santiago-dr-wall-mural
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Summer Community Public Health

Study Program

Dates

-

8 weeks

Costs

Credit

10 semester hours

15 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

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Overview

Your Summer Community Public Health program in Santiago de los Caballeros lasts 8 weeks. You will enroll in three CIEE courses, including one Spanish language course and two CIEE courses taught in Spanish. Enhance your experience with co-curricular and extracurricular activities while immersing yourself in Dominican culture. Live and learn in Santiago!

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

Experience
  • santiago dr city center monument

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.

public health study abroad group

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.
santiago dr waterfall

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

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Housing
Academics

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.

GPA

2.5

Language Requirements

At least 4 semesters of college-level Spanish (or equivalent) 

Additional Requirements

  • Participants must be able to manage the daily physical demands of visiting communities in the high summer season, expecting to walk and stand for prolonged periods
  • College-level public health coursework is recommended

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

All students enroll in three required CIEE courses including one Spanish language course (determined by a placement exam) and two CIEE courses taught in Spanish:  

CIEE COURSES 

  • PUBH 3001 DRSU: Pre-Professional Health Care Issues
  • PUBH 3002 DRSU: Community Health Practicum   

CIEE SPANISH LANGUAGE COURSE (at the appropriate level) 

  • (GI) SPAN 3005 SADR: Spanish Language - Advanced I 
  • (GI) SPAN 3006 SADR: Spanish Language - Advanced II 
  • (GI) SPAN 4009 SADR: Advanced Spanish for Health Professions 

Program Credit

Total credit: 10 U.S. semester/15 quarter credits  

 

Course Credit

  • CIEE courses: 3-4 U.S. semester/4.5-6 quarter credits; 45-60 contact hours
  • CIEE Spanish Language course: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Academic Culture

The pace of this intensive program is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. Students should expect a more formal and technical teaching style that relies on lectures and includes participatory strategies such as problem-based, cooperative, and project-based learning activities. The teaching-learning style emphasizes both memorization and the practical application of theoretical concepts. Service learning is also comprised of hands-on experience that students gain in the community practicum. Students should also expect a fast-paced and intense daily schedule. All classes are taught in Spanish. Students are expected to successfully complete daily reading and formative activities, a community assessment, and a final proposal to address a health issue identified during the process.

Class Format

Students take courses only with other CIEE study abroad students. There is a faculty assigned for each of the three courses of the program.  

Grading

Students are given letter grades from A-F on summative activities such as quizzes, exams, papers, presentations, and class participation.  

For public and community health courses, an integrated mid-term consists of a community assessment to identify health problems in the community. A final evaluation consists of the written and oral presentation of a project proposal that could address one of the health problems in the community assessment. Attendance is mandatory.  

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Language of Instruction

Spanish

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Courses

Course Information

Summer 2025

Course
Language
Semester Credit

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

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.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

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.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Summer 2025 8 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $8,750

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 $7,000 **
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.

See Scholarships

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

Staff

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 Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

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.

Request Info