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.
Courses
Required Language Courses
The following courses are designed by PUCV for international students with beginner level or low-intermediate level Spanish. Each course seeks to develop intercultural communicative competency through acquisition of four core linguistic skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening; each of which is taught using a total immersion methodology. These classes emphasize oral skills and interaction with locals. All three courses are required. Contact hours: 150 total. Recommended credit: 10 semester/15 quarter hours).
Beginner Grammar and Vocabulary
Theoretical and practical course designed to address the morphological and syntactic aspects of the Spanish language. In this module, at a basic level, grammar and vocabulary are envisioned as a system with three dimensions that interact among them: the form of the elements, their semantics, and the pragmatic conditions governing their use. The general objective of the course is to develop the linguistic competence of students so that they can deal with everyday situations in different and known contexts accurately, meaningfully, and appropriately.
Beginner Oral Comprehension and Oral Production
From an intercultural and communicative orientation, this module, at a basic level, integrates language and culture in order to take advantage of the scenario the students are experiencing. The general objective of this course is for students to develop the communicative and intercultural competence of students so that they can speak and interact orally in everyday situations in different and known contexts accurately, meaningfully, and appropriately.
Beginner Reading Comprehension and Writing Production
This is a theoretical and practical course designed to introduce students, at a basic level, to discourse modes in order to comprehend and produce different types of written texts. The general objective of this course is for students to develop reading comprehension and writing production skills from a discourse-pragmatic orientation.
PUCV offers Spanish language courses for those students who have an intermediate level of Spanish in the following areas:
Communication and Chilean Culture
This course emphasizes oral and written communication through learning about Chilean culture in texts and oral presentations. The focus of the class is to improve students speaking skills in an intercultural context. Contact hours: 90. Recommended credit: 4 semester/6 quarter hours.
Spanish Grammar
This course emphasizes the morphological aspects of Spanish grammar, analyzing and reinforcing through reading and writing assignments in communicative contexts. The students improve their grammatical competence of Spanish as a second language. Contact hours: 60. Recommended credit: 4 semester/6 quarter hours.
Spanish Writing
This course is designed to help those students reinforce their ability to express and compose essays in Spanish for the academic setting. Contact hours: 60. Recommended credit: 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours.
Elective Courses
The following courses are designed and offered by PUCV for international students. All courses below are taught in English. Students take one or two.
Contemporary Latin American Films
This course invites foreign students to discover Latin America through the eyes of contemporary Latin American filmmakers, as they develop an understanding of contemporary issues in Latin America based on the critical study of representative Latin American films. Students learn to discover, recognize, and discuss the main characteristics of Latin American film; develop a personal opinion and point of view of Latin America; recognize, compare, and discuss the different styles, esthetic characteristics, and ways of telling a story; recognize, compare, and discuss the main differences between film and documentary related to Latin American issues; and become familiar with a group of well-known contemporary Latin American filmmakers.
Contemporary Latin American Literature
This course invites foreign students to critically examine contemporary Latin America through the revision of representative literary texts. Students are challenged to form a critical and informed vision of today’s main questions and reflections in relation to Latin America based on literary texts. They are introduced to key theoretical issues and debates concerning Latin America in order to build their own opinion of ‘life in other cultures.’ Students examine and discuss the literary works exploring their connection with the diverse world views and values of the Latin American societies in which they were produced.
International Relations
The course introduces students to a selection of core topics in international relations. It has three main goals: to deepen understanding of the different approaches to international relations; introduce some contemporary debates in international relations such as compliance with international norms, and law and the sources of state socialization; and encourage critical and constructive thinking about international relations. Specific subjects and concepts to be covered include power and asymmetric relationships, globalization, nation-states, international organizations, transnational companies, NGOs, criminal and terrorists groups, realism, liberalism, idealism, constructivism and rational choice, international regimes and organizations, international laws, norms and compliance, sovereignty and statehood, nationalism, proliferation and terrorism, ethnic conflict, and peacekeeping and cooperation.
Political and Social Change in Chile and Latin America
This course examines Latin America’s political and social development during the 20th century, paying particular attention to the Chilean case. The course begins by examining the debate over development and modernity as it has evolved over the course of the 20th century in Latin America. It continues with a close look at revolutions and state socialism in Cuba and Chile, before dealing with the issue of “dirty wars,” dictatorships, and human rights violations in the Southern Cone. It then turns to the new era of liberal governance in the 80s and 90s, and focuses on how these new developments have changed the nature of poverty, and brought about or deepened different forms of social exclusion. Special attention is paid to the indigenous world and to the changing role of women in Latin America.
Pre-Columbian Art and Society
This course provides an overview of Latin American native cultures during Pre-Columbian times, introducing basic notions about prehistory, religion, economy, and social organization of these societies, using art and visual expression as the main way of entrance. Emphasis is given to Mesoamerican and Andean cultures from the Formative period until the arrival of Spaniards, but the study of some hunter gatherers traditions is also included, as a way to illustrate cultural diversity in South American prehistory and Pre-Columbian art. Consistently, this course also seeks to discuss the western concept of art and its application to the study of Pre-Columbian societies.
Socio-Economic Evolution of Chile and Latin America
The purpose of this course is to examine the socio-economic evolution of Latin America from the point of view of the behavior of employment and income, poverty, and inequality reduction. It also studies the policies implemented to foster those objectives. Special emphasis is given to the crisis of the 80s, the policies of the Washington Consensus implemented in the 90s, and the reaction of the political system to the global economic crisis during the second decade of the new century.
The following are PUCV courses are offered in Spanish for international students with intermediate and advanced-level Spanish. Syllabi are available upon request.
Modern Chilean History
Urban History and Regional History of Valparaíso
History of Twentieth Century Latin America
Contemporary Latin American Poetry
Contemporary Latin American and Chilean Short Stories
17th-19th Century Hispano-American Narrative Literature
Traditional Chilean Dances
Camping Techniques and Outdoor Education
Silkscreening
CIEE elective course
What happens when individuals from different cultures come into contact and begin to interact?
CIEE offers an elective course for students who would like to learn about intercultural comparisons between the Chilean and North America cultures. CIEE students who are interested in penetrating deeper into their study abroad experience can enroll in the following course:
CLST 3001 VALP
Seminar on Living and Learning in Valparaíso
The CIEE Seminar on Living and Learning in Valparaíso is designed to improve students’ intercultural communication and competence while studying abroad by considering how Chileans are different from, and similar to, themselves and others. The course offers opportunities, both in and outside the classroom, to develop insights and the skills necessary to interact effectively and appropriately, and to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the cultural richness of Chile. The course materials are in English and the course is taught in Spanish. Contact hours: 25. Recommended credit: 2 semester/3 quarter hours. Instructor: Marcia Vera, CIEE Resident Director.
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