Santiago – Health Studies | IES Abroad

Why Santiago?

With a population of more than five million people, Santiago is both the capital of Chile and its largest city. Its residents have a community-centered public health system, one that you’ll be able to observe and experience first-hand when you study abroad in Santiago.

Designed for advanced Spanish students in health-related majors such as Pre-Med, Nursing, and Public Health, as well as students in other health-related fields, this program offers valuable insight into Santiago’s health care system. You will develop health care-related experience while improving your communication skills through a Spanish course for health care practitioners. While in Santiago, you also have the option to enroll in Spanish-taught courses at our partner universities: Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

What You'll Study

Courses offered include:

Spanish for Health Care Practitioners – This course is designed to help you develop Spanish language skills for a career in health. It stresses the acquisition of medical vocabulary, as well as health-related and intercultural communication skills.
Health Studies Seminar – This unique course includes a seminar that provides a background and context for health care in Chile, as well as an observership that includes 80 hours of relevant experience. You have three options for the practicum:
- Clinical Observation – Visit private and public clinics/hospitals and interact with different health care professionals.
- Community Health – Work with a not-for-profit organization that works in underprivileged neighborhoods to promote health education and improve living conditions. You will be matched according to your skills and experience.
- Clinical Public Health – Visit and observe up close the different specialties in Chile’s largest public hospital, Dr. Sotero del Río. You will be able to choose among the variety of hospital departments and environments to focus your experience even more.

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Daily Life

Santiago will be your classroom. Don’t just observe the Chilean people—live like one when you explore the vibrant craft markets; enjoy chilean cuisine like asado Chileno, paila marina, and machas a la parmesana; and appreciate local photography, sculpture, and paintings at Galería AFA and other nearby museos—all while practicing your Spanish language skills, of course.

We want you to feel at home in Santiago, so we do everything we can to help you integrate into life in the city. From housing and cultural events, our job is to make sure you have the most authentic study abroad experience possible.

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

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 Spanish language, Chilean 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.

You take 15–19 credits per semester, and all courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise specified. All courses at IES Abroad Santiago and partner universities are taught in Spanish. Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components:

IES Abroad Health Studies courses (required)
- Spanish for Health Care Practitioners (4 credits)
- Health Studies Program Seminar (4 credits)
IES Abroad Spanish language course (optional, 4 credits)
IES Abroad Spanish-taught area studies courses (optional, 3 credits each)
Spanish-taught courses at local universities (optional, 3–5 credits each)
Internship placement and seminar (optional, 4 credits)
Service learning placement and seminar (optional, 4 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.

Art History
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT/LS/AH 231 - Social and Political Role of the Arts in Chile and Latin America	Spring	Spanish	3

Anthropology
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
AN 322 - Native Cultures	Fall, Spring	Spanish	3

Economics
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
EC 322B - The Transformation of the Chilean and Other Latin American Economies from the late 20th into the 21st Century	Spring	Spanish	3
PO/IR/EC 342 - Chile: Regional and Global Trade Organizations	Fall	Spanish	3

Health Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HL 395 - Health Studies Program Seminar	Fall, Spring, Summer	Spanish	4

History
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HS/PO 340 - Human Rights in Latin America	Fall	Spanish	3
PO/HS 372 - The Radical Tradition of Chile, Argentina, and Peru	Spring	Spanish	3

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
SL/IN 395 - Internship and Service Learning Seminar	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4

International Relations
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
PO/IR/EC 342 - Chile: Regional and Global Trade Organizations	Fall	Spanish	3

Latin American Studies
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT/LS/AH 231 - Social and Political Role of the Arts in Chile and Latin America	Spring	Spanish	3

Literature
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
LT/LS/AH 231 - Social and Political Role of the Arts in Chile and Latin America	Spring	Spanish	3

Political Science
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
HS/PO 340 - Human Rights in Latin America	Fall	Spanish	3
PO/HS 372 - The Radical Tradition of Chile, Argentina, and Peru	Spring	Spanish	3
PO/IR/EC 342 - Chile: Regional and Global Trade Organizations	Fall	Spanish	3

Service Learning
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
SL/IN 395 - Internship and Service Learning Seminar	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4

Spanish
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
SP 303 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 320 - Spanish for Healthcare Practitioners	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 353 - Spanish Language in Context: Independent Abroad	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4
SP 403 - Spanish Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad	Fall, Spring	Spanish	4

Partner Institution(s)

The IES Abroad Santiago Academic Coordinator will work with you to discuss university course recommendations based on your Spanish level and home university requirements.

Santiago universities release their official course offerings just before the start of each semester. For this reason, you cannot officially register until you arrive onsite. Some courses may require prerequisites or a qualifying interview, audition, or special exam. University course offerings vary by semester.

Universidad de Chile
www.uchile.cl
The Universidad de Chile is a prestigious public university known for its outstanding research initiatives and undergraduate curriculum. Courses are available in the disciplines below.

Courses
Courses are available in the disciplines below. Visit http://www.uchile.cl/pregrado for course details.

Agriculture
Anthropology
Archaeology
Architecture
Art History
Biochemistry
Biology
Chemistry
Dance (audition required)
Economics
Engineering
English
Environmental
Fine Arts Interpretation (audition required)
Geography
Geology
Graphic Design
Health Studies
Hispanic Literature
History
Journalism
Literature
Management
Mathematics
Music (audition required)
Music Theory
Philosophy
Physics
Psychology
Sociology
Theater
Theater Design

Location & Commute Time
The Universidad de Chile has six campuses and faculties around the city. The commute time from the Universidad de Chile to the IES Abroad Santiago Center is approximately 30 minutes by public transportation.

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
www.puc.cl
Chile’s largest private university, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, offers courses in the disciplines below.

Some courses have prerequisites. See www.puc.cl for additional details. Select Facultades y Carreras, by the link for your academic area of interest, and then cursos. PUC usually requires a personal interview before approving course enrollment.

Courses
Visit catalogo.uc.cl/ and select your academic area of interest. PUC usually requires a personal interview before approving course enrollment. University course offerings vary by semester and not all courses are available to international students. Below are disciplines available to IES Abroad students.

Agriculture
Architecture
Art
Astronomy
Biochemistry
Biology
Business (AACSB and EQUIS accredited)
Chemistry
Computer Science
Design
Drama (audition required)
Economics (AACSB and EQUIS accredited)
Education
Engineering
English Literature
Fine Arts
Forestry
Geography
History
Journalism
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music (audition required)
Nursing
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religion
Social Work
Sociology
Spanish Literature
Statistics
Theology
Translation

Location & Commute Time
The campuses of PUC are located in different parts of the city, all very close to public transportation. The commute time from the IES Abroad Santiago Center to PUC is about 30 minutes by public transportation.

Service Learning

Participating in a service learning experience in Santiago 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 Santiago, 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:

Community Health
Social issues unique to Santiago

Volunteer Opportunities
When you volunteer in Santiago, you have the chance to make a difference in the local community while meeting new people and gaining a new perspective on the world. If you are passionate about volunteering abroad, just let the onsite staff know at the beginning of your term. Past volunteer opportunities in Santiago include:

Working with low-income families of indigenous descent to strengthen culture
Providing tech support and practicing translation skills at a not-for-profit
Collecting and conducting data analysis to provide aid for contemporary labor issues

Internships

Interning while you study in Santiago gives you a rewarding job experience with a wealth of longlasting career benefits. You will:

Gain a better understanding of the real-life, everyday culture of your host country
Add global work experience and skills to your résumé or your application for graduate school
Improve your confidence

All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship.

Personalized Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal internship placement that fulfills your academic and career goals. We’ve placed students with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently work with a business or organization in your field of interest, we will search for a placement that’s right for you.

Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—new internships are always being added.

Business
Education
Government & Politics
Humanities
Museum Sciences

Field Trips & Events

Even though your adventure starts in Santiago, our field trips take you beyond the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country. (The orientation trip and the Chiloé field trip are subsidized by IES Abroad and are contingent on student participation.) Here are a few possible destinations.

Chiloé
3 Days | Spring
Visit Chile’s largest island to learn and experience more about the importance of sustainable agriculture and the tourism industry. And don’t miss your chance to see the cute penguins!

San Pedro De Atacama
3 Days | Fall & Spring
Enjoy activities like biking and sand boarding in the driest desert in the world. You will also visit one of the world’s largest astronomy projects: ALMA.

La Serena
3 Days | Fall
Experience Chile’s diverse coastal geography, see penguins, and observe other native animals at a national nature preserve. Astronomy enthusiasts will especially enjoy a visit to Mamalluca and Tololo: some of the world’s most well-known astronomical research and observation centers.

Torres Del Paine
3 Days | Fall & Spring
Hike on ancient glaciers and winding mountain paths in one of Chile’s most spectacular national parks.

Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
1 Day | Fall & Spring
During this orientation field trip, you will discover the culture of two of Chile’s most beautiful coastal towns: one is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the other is home to one of Chile’s Nobel Prize poets: Pablo Neruda.

Note: IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities, and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.

Daily Life

Part of making you feel at home in Santiago is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your 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.

Orientation

The program begins with a mandatory one-week orientation that introduces you to the IES Abroad Santiago staff, your fellow students, and the city of Santiago.

After visiting partner universities and meeting with the IES Abroad Santiago Academic Coordinator, you also register for courses during orientation. Both Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile have a half-day orientation for international students.

Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.

Housing

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 Santiago, it will feel like home.

Homestays - You live with a family or señora who helps facilitate your language learning and integration into Chilean society. Your homestay host provides two meals per day during the week and breakfast on the weekend. Internet access and on-site laundry will be available.

Residence Hall – The student residence hall offers a study room, printing lab, gym, pool, and more. You have the option to live in a single room with your own bathroom or in a double room where you share a bedroom and bathroom with another student. In both options, you also have shared access to a living room and kitchenette. No meals are provided. Limited placements are available.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

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

Neighborhood tours of Santiago
Visits to local museums and cultural institutions
The IES Abroad Club Chileno activities with local students

Get to Know Your New City

Climb Cerro Santa Lucia

Take in sweeping views of Santiago at this hill located in the heart of the city.

Bite Into a Chilean Empanada

Visit a panadería to try this savory local dish.

Hike Cerro Pochoco

Get a taste of the Andes Mountains right in Santiago’s backyard.

See the Street Art

Have lunch and stroll through the barrio of Bellavista. Check out the street art as you take in the sight and sounds of Santiago.

Visit Sky Costanera for a 360° View of Santiago

Take an elevator to the top of Sky Costanera and see the city through different eyes—from 300 meters up!

Program Cost

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.

Term: Spring 2020
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Spring 2020	$13,305	$3,120	$230	$16,655

Term: Fall 2019
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Fall 2019 Academic Year	$13,045 $23,470	$3,055 $6,110	$230 $550	$16,330 $30,130

Scholarships & Aid

Program-Specific Scholarships

John Gearen Need-Based Dublin or Developing Regions Scholarship

Up to $1,000; awarded to 2 students each year

John Gearen, a member of the IES Abroad Board of Directors for many years and past chair of the Board for six years, is a leading real estate attorney and Rhodes Scholar who is involved in numerous philanthropic causes. Mr. Gearen has generously established this scholarship to support students who have an interest in studying on an IES Abroad Center in a developing region of the world (Argentina, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ireland, Morocco, or South Africa).

Robert McNeill Need-Based International Business Scholarship

Up to $3,000; awarded to 2 students each year

This scholarship is named in honor of Robert McNeill, member of the IES Abroad Board of Directors for 25 years (6 years as Chairman). Open to students who have an interest in international business. Majors might include management, marketing, economics, finance, international relations, and social and behavioral sciences.

Adelyn Dougherty Leander Need-Based Urban Issues Scholarship

Up to $3,000; awarded to 4-6 students each year

Open to students who have an interest in urban studies (a major in urban studies is not required).

William E. & Mary M. Dwyer Need-Based Spanish Scholarship

Ranges up to $1,000; awarded to 4-6 students each year

These scholarships are intended for students interested in studying in a Spanish-speaking country.

Kathleen Kervin Diamond Endowed Scholarship

Up to $2,000 each; awarded to 4-6 students each year

Kathleen Diamond is a consultant, entrepreneur, and business leader in the language services industry. In 1979, she founded Language Learning Enterprises, Inc. (LLE®), a full-service language company based in Washington, D.C. She is recognized as an early pioneer in Telephone Interpreting, launching LLE-LINK in the early 1990s. Over the next 20 years, under her leadership, the company grew into a dynamic, multimillion dollar corporation, serving a wide range of clients, in both the private and public sectors, across the United States, and worldwide. In 2009, Ms.

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

Learn More

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

Learn more

Our Center

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While in Santiago, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Santiago Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Chilean experience.

The IES Abroad Center is located in Providencia, a vibrant residential neighborhood in central Santiago.

Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.

Take your IES Abroad courses in the Center’s classrooms
Study in the small library
Connect with friends in the student lounge
Hang out in the charming, open-air courtyard
Whip up a bite to eat in the kitchen and dining area
Utilize WiFi

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Our Staff

María del Carmen Cortés Arce

Center Director

A native of Santiago, Maricarmen has over 30 years of experience with local development activities with government and non-profit organizations, including Wilder Center for Communities (part of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Saint Paul, MN), Franklin Covey Chile, the United States Peace Corps in Santiago, FINAM (a Women's World Banking NGO), and the Miguel Kast Foundation. Maricarmen holds a Master's and B.A. in Architecture from the Universidad de Chile, and was also a Fulbright Scholar through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program with the University of Minnesota.