Buenos Aires - Latin American Societies and Cultures

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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:

English

Spanish

Language prerequisites:

None

If you’re ready for an urban adventure, Buenos Aires is your city. With endless city districts and neighborhoods to explore, you will get lost in the sights and sounds of Buenos Aires. Tango the night away as you learn the country’s popular dance, attend one of the many soccer games, and browse the local art scene—all this and more awaits you as a study abroad student in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires will also be your classroom. Learn about visual arts in the city and then meet with local graffiti artists before seeing their work. Study the impact of globalization in Latin America and then get an internship with one of the country’s top businesses. Welcome to study abroad!

Open to students of all language levels, the Latin American Societies & Cultures Program allows you to improve your Spanish language skills while taking courses in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, all of which feature an academic emphasis on Latin America.

If you have beginning- and intermediate-level language skills, you can choose from a wide variety of English-taught IES Abroad courses in areas such as the Arts, Literature, Film, Anthropology, and Political Science. If you have advanced-level Spanish language skills, you have the option to choose from Spanish-taught IES Abroad courses and courses through our prestigious university partners. You also have the option to take up to two English-taught IES Abroad courses.

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 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 take 15–19 credit hours per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. Language courses are taught in Spanish. Advanced level Spanish students with four or more semesters of Spanish or the equivalent can take a maximum of two English-taught courses.

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

IES Abroad Spanish language course (required, 4- or 6-credits)
Spanish language reading/writing workshop (3 credits)
English-taught IES Abroad Area Studies courses (3 credits)
Spanish-taught IES Abroad Area Studies courses (for students with advanced language skills, 3 credits)
Select Spanish-taught courses at IUNA, UCES, and UMSA (for students with advanced language skills; additional prerequisites may apply, 3 credits)
IES Abroad internship or service learning placement (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)

The following universities release their official course offerings just before the start of each semester. For this reason, you will not be able to register for university courses until you arrive on-site. Course offerings vary by semester. Eligibility depends on language level and, in some cases, your previous academic experience in the discipline.

Instituto Universitario Nacional de Arte (IUNA)
www.iuna.edu.ar [4]
The Instituto Universitario Nacional de Arte 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 in the disciplines below to students with an academic background--preferably a major or minor--in the area.

Dance [5] (Ballet, Jazz, Tango)
Music [6] (Classical, Folkoric, 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 transportation.

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 Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES)
www.uces.edu.ar [7]
The Universidad Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES) is a private university in Buenos Aires. UCES 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 to students who meet language requirements.

Business
Economics
International Relations
Marketing

Location & Commute Time
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 [8]
The Universidad del Museo Social Argentino (UMSA) is a private university that was founded in 1961. Students of all language levels with the relevant academic background can enroll in courses at UMSA (up to four courses in addition to the required IES Abroad Spanish course).

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 & Commute Time
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 [9]
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.

Internships

While adding study abroad to your resume is impressive enough, adding an international internship experience is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market.

In addition, an IES Abroad internship provides an invaluable cultural experience and helps you develop professional and personal skills. No prior Spanish language study is required, though placement options can vary based on your language levels. You enroll in an accompanying seminar to earn credit.

A service learning placement allows you to develop similar skills while working within social organizations in Argentina.

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 (COPPPAL), Fundación Banco Provincia
Human Rights – Asamblea Permanente por los Derechos Humanos (APDH), Ashoka Emprendedores Sociales, Fundación Manos Abiertas
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 fuman 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. You receive three IES Abroad 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 firsthand about the impacts of mining exploitation.
Students in The Making of Patagonia course travel 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 will 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 making sure 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 places off the beaten path— we’re all about our student services. This 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 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 Martín García.

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 [10]

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