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.
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 Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences, all of which feature an academic emphasis on Latin America.
If you have beginning- or intermediate-level language skills, you can choose from a wide variety of English-taught IES Abroad courses in areas such as Literature, History, Anthropology, International Business 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 the prestigious Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. You can also take English-taught IES Abroad courses.
Buenos Aires will be your classroom. During your term, you'll enjoy more than 30 cultural events and trips with IES Abroad. 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 enroll in an internship, which includes time spent working at your placement in addition to an academic seminar that helps you contextualize what you’re learning.
We want you to feel at home in Buenos Aires, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing to cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
*Schedules for university final exams or coursework deadlines are not available until students are on-site. All students must depart IES Abroad housing the day after their last final exam. For that reason, it is recommended that students purchase airline tickets with open-ended or flexible return date policies.
*Students taking Argentina Today and no other partner university courses will depart on the IES Abroad Courses only date- November 25, 2017!
**Schedules for university final exams or coursework deadlines are not available until students are on-site. All students must depart IES Abroad housing the day after their last final exam. For that reason, it is recommended that students purchase airline tickets with open-ended or flexible return date policies.
*Students taking Argentina Today and no other partner university courses will depart on the IES Abroad courses only date.
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.
All students enrolled in Latin America Society & Culture are required to take at least Argentina Today, an English-taught area studies course offered only at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina (UCA). Alternate courses are available for students with advanced Spanish skills.
While in Buenos Aires, you take 15–19 credit hours per semester.
You customize your own academic experience by selecting from the following required and optional program components:
*Students must select at least one partner university course.
Academic Symposium Throughout the semester, you’ll work with faculty on a specific research project, and are invited to present your paper (in English or Spanish) to the entire Center community. Papers can be based on specific academic course-related projects or on students’ study abroad experiences, can be in Spanish or English, and are published at the end of the semester. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to hone your research, writing, and public presentation skills which will serve you well in your future endeavors, both academic and professional.
This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
Language of instruction can be found in each course syllabus.
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.
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.
When you enroll in a course at a partner university, you will commute to class just like the local students do.
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Argentina (UCA) www.uca.edu.arFounded in 1958, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina is a leading university that is internationally recognized. UCA enrolls approximately 22,000 students, hosting about 700 international students each year from 40 countries. You will enroll in the Argentina Today course, or in at least one other University course. Additional courses are available in the disciplines below:
Location & Commute Time The university’s Buenos Aires campus is located in the trendy Puerto Madero neighborhood, which is the historic waterfront area along the Rio de la Plata. The commute time from UCA to the IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center is normally 20-30 minute by public transportation.
Participating in a service learning experience in Buenos Aires is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of the city’s culture and society. Working alongside local people towards a common goal, you experience first-hand some of the social issues that affect Buenos Aires, while contributing your skills towards a community-driven solution.
A service learning experience consists of time spent with a local organization, accompanied by a weekly academic, for-credit service learning seminar. Through the seminar, you have structured time for reflection and discussion, and even research, on the issues of your host community.
Possible placements may include organizations focusing on:
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.
Course-related trips are academic trips associated with courses. They are organized to complement IES Abroad courses and contribute to a general knowledge of Argentine culture and society. Participation is based on course registration.
Past examples of short course-related trips include:
EXTENDED COURSE-RELATED TRIP Students in The Making of Patagonia course traveled to Patagonia, a region in southern Argentina, which is famous for its picturesque beauty.
While adding study abroad to your résumé is impressive enough, adding an internship is even more powerful, and can help distinguish your application for graduate school or a job opportunity in today’s competitive job market.
Here are just some of the ways your internship will set you apart:
An internship provides an invaluable cultural experience, and helps you develop professional and personal skills. All IES Abroad internships are supervised and offered as academic options earning 3 IES Abroad credits. No prior Spanish language study is required, though placement options can vary based on your language levels.
A service learning placement allows you to develop similar skills while working within social organizations in Argentina.
Placement Areas
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which 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 - Live in a centrally-located homestay with local residents. This is a great option if you’d like to improve your language fluency and immerse yourself in the local culture. Twelve meals are provided per week.
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.
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.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Buenos Aires through our cultural events and activities, such as:
Although your adventure begins in Buenos Aires, our field trips take you to other great destinations in Argentina and provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Buenos Aires. Most trips are covered by IES Abroad; you share a portion of the cost with IES Abroad for some trips.
Possible destinations may include:
San Antonio De Areco- Estancia La Porteña1 Day | Fall & SpringSpend the day immersed in folklore and tradition as you visit this beautiful estancia in the country. The Estancia is famous for one of the most well-known Argentine writers, Ricardo Güiraldes, and his internationally-acclaimed novel “Don Segundo Sombra”. The Estancia is the place where he found the inspiration to write about the “gauchos” to whom he rendered tribute by making them popular.
Luján1 Day | Fall & SpringVisit the city of Luján, with its famous cathedral where pilgrims come from all over the country. Spend the day at an estancia and enjoy outdoor recreational activities.
San Isidro1 day | Fall & SpringTour San Isidro, one of Buenos Aires' most beautiful suburbs known for its wealth and tradition. Take a guided walking tour through the main town square with its Neo-Gothic cathedral and handicraft fair. Then tour the Museo Villa Ocampo, and finish the day by the Río de la Plata with its amazing views of the city.
Salta & Jujuy 4-5 Days | Fall & SpringExperience both Salta and Jujuy Provinces, near the Bolivian border, and engage in activities like trekking in the Andean foothills and the salt flats of Salinas Grandes, or visiting the Museum of High Mountain Archaeology in the center of Salta town. While there, enjoy the unique local cuisine and culture, including the local folklore music and dance typical of this region.
Colonia del Sacramento1 Day | Fall & SpringTravel across the River Plate to Uruguay to visit the 300-year-old town of Colonia. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the historic quarter of Colonia reflects the old Spanish and Portuguese colonial styles, with its narrow cobblestone streets and remnants of its original fort, and dotted with quaint cafes, some overlooking the river toward Buenos Aires in the far distance.
About the Center
The IES Abroad Buenos Aires Center is located in downtown Buenos Aires within walking distance of Plaza San Martin and Recoleta Cemetery.
Features include:
Born and raised in Argentina, Juan 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. Prior to joining IES Abroad, Juan held senior academic and managerial roles in the study abroad field in Latin America. Juan has also 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 Juan has served as a Visiting International Scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University.
IES Abroad Staff
Agustín EiseleDirector of Academics
Florencia MagnascoStudent Affairs Manager
Ileana Ayos Partner Programs Coordinator
Rosario TobiasAdministrative Manager and Intercultural Competence (ICC) Coordinator
Ana PríncipiSpanish Coordinator
Tomás Fernández AbrevayaMoodle and Administrative Assistant
What is it really like to live in Buenos Aires? Check out our virtual tour of all the places you’ll come to know and love when you study abroad there—GO!
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