liberal arts

Quick Info

By Term

• Fall 2014
• Spring 2014
• Spring 2015
• Academic year 2014-2015
• Calendar year 2014

Stay Connected

Program Overview

Interested in developing a critical appreciation of Chilean society, history, and identity while immersing yourself in local culture? Valparaiso awaits!

Through direct enrollment at a two local universities, homestays with local families, and a variety of cultural activities and excursions, study abroad in Valparaiso allows you to pursue your academic interests, enhance your Spanish language skills, and gain unparalleled insight into contemporary Chile.

Study abroad in Chile and you will:

• Gain an understanding of Chile through CIEE courses that focus on Chilean heritage, identity, literature, art, and history
• Choose between studying at two top-ranked local Chilean schools: one, a historic and traditional university, the other a more contemporary, private university.
• Take advantage of community service and volunteer opportunities at local schools, shelters, and non-governmental organizations
• Participate in cultural and educational activities, including visits to a rural community, a daytrip to Santiago, the capital of Chile, and a weekend-long educational field trip to Curarehue and Pucón

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

In addition to advanced Spanish language instruction and a host of specialized CIEE area studies electives, enroll directly in a variety of courses at one of two of Chile’s most prestigious universities with local and international students. Whether you’re interested in the arts, humanities, social or natural sciences, you’ll find the courses you’re looking for in Valparaiso.

Immersion

Non-credit volunteer work allows you to obtain a comprehensive understanding of Chilean culture and society through personal experiences. CIEE facilitates these opportunities in various schools, shelters, and organizations throughout Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.

Excursions

Enjoy a number of day-long and extended excursions to sites of historical and cultural importance in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. Past excursions have included visits to museums, La Sebastiana (the home of poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda), the Chilean National Congress, and Pucón, an eco-tourism center on Lake Villarica in the south of Chile.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2014

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$14,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, language partners, volunteer opportunities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$10,873

Housing ***

$3,575

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes all meals

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,500

Local Transportation

$350

Books & Supplies

$250

Visa Fees **

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$1,800

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

** average cost

Spring 2014 (20 wks)

11/01/2013

02/20/2014

07/11/2014

$14,850

Program Date Notes

Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, language partners, volunteer opportunities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$10,873

Housing ***

$3,575

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes all meals

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,500

Local Transportation

$350

Books & Supplies

$250

Visa Fees **

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$1,800

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

** average cost

Spring 2015

11/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Academic year 2014-2015

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$28,200

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, language partners, volunteer opportunities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$20,648

Housing ***

$7,150

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes all meals

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,500

Local Transportation

$700

Books & Supplies

$500

Visa Fees **

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$3,600

Expenses during break ***

$2,000

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

** average cost

*** academic year students are responsible for housing and meals during the semester break, which is approximately two months

Calendar year 2014

11/01/2013

02/20/2014

TBA

$28,200

Program Date Notes

Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, language partners, volunteer opportunities, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$20,648

Housing ***

$7,150

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes all meals

Estimated Additional Costs

International Airfare *

$1,500

Local Transportation

$700

Books & Supplies

$500

Visa Fees **

$160

Potential travel to consulate for visa

$500

Personal expenses

$3,600

Expenses during break ***

$1,000

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

** average cost

*** calendar year students are responsible for housing and meals during the semester break

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 5 semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent
• Spanish language course within the past year recommended

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 16–18 semester/24–27 quarter hours and for the year is 32–36 semester/48–54 quarter hours.

PUCV courses range from 2–5 credits per course/3–7.5 quarter hours each. This designation is based on the number of hours students theoretically need to dedicate to the course, both in and out of the classroom. Some general introductory courses, worth 2 credits, meet at least once a week and are open to students from all disciplines. University courses are usually from 38 to 76 hours and can range from 3 to 4 credits depending on how much outside academic work is required.

Upper-level university courses in the Chilean university system are usually courses that are not general introductory courses. In other words, those course are restricted for Chileans who are in their third year due to prerequisites. Credits for these courses will vary university by university and by area of study.

Program Requirements

All study abroad students are required to enroll in one and a maximum of two of the CIEE required courses. Students then choose the remainder of their coursework (three or four additional courses), including a Spanish language class. CIEE students can take no more than two two-credit general University courses. Academic year or continuing students are not required to take a CIEE course during their second semester.

About The City

Valparaíso and its twin city of Viña del Mar are located between the Andes Mountain and the Pacific coast, just two hours by bus from Santiago. Valparaíso is a port city, housing the Chilean Congress; and Viña del Mar is a modern resort city, with shops, beaches, recreational facilities, and a residential area. With affordable mass transportation between the two cities, students find them both friendly locations in which to live and study.

Meet The Staff

Marcia Vera

Marcia Vera holds a M.A. in Gender and Cultural Studies in Latin America at the Universidad de Chile and received her B.A. from PUCV in English Language and Literature. Before joining CIEE, she worked as Program Director of International Abroad (ITA)-Chile at PUCV International Programs. In addition, Marcia was an International Counselor at a YMCA branch in Pennsylvania. She also taught international students Spanish conversation and Chilean culture at PUCV.

Read More

Valparaíso, nuestra ciudad puerto que nunca fue fundada, se encuentra ubicada a una hora y media de la capital de Chile, Santiago. “Pancho” como la denominaban los antiguos marineros o el Valparaíso de nuestros amores, tiene la singularidad de que sus cerros y casas estén siempre de frente al Océano Pacífico. Una ciudad que sigue mezclando el presente con el pasado, con calles de adoquines y edificios históricos como el diario más antiguo de habla hispana, El Mercurio de Valparaíso, lo poético de sus calles estrechas y lo bohemio que implica ser una ciudad Puerto.

Valparaíso, con sus sinuosas escaleras, invita a estar en contacto con lo simple y cotidiano de sus habitantes. Estas mismas escaleras junto con sus ascensores con los que unen el centro de la ciudad con sus empinados cerros de colores.

Valparaíso se encuentra unida por La Avenida España con su hermana y balneario llamada Viña del Mar, que nació de las antiguas haciendas del 1900 con sus hermosos jardines de flores, que a través de los años aún siguen siendo uno de las mayores atractivos de esta ciudad. Por otra parte, en la Ciudad Jardín, como también es conocida encontramos las playas en conjunto con modernas construcciones, restaurantes y clubes nocturnos que la hacen atractiva para sus propios habitantes y visitantes.

Hacia el interior de la V región de Chile, existen otras zonas que invitan a visitar lugares históricos y patrimoniales propios de nuestra historia como Nación, así como los Viñedos, presenciar costumbres típicas de la gente de campo, o escalar cerros como la Campana, que alguna vez visitó Charles Darwin por su extensa y variada flora y fauna.

La región de Valparaíso te ofrece únicos y apacibles lugares para aquellos que gustan la aventura y la vida al aire libre como deportes acuáticos, camping, capoeire, canopy, kayak, jogging, fresbee, entre otros. ¡Te invitamos a conocer el programa de CIEE Valparaíso!

— Marcia Vera, Resident Director

“”

Haydee Ahumada

Dr. Haydee Ahumada, Academic Director, helps study abroad students with course selection and provides academic support. She has a Ph.D. in literature from PUCV and a postgraduate title in Gender and Cultural Studies from the Universidad de Chile. Dr. Ahumada is a literature professor at both PUCV in Valparaíso and the Universidad de Chile in Santiago, and her research interests focus on the Spanish exiles in Latin America and their literary production.

Read More

“”

Where You'll Study

The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) is ranked among the top regional universities in Chile. In 2003, it received its designation as a “Pontificia,” a distinction given to Catholic universities by the Vatican. The University has campuses in both Valparaíso and Viña del Mar and offers more than 50 undergraduate and 30 postgraduate degrees. Of the 15,000 students at PUCV, only three% are international students, giving CIEE participants a great opportunity to immerse themselves in the Chilean higher education system.

Housing & Meals

Study abroad students live with Chilean host families and are matched based on student’s individual profiles and common interests. Most host families are located in Viña del Mar, with a few in Valparaíso. The sister cities are essentially two halves of a single urban area, and PUCV has campuses in both cities. Host families are considered an integral part of the immersion into Chilean life. Housing and three meals a day are included in the program fee. Students are responsible for housing and meals between semesters.

Orientations

You'll begin your study abroad experience in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. CIEE’s aim for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program, and identify your objectives so that you arrive well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

What is orientation about?

CIEE Orientation is geared towards preparing you for total immersion into Chilean culture with as little culture shock as possible. You are prepared to meet the many challenges and receive an introduction to the academic system. Recreational activities, workshops, and classes are the foundations of the orientation. Through the classes and workshops, you can expect to accumulate a general perspective of the Chilean history and culture while the recreational activities provide team building exercises with fellow students. Ongoing support is provided by CIEE staff on an individual and group basis throughout their stay in Chile.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring awireless enabled laptop. You'll have access to email and the Internet at the CIEE office in Viña del Mar, the university, and at the abundant and inexpensive Internet cafés in Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. Please note that the quality and availability of internet access does not always compare with that you may be used to at home.

Culture

The study abroad program includes visits to sites of historical and cultural importance in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, including visits to museums, La Sebastiana (the home of poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda), the Chilean National Congress, and a rural farming community. Past students have participated in guided tours in Santiago, a walking tour of the historical part of the capital of Chile, and guided visits to the Fine Arts Museum and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights.

In addition, there is one weekend excursion during the semester. Last year, students visited Pucón, an eco-tourism center on Lake Villarica in the south of Chile, where they participated in the daily life of a local indigenous community and took advantage of the many outdoor activities for which the region is known

Immersion

Non-credit volunteer work allows you to obtain a comprehensive understanding of Chilean culture and society through your own personal experiences and experiences outside of the classroom. CIEE facilitates these opportunities in various schools, shelters, and organizations throughout Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.

Host families play an important role in student’s immersion. Students will interact with various family members, relatives, neighbors, and friends, and explore and discover the surroundings through exposure to everyday Chilean routine and unique new flavors of traditional dishes. Students also immerse themselves in the Chilean culture by attending and participating in sporting activities, taking public transportation, and enjoying various types of entertainment and cultural events.

Language

Students take part in the CIEE Community Language Commitment by speaking Spanish at all times (except in emergencies). This fosters a learning community that contributes to both Spanish language proficiency and understanding of Chilean society.

Academics

The CIEE Study Center in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile began welcoming participants in 1997.

Pontificia Universidad Católica is known for its prestige, tradition, and academic quality; its campuses are spread out in the city. PUCV has a strong international program that offers Spanish courses and diverse content courses for international students.

The study abroad program is intended for students who have at least five semesters of college level Spanish, or the equivalent, and are looking for a program that permits direct enrollment with Chilean university students. It provides personalized instruction and support through both academic and non-academic activities. Given the range of disciplines and courses available to participants, the program is suitable for undergraduate students with strong Spanish language skills from a variety of majors. All courses are taught in Spanish.

Academic Culture

The average class size is 20 to 30 students, and CIEE participants might find themselves challenged until they are accustomed to the different Chilean intonations and academic rhythm. The teaching style is commonly a lecture format, with emphasis placed on memorization and note-taking. It can take a while to learn how to study effectively in the Chilean system, especially in terms of acquiring reading material and knowing what the professor expects. Chilean classmates are often an excellent source of help.

University life is quite different in Chile compared to the U.S. since the Chilean university is primarily a professional school. While CIEE students have the opportunity to study in almost every department, this is not the case for Chilean students, who study in one discipline area exclusively.

The academic-year program includes two semesters of study and can begin either during the North American fall or spring semester. Academic-year students who begin their studies during the North American fall semester have a nearly three-month break between semesters, during which they are encouraged to travel or study elsewhere in the region. There is a break of about two weeks between the (North American) spring and fall semesters.

Nature of Classes

Participants enroll directly in host university courses and take classes with Chilean students. In addition, participants enroll in specially designed courses that are taught in Spanish for CIEE study abroad students only. Spanish language courses are offered for CIEE and other international students by PUCV.

CIEE Community Language Commitment

Students take part in the CIEE Community Language Commitment by speaking Spanish at all times (except in emergencies). This fosters a learning community that contributes to both Spanish language proficiency and understanding of Chilean culture.

Grading System

Assessment for CIEE courses is based on class participation and writing assignments. In PUCV courses, students are evaluated the same as Chilean students; final grades are usually determined by a combination of written and oral assignments and a final paper or exam. The Chilean grading scale is from one to seven, with four being a passing grade. CIEE translates all transcripts and converts grades and credits to the U.S. system according to a standard scale that includes A-F, with pluses and minuses.

Transcripts for the U.S. spring semester should arrive at sending institutions by mid-September and in mid- March for the fall semester. Graduating seniors or others concerned about the timing of receiving grades should take this into consideration when choosing this program.

Language of Instruction

Spanish

Faculty

All courses are taught by faculty from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.

Course Description

Program Blog

Read More