Academics
The Advanced Undergraduate Research Program will be based at the CIEE Study Center in Buenos Aires, at FLACSO Argentina. The program’s main feature is an integrated academic offering designed to provide participants with interdisciplinary social science knowledge, research skills, and experience.
Study abroad program courses will be linked via content planning and sequencing, using a team teaching method that will bring together instructors of content, methodology, and language, as well as research project facilitators and mentors. All courses and tutorials are taught by local Argentinean faculty, most of whom have faculty appointments at FLACSO or other Argentinean universities. Courses typically meet every morning or afternoon, Monday through Friday, for a minimum of three hours a week each. Required tutorial meetings for individual research projects will take place outside of, and in addition to, classes.
Students will select two to three CIEE content courses depending on their academic backgrounds and interests. Each student will choose a thematic focus and research question based on their coursework, and will develop an associated individual research proposal and project.
Throughout the program, instructors will jointly provide support and feedback to study abroad students in assessing, approving, and supervising research topics, and facilitating access to appropriate research sources. The mandatory research methods course will provide the academic, linguistic, and theoretical background necessary to develop and carry out individual research projects, and will include individual tutorials in which students will receive one on one mentoring on their research topics and projects.
Under the guidance of CIEE and FLACSO faculty and researchers, students will have access to the people, knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to design and complete individual methodologically rigorous, graduate quality research projects.
Academic Culture
Courses are designed to offer opportunities for students to draw connections between the theory, content, methodology, and research that form the pillars of their academic study abroad experience. Courses will also weave in reflection on, and analysis of, student’s research-based and extracurricular cultural experiences that will take place outside of the classroom. Each course will conduct several out-of-class activities in which students will be able to observe and interact with individuals and organizations representing the main topics covered by each course, including organizational visits, civic events, and lectures and interviews with political and nongovernmental representatives. Through these activities, students will meet social and political actors that are relevant to the issues being examined in each course and in the research students undertake.
Content courses aim to integrate a theoretical frame with the topics that will become the basis of students’ individual research projects. Each research project will allow students to explore in a deeper way one or more local manifestations of development and/or globalization, and undertake research that explores local trends and phenomena and reflects on the local geographical and cultural context, as well as on the context of students’ chosen research subjects.
During the program orientation, students will have a formal introduction to each course’s content and academic objectives and expectations. Students will select those courses that best align with their academic and research interests through individual meetings with the program RD and course teachers.
Study abroad courses will typically be offered in the morning, with afternoon reserved for field visits, cultural events, and research activities.
Grading System
Final grades in content courses are based on a combination of attendance, participation, papers, midterm exams and presentations. The Directed Independent Research Project final grade will be based on a combination of research project proposal, weekly research reports, final paper, and final colloquium. CIEE reports Argentinean numerical grades (One to 10 scale, with four as a ‘D’ or passing grade).
Evaluation process
Each individual course offered in the program will have regular opportunities for evaluation, assessment, and feedback on student work and performance. In content courses, a mix of course assignments related to the course themes and program research objectives will be combined with exams to assess student learning. Evaluation and assessment in the methodology course will be based on assignments that measure student learning in research methodology concepts and skills, and that facilitate progressive development of student research proposals and execution of independent projects. Evaluation of the research capstone course will be based on research proposal and project milestones, appropriate use of research methods, research production, and final presentation.
See individual course syllabi for course outlines, objectives, assignments, and evaluation criteria.
Language of Instruction
Spanish
Faculty
All courses are taught by local Argentinean faculty who hold appointments at FLACSO or other respected local Argentinean universities.
Daniel Giorgetti, currently serves as Academic Secretary of the School of Labor Relations at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), and is professor at the School of Social Sciences (UBA) and Master of School Human Resources Economic Sciences (UBA). A trainer for High Education Service Learning at the Latin American Center for Service Learning (CLAYSS), he has a degree in History (UNS), a Master in Social Sciences (FLACSO), and has recently finished his PhD in Social Sciences (UBA). He is member of the research team at the Center for Studies on Youth (Universidad de La Plata). He has published books on education, history, and social sciences, has personal experience as a volunteer in NGOs, and has worked as a consultant at the Ministry of Education of Argentina, in the field of teacher training and relations with NGOs. Since 2006, he has been a professor at the Service & Learning Seminar at the CIEE-FLACSO Liberal Arts Program.
Dalia Szulik, graduated in Sociology at UBA and Master in Political Sciences at Universidad Nacional de Gral. San Martín, has been teaching the methodology course at the Public Health CIEE Summer Program since it started. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the School of Social Sciences at UBA, where she has been a professor of Public Opinion and Market Research Techniques since 1992. There, she directs prestigious UBACYT research projects. In addition, she is a researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), hosted by FLACSO, with a focus on public health, gender, and public policy issues. She is also part of the pedagogical team at the Family and Community Health Masters Program at Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos.
Elsa Llenderrozas, Master in International Relations and Negotiations (FLACSO - Universidad de San Andrés) and Master in Economic International Relations (Universidad de Barcelona, Spain), professor of Theory of International Affairs and Seminar of Foreign Policy of Latin American Countries in early 19th century at the School of Social Sciences (UBA) and Political Science at the Ciclo Básico Común (UBA), professor of Latin America in International Relations at the International Relations Masters Program at Universidad Nacional de La Plata, director of an UBACYT research project (School of Social Sciences - UBA. 2011-2013), she has been awarded many grants and recognitions, including a scholarship at UBA’s External Grants Program, hosted in 2011 by the Instituto Barcelona de Estudios Internacionales (IBEI - Spain). She has taken part in different national and international conferences and congresses, both as a participant or a speaker and has published several books and articles in specialized magazines. Since 1995, she has been the professor of the International Relations course at the CIEE-FLACSO Liberal Arts Semester Program.
Hernán Soltz, Master in Economy (School of Business – UBA), former member (2007-2010) of the Direction of the Foreign Trade National Commission (National Ministry of Industry), professor-researcher at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes and professor of International Economy at the School of Business – UBA, professor at the Strategic Management of Design Postgraduate Program at FADU/UBA, professor at the Economic Relations Masters Program at the School of Business - UBA and at the Economy and Industry Development Masters Program at Universidad Nacional Gral. Sarmiento, he is an expert on foreign trade and trade policy. He has been part of the research team at the Globalization Studies Program at FLACSO, with an academic and consultancy focus on foreign trade, regional integration, and argentine economy. He currently directs a research project at Universidad Nacional de Quilmes as well. A professor for the CIEE-FLACSO Liberal Arts Semester Program since 1995, he now teaches Current Issues in Argentine Economy.
Course Description
All Courses
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
CIEE Study Center Syllabi
To view the most recent syllabi for courses taught by CIEE at our Study Centers, visit our syllabi site.
CIEE Required Courses:
SOCI 3001 BAUR
Social Science Research Methods
(45 hours / 3 credits)
This required core course provides students with the methodological knowledge and skills needed to undertake qualitative and quantitative research within the general social science arena. The course provides the foundation for the design and development of independent research projects, and serves as a forum for the project monitoring and student. (See Appendix I)
INDR 3003 BAUR
Directed Independent Research Capstone
(150 hours/ 4 credits)
The Directed Individual Research Project will take place tied with the research method course and the content courses. Each student will study and analyze a specific topic within the selected content courses to develop an individual research project. This project will include a thorough approach to a topic related to current Argentina or the region; analysis towards development and globalization through meetings with local communities; interviews, hard data, sources and documentary analysis; personalized tutorials and follow-up. (Appendix V)
DEVE 3001 BAUR/SOCI 3002 BAUR
Human Rights and Social Justice for Development in Argentina and Latin America
(45 hours / 3 credits)
This course explores and analyzes human rights grounds, their political and social tradition, and characteristics in Argentina and Latin America within the global context to think over its contributions to development. (See Appendix II)
DEVE 3002 BAUR/POLI 3001 BAUR
Political Development and International Affairs in Argentina and Latin America
(45 hours / 3 credits)
This course will examine the regional and international integration processes and models in Latin America through analysis of new and old regional and hemispheric institutions and how they relate to the political and social development in the region. (Appendix III)
DEVE 3003 BAUR/POLI 3002 BAUR
Political Economy and Economic Development in Argentina and Latin America
(45 hours / 3 credits)
This course analyzes Latin American economies and the particular case of Argentina, through a deep understanding of the relationship between economic and socio-political phenomena. (Appendix IV)
Other Academic Components:
Library Access and Research Resources
Specialized libraries, both in international affairs and social sciences, are available at FLACSO premises. Study abroad students also have access to libraries at other local public/private universities and to multiple databases, journals, and papers. The program will facilitate each student’s access to specific sources needed in order to develop individual research projects, whether obtained through local NGO’s, governmental offices, or local contacts, networks, and partnerships.
Tutorials
Tutoring will be available to students, both as a part of the content and research methods courses and for the research capstone as well. The main goals for tutoring are to provide support, follow up, and monitoring in identifying and developing their research problem and design in accessing the resources needed to undertake their independent research projects, guide and mentor students in their approaches to field work, and monitor and ensure students’ progress in their course work and research projects. Tutorials are taught by local Argentinean faculty, most of whom have faculty appointments at FLACSO or other Argentinean universities.
Teaching Team
Throughout the program, a team teaching methodology will be implemented. Both methodology and Spanish instructors, in teams, assist students in connecting and relating the content of their study abroad courses with out-of-classroom experiences, facilitating the linguistic and technical components of their research, and supporting the linguistic needs of the participants throughout their semesters. This team teaching strategy has been designed based on the success that it has enjoyed as an integral part of the CIEE Public Health summer study abroad program in Argentina.
Teaching teams provide the academic, linguistic, and theoretical coordination required for students to produce dynamic, integrated, high-quality research projects that clearly demonstrate the learning outcomes of their coursework as well as their prior linguistic expertise.
Spanish language instructors have specific goals:
- To advise methodology professors during the selection of reading material in order to adequate it to student’s language proficiency
- To assist students in the acquisition and use of technical vocabulary and language needed to conduct research, and in the integration of methodological tools with technical and theoretical concepts and the local language. For example, when students elaborate their interview guidelines and role-play those situations.
- To help students develop the academic writing skills needed to write a research paper and the oral skills to conduct research interviews within the local context.
Methodology professors are in charge of:
Providing students conceptual, theoretical, and practical tools to define and develop a proper research problem/question within their chosen subject
Helping students choose among the available research methods and strategies
Guiding and adjusting the research process and approach, discussing with students their progress, and assessing the outcomes of their work as it proceeds
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