Summer Community Public Health
Unique Experiences
Get to know
the hospitality of a Dominican family and the service-driven work of healthcare professionals
Immerse yourself in Dominican traditions
and explore vibrant street art in the dynamic “Heart City”
Expand your knowledge
by assessing the unique needs of a semi-urban community in the Dominican Republic
Your Destination
Santiago de los Caballeros, located in the lush Cibao Valley, is a thriving city that combines rich history, cultural vibrancy, and stunning natural landscapes. The city is a cultural powerhouse, boasting lively festivals, colorful street art, and a deep connection to Dominican traditions, from music and dance to artisan crafts. Whether you're exploring the bustling markets, enjoying the local cuisine, or diving into outdoor activities like baseball and surfing, Santiago is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Enroll in CIEE courses that develop your Spanish language skills.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activites, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Santiago de los Caballeros will open doors for you to explore the Dominican's rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Embark on a day trip to the vibrant Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, where you will explore Columbus' first settlement
- Experience an evening in the enchanting garden of the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, Santiago de los Caballeros' iconic monument
- Walk around the historic city of Puerto Plata then take a swim in the turquoise waters and white sand on one of the best beaches along the Atlantic Ocean
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
Cars and Conchos: Public Transport in Santiago
Santiago, Dominican Republic, has a multitude of options for public transport. From taxis, Gua Guas (large public buses) and Uber, getting around the city is not overly difficult. What’s unique... keep reading
The Reason I'm Here
Vulnerability Fear. Lust. Grief. Contempt. Boredom. These are just some of the few emotions that we, humans, can feel. But out of the diverse gamut of fleeting experiences, I think... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Santiago de los Caballeros offers various housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From homestays to independent studios, we will strive for your accommodation preferences to be met. . Additionally, all housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to the CIEE Santiago D.R. study center and PUCMM campus (under 20 minutes).
- Standard Housing: Includes a single or shared room in a homestay. Homestays feature a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family, along with weekly laundry service. Although families may be able to communicate in English, most speak only Spanish.
- Select Housing: Includes single accommodation in a studio apartment with a private kitchenette and bathroom, within a 20-minute commute to the CIEE study center and PUCMM campus. Select housing requires an additional fee.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Homestays: Include three meals per day.
- Independent Studios: Meals are not included. Estimated additional costs are noted in the “Fees & Housing” section.
Academics
CIEE Santiago DR: Study on the campus of Pontifica Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), just a 15-minute drive from downtown Santiago DR, where you can access restaurants, banks, bookstores, cafés, and more. CIEE Santiago DR sits on PUCMM's campus and boasts a classroom space and a student lounge.
Course Information
Summer 2025
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 canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- McDermott Health Sciences, Nursing, and Public Health Merit Scholarships
- Stohl International Undergraduate Research Scholarships
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $7,050 ** |
| Housing | $1,300 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $8,850 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $7,000 ** |
| Housing | $1,250 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $8,750 |
Optional Housing
CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.
| Select Housing Fee | $400 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $0 † |
| International Airfare | $600 †† |
| Local Transportation | $70 ††† |
| Books & Supplies | $55 †††† |
| Visa Fees | $75 ††††† |
| Personal expenses | $170 †††††† |
| Total Costs | $970 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $290 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Average round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure (Newark-STI)
†††Airport transfer at the end of the program & Weekly transport to Community Practicum sites (concho or uber). Participants stay within walking distance from Host University and CIEE Center. Uber transportation to move around the city is NOT being considered (3.00-3.50 USD per ride).
††††Scrubs to use in Community Practicum and minimum extra supplies.
†††††Paid upon departure at the airport.
††††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Meals
Our Staff
Lucía Agüero
Center Director
Lucía Agüero is a passionate educator and lifelong learner with over fifteen years of professional experience.
Dr. William Rey
Program Coordinator
Will graduated from the medical school at PUCMM and has gained extensive experience working within the Public Health system, collaborating with both urban and rural communities to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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