit hours per semester. All courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. All courses are taught in Spanish and are offered both Fall and Spring semesters unless otherwise noted.

You customize your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:

IES Abroad Spanish language course (required, 4 credits)
Spanish writing clinics (3 credits)
Spanish-taught IES Abroad area studies courses (3 credits)
IES Abroad internship or service learning placement (3 credits)
At least one Spanish-taught partner university course at IUNA, UCES, UBA, USAL or UTDT (required, 3 credits)

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication [3].

Partner Institution(s)

To further enhance your linguistic development, you are required to take at least one partner university course. Course offerings vary by semester and final course listings are not available until right before the start of the semester. For that reason, you will register for partner university courses on-site.

Instituto Universitario Nacional de Arte (IUNA)
www.iuna.edu.ar [4]
The Instituto Universitario Nacional de Arte (IUNA) was created in 1996 when several universities specializing in art merged to form one prestigious institute. IUNA is recognized especially for its courses in Art and Dance. Courses are available to students with an academic background in one of the areas below, preferably a major or minor.

Dance [5] (Ballet, Jazz, Tango)
Music [6] (Classical, Folkloric, Choir, Orchestra)

Location & Commute Time
IUNA consists of a number of independent academic units whose buildings are located in different neighborhoods of the city of Buenos Aires. IUNA Artes del Movimiento is located in Almagro (SW), IUNA Artes Musicales is in Balvanera, almost downtown and IUNA Artes Visuales is in La Boca (S).

Daily commuting is a reality for everyone who lives in Buenos Aires. Like local students, you will commute to your classes. The commute time from IUNA to the IES Abroad Buenos Aires center and to most IES abroad housing is 45 minutes by public transporation.

University Clubs & Events
IUNA Artes Musicales has a music library of about 40,000 items within its facilities (Biblioteca Maestro Ernesto de la Guardia), and is also associated with the music library of the Centro Cultural Recoleta, which focuses on contemporary and electroacoustic music. If you choose to enroll in a course at IUNA, you will have access to both of these libraries when attending IUNA Artes Musicales. You may also attend performances arranged by IUNA.

Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
www.uba.ar [7]
Since 1821, UBA has played an important role in the social and political life of Argentina and has become the largest university in the country. The Universidad de Buenos Aires is one of the oldest and most prestigious public universities in Argentina.

You can enroll in select courses offered by the Facultad de Filosofia y Letras. Courses are available in the disciplines below. Final course offerings and specific course prerequisites will be given on-site. Learn more at the Facultad de Filosofia y Letras website [8].

Anthropology
Art History
Geography
History
Literature
Philosophy

Location & Commute Time
Unlike the typical university campus in the U.S., UBA does not have a main campus. The University consists of several independent academic units (Facultades) which are scattered in different neighborhoods throughout Buenos Aires. The UBA Facultad de Filosfía y Letras is located in Caballito on the west side of the city.

Daily commuting is a reality for everyone who lives in Buenos Aires. Like local students, you will commute to classes. UBA’s Faculdad de Filosfía y Letras is 40-45 minutes form the IES Abroad Center using public transportation.

University Clubs & Events
The university offers a number opportunities for you to participate in Argentine student life through its many cultural, social, and sports organizations. The International Office at UBA offers further opportunities for cultural exchange.

Universidad Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES)
www.uces.edu.ar [9]
The Universidad Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES) is a private university in Buenos Aires that was founded in 1988 with the purpose of creating a more unified connection between the business and academic worlds. Courses are available in the disciplines below.

Business
Economics
International Relations
Marketing

Location
The UCES campus is approximately six to seven blocks away from the IES Abroad Center.

Universidad del Museo Social Argentino (UMSA)
www.umsa.edu.ar [10]
The Universidad del Museo Social Argentino is a private university that was founded in 1961. Course disciplines are listed below. Studio Art courses are available to students pursuing a major or minor in Fine Arts.

Drawing
Sculpture
Painting
Engraving

Location
UMSA has modern facilities and is conveniently located a few blocks from the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center.

Universidad del Salvador (USAL)
www.salvador.edu.ar [11]
The Universidad del Salvador is one of the most prestigious private higher education institutions in the country. Courses are available in the disciplines below.

Economics
History
International Affairs
International Relations
Philosophy
Political Science
Sociology and other Social Sciences

Location & Commute Time
Unlike the typical university campus in the U.S., USAL does not have a main campus. The University consists of several independent academic units (Facultades) which are scattered in different areas throughout Buenos Aires. Most facultades are centrally located in the city.

Daily commuting is a reality for everyone who lives in Buenos Aires. Like local students, you will commute to classes. Most USAL facultades are located around the city center, within walking distance to the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center. The International Exchange Office at USAL is about a 15-20 minute walk from the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center.

Universidad Torcuato di Tella (UTDT)
www.utdt.edu [12]
The Universidad Torcuato di Tella is a non-profit institution founded in Buenos Aires in 1991 by the Institute and the Torcuato di Tella Foundation. It is a small private university that attracts students from throughout South America.

Because of the strong academic rigor of this university, you must have a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and a minimum of five semesters of Spanish to enroll in courses. You must also receive an appropriate placement on a Spanish language assessment, and submit additional application materials. Courses are available in the disciplines below. For a list of courses available to you as an international student at UTDT, visit their course catalog [13].

Business (Escuela de Negocios [14])
History (Departamento de Economía [15])
Economic (Departamento Historia [16])
International Relations (Escuela de Gobierno [17])
Government/ Political Science (Departamento de Ciencia Política y Estudios Internacionales [18])
Law (Escuela de Derecho [19])

Location & Commute Time
The university buildings are located in the Belgrano neighborhood, in the Northern part of Buenos Aires.

Daily commuting is a reality for everyone who lives in Buenos Aires. Like local students, you will commute to classes. The commute time from UTDT to the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center is normally 30-40 minutes.

University Clubs & Events
In addition to taking classes, you can experience other aspects of Argentine university life by participating in one of UTDT’s sports, academic, and cultural organizations.

Internships

While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship or service learning experience is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market. Internships and service learning placements also provide an invaluable cultural experience. You must enroll in an accompanying seminar for credit.

Placement Examples

Arts – What’s Up Buenos Aires & ZZK Records, Fundación TyPA; Fundación Proa; JuaneleAR
Business – Round Table on Responsible Soy Association, W3, RelevanSí, Impact Economy LA
Education – Centro Universitario de Idiomas
Government and Public Policy – Conferencia Permanente de Partidos Politicos de America Latina y el Caribe, Fundación Banco Provincia
Human Rights – Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos (APDH), Ashoka Emprendedores Sociales, Fundación Manos Abiertas, Fundación Pro Vivienda Social, Fundación Abrir la Puerta, Grupo Puentes, Fundación Ciudadanos del Mundo,
Public Health – Hospital Bernardino Rivadavia
Service Learning – Fundación Ciudadanos del Mundo, Grupo Puentes

Service Learning

In addition to internship opportunities, IES Abroad Buenos Aires also offers a unique service learning seminar opportunity for IES Abroad credit, with homeschool approval.

The English-taught service learning seminar focuses on social, cultural, and economic factors with particular emphasis on the role that human rights plays in Argentine history and society.

You are placed according to your interests as a volunteer with one of Argentina's many active civic organizations. Additional exciting class field work visits further enrich the seminar and volunteer placement components. You fulfill a minimum of eight hours per week or a total of 112 hours throughout the semester at the Service Learning placement.

Examples of the types of Service Learning placements students have had in the past include:

NGO specializing in Microcredit: Students worked in the communication, fundraising, and research department.
Human Rights Organization: Students had the opportunity to translate special materials, public outreach, coverage of public events, updating databases, and other administrative tasks.
Educational and Career building Organization: taught specialized English classes, and other IT support responsibilities.

Evaluations and Academic Credits
You complete written assignments in addition to field work visits, and volunteer placements. With homeschool approval you receive 3 credits and a grade for the seminar based on your performance at the assigned volunteer placement, participation in seminar sessions, and various assignments.

Field Study

IES Abroad Buenos Aires organizes field study trips that complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Argentine culture and society. Past field study excursions include:

An overnight field study excursion to visit Pipinas and Tandil to learn first-hand about the impacts of mining exploitation.
Students in The Making of Patagonia course traveled to Patagonia, a region of southern Argentina famous for its picturesque natural beauty.

Housing

Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Buenos Aires, it will feel like home.

Homestays – You live with a family or señora in a private homestay. These residences are centrally located throughout Buenos Aires. Breakfast and dinner are provided on weekdays.

Residence Hall – The residence hall is located in the historic San Telmo neighborhood, close to one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, El Obelisco. You will live in a residence hall with local and international students. Breakfast plus one additional meal voucher will be provided on weekdays. A limited number of rooms are available

Student Life

Part of making you feel at home in Buenos Aires is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services. That is just one of the things we’re known for.

Orientation

The program begins with an orientation that introduces you to our Buenos Aires staff, your fellow students, and the city of Buenos Aires. Topics such as academics, housing, transportation, and health and safety are covered.

Language instruction and an introduction to colloquial Spanish in Argentina are additional components of the orientation. You will also receive academic advising and will register for IES Abroad and partner university courses.

Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and
continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

Redefine the way you live and learn in Buenos Aires through our cultural events and activities, such as:

A visit to a lively, local market in the Mataderos neighborhood
Opera, theater, and symphony performances
Guest lectures on history, politics, and contemporary issues
Participation in the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Chorus

Field Trips

Although your adventure begins in Buenos Aires, our field trips take you to other great destinations in Argentina and beyond to provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Buenos Aires. You share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad. Multi-day trips are partially subsidized. Past destinations are listed below.

Colonia and Montevideo, Uruguay
4 Days | Spring
Enjoy city tours and visit the tranquil island of La Isla Martína Garcia.

El Tigre
2 Days | Fall & Spring
Visit a craft market and cruise through the picturesque Tigre Delta.

Lobos
1 Day | Fall & Spring
Learn about gaucho traditions at a local estancia.

Lu ján, San Pedro, and San Antonio De Areco
2 Days | Fall & Spring
Visit a traditional Argentine ranch and explore additional towns in Argentina.

Center

IES Abroad Buenos Aires [20]

The IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center is located in downtown Buenos Aires within walking distance of Plaza San Martin and Recoleta Cemetery.

Features include:

Classrooms
Student lounge
Small library
Staff offices
High-speed Internet and printer access

Center staff:

John Hudson
IES Abroad Director
Born and raised in Argentina, John Hudson has extensive experience living and learning abroad. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University, and he earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

John served as Director for the Buenos Aires Global Campus and Assistant Academic Dean for CEA. He was in charge of setting up the new Center in 2010, and since then has directed center operations, including daily management of the center campus, the recruitment and oversight of center faculty, and the supervision of center academic standards. Further duties include those as center liaison to U.S. colleges and universities, the maintenance of local university partnerships, and customized programs development. In addition to his responsibilities at their Buenos Aires center, John also supported CEA’s operations in other parts of Latin America, including Chile, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

John has served as the Director for the Graduate Marketing Program at the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa, as well as Director of the MBA Program at the Universidad de Palermo, Graduate School of Business in Buenos Aires. In Argentina, he has held numerous teaching appointments in the fields of international business and marketing, and John has served as a Visiting International Scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University.

IES Abroad Staff
Adriana De Napoli
Student Affairs Coordinator

Mercedes Eisele
Academic Coordinator

Agustín Eisele
Intership and Service Learning Coordinator

Laura Gatto
Academic Tutor

Ezequiel Ludueña
Academic Tutor

Lucía Paz
Intercultural Competence (ICC) Assistant

Ana Príncipi
Spanish Coordinator

Kate Rich
Student Affairs Advisor

Ana Sutera
Administrative Manager Assistant

Rosario Tobias
Intercultural Competence (ICC) Coordinator

Faculty
Pablo Comelatto, Economics
Ph.D., Demography, University of California - Berkeley

María Sonia Cristoff, Literature
Writer - Spanish Literature Degree, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Diego Finchelstein, Political Sciences
Ph.D., Economic Policy, Northwestern University

Hebe Gazzotti, Foreign Relations
Historian, Instituto Superior del Profesorado Joaquín V. Gonzáles; Sociologist, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Verónica Hollman, Geography
Ph.D., Social Sciences, FLACSO

Paula Hrycyk, History
Ph.D. Candidate, History, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Laura Isola, Literature
Ph.D. Candidate, Literature, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Laura Lenci, History
Ph.D. Candidate, History, University of Maryland

Andrés Levinson, Film Studies
M.A., History, Universidad de San Andrés; Ph.D. Candidate, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Mariano López Seoane, Sociology - History|
Ph.D. Latin American Literature, New York University

Gabriel Molteni, Economics
Ph.D. Economic History, University of London

Jorge Monteleone, Literature
Spanish Literature Degree, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Maria Pazo, International Relations
International Relations Degree, Universidad del Salvador

Mercedes Pico, Anthropology
Ph.D. Candidate, Anthropology, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Isabel Plante, Art History
Ph.D., Art History, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Lucas Agustín Rentero, History
Historian, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Mariela Eva Rodríguez, Anthropology - Literature
Ph.D., Literature and Cultural Studies, Georgetown University

Maria Florencia Sosa D'Este, Teaching English Internship
B.A., English, Instituto Nacional Superior del Profesorado en Lenguas Vivas “Juan Ramón Fernández”

Martín Ernesto Tessi, Business
Advertisement Degree, Universidad del Salvador

Lautaro Vilo, Theatre
Playwright, Actor, B.A. in Theatre, Universidad Nacional del Centro, Tandil, Argentina

Gastón Wright, Political Science
M.A., Political Science, University of Toronto

Cost