Information for term Summer in Santiago DR
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenStudy in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic this summer and immerse yourself in the daily life of a vibrant developing Caribbean Island, where fascinating historical, commercial, and ecological treasures intersect. This summer study abroad program provides an excellent opportunity to explore Dominican and Greater Caribbean history, culture, language, and more.
Santiago de los Caballeros is conveniently located in the central Cibao valley in the northeastern part of the island, known as La Ciudad Corazon (the Heartland City), offering a glimpse of authentic Dominican culture. CIEE Santiago-DR organizes activities to help increase your intercultural understanding and enhance your Spanish language skills while enjoying the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.
Unique Experiences
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EXPLORE THE DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS
of a tropical island by hiking and cycling by beautiful beaches, rivers, and mountains
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GET CAPTIVATED BY THE LOCAL LIFESTYLE
by immersing yourself in Dominican traditions and exploring street art in the “Heart City.”
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ENJOY LOCAL DOMINICAN CUISINE
from street food like savory empanadas, fresh tropical fruit juices, yun-yun, and yaroas to the most elaborate dishes in fine restaurants and welcoming homes.
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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO ARE DOMINICAN
11 % -
MILES OF TROPICAL PARADISIAC COASTLINE IN THE COUNTRY
1,000 -
HIGHEST PEAK OF THE CARIBBEAN, PICO DUARTE
10,161 FT
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Find yourself surrounded by mountains in the lush valley of the Cibao region in the center of the island of Hispaniola. Here lies Santiago De Los Caballeros, the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, which puts you steps away from places of historical, cultural, and ecological interest – not to mention about an hour’s drive to the Atlantic Coast with crystal-clear warm water and white sand. Santiago is the commercial and cultural center of the fertile Cibao Valley region, housing the León Jimenez cultural center and the commercial street of Calle del Sol.
Founded in 1495 by 30 caballeros from Columbus’ early expeditions, Santiago boasts a fascinating history, exciting museums, and endless cultural experiences, including music, art, and festivals. This growing, modern city is home to 800,000 people and many Dominican specialties, such as cigars, rum, chocolate, coffee, amber, and larimar. Despite its sprawling size, Santiago retains many small-town features. Traditional merchants call out their wares in a musical chant, and street vendors balance large baskets of fruit and vegetables on their heads.
With the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the South, Santiago offers endless sports options, including baseball, kitesurfing, and golf, along with ample cultural and artistic entertainment and recreation. Here you can dance to the contagious rhythm of merengue and bachata and enjoy the best Dominican gastronomy.
Come and enjoy a vibrant and growing city in the Caribbean with everything the tropics offer, from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world to the highest peak of the Caribbean.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Explore the historic and cultural charms of Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities. Walk the cobblestone paths around the historic colonial zone and dive into the culturally rich Parque Colon, while enjoying a freshly brewed coffee or a savory snack from one of the many cafes surrounding El Conde Street. Indulge your history-enthused and art-loving mind by visiting some of the museums or even spending a few minutes at the park while street artists play different instruments, pose as living statues, and entertain you with their juggling abilities.
- Visit nearby cities and places of historical, social, or ecological relevance, such as Puerto Plata, Jarabacoa, or Rio Blanco, which offer further opportunities to enrich your experience in the D.R.
- Walk around the historic city of Puerto Plata before heading down for a quick swim in the turquoise waters and white sand on one of the best beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re in search of an adventurous place to hike and bathe in cold river waters, Jarabacoa city is the place for you. Enjoy a nature walk, visit one of the many vegetable crops, flower fields, and plantations, then freshen up while having a traditional Dominican ice cream at the “umbrella street.”
PROJECTS
You’ll participate in a range of field experiences that lend practical context to your classroom-based learning. Unique opportunities to hear from and engage with people at the center and forefront of the country’s issues complement and enhance your experience, and improve your understanding of the culture, history, and literature in the Dominican Republic, and their impact on people’s means of life.
Daily Life
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HOUSING
Homestays. All students live with CIEE homestay families. Living with a Dominican family is your ticket to integration into life in Santiago de los Caballeros, as it provides an excellent opportunity for immersion into the local culture. Although families may be able to communicate in English, they foster communication in Spanish to motivate language learning.
Your host family provides a single room with a desk, laundry once a week, Wi-Fi, and a copy of the house keys. All homestays are within walking distance (up to 30 minutes) or a single public transportation ride (30-45 minutes) to Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) campus and are conveniently located near coffee shops, commercial centers, ATMs, and restaurants. Students who are staying for a full year are responsible for their own housing during the break between semesters.
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MEALS
Homestays include three meals per day. Host families and students arrange their own meal schedules. If students miss a meal, they are responsible for either preparing it at home or eating in one of the many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE SANTIAGO
Santiago
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B
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA MADRE Y MAESTRA
Santiago
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C
CENTRO CULTURAL DOMINICO AMERICANO
Santiago
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
Summer in Santiago is a holistic 4-week or 8-week academic experience that offers students participatory in-class instruction enhanced with experiential learning. Students immerse themselves in the language, history, and culture of the Dominican Republic and gain in-depth insight into the community and people. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s rich variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering. Content courses are taught in English, and students can elect to enroll in an optional 1-credit Communicative Spanish course. Centro Cultural Domínico-Americano (CCDA) is one of the best bilingual academic institutions of higher learning in the Dominican Republic, offering students the academic resources, support services, and physical facilities of a superior-level Latin American educational institution.
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra was founded in 1962 and dedicated to serving the social and economic development of all Dominicans. PUCMM has been ranked as the best academic institution of higher learning in the Dominican Republic. Just 15 minutes from downtown Santiago, PUCMM's campus has four academic schools: Administration and Economics; Science, Humanities and Arts; Engineering and Exact Sciences; and Health Sciences.
CIEE Santiago is conveniently located on the PUCMM campus.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
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.
Program Requirements
Students must enroll in one required course per session. Social Psychology is offered during Summer Session 1 and Intercultural Communication and Leadership, Summer session 2.
Program Credit
Total credit: 3-4 per session U.S. semester/4.5-6 per session quarter credits
Course Credit
CIEE courses: 1-3 U.S. semester/1.5-4.5 quarter credits; 15-45 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.
Academic Culture
The pace of each Summer 4-week session is accelerated, and the workload is demanding. Academic instruction is expected to be more formal and technical teaching style during classes. Students will learn through interactive lectures, problem-solving workshops, in-class exercises, active reflection, discussion, readings, out-of-class activities, and cocurricular excursions. Lectures will emphasize experiential learning, participation, and concepts applications. Academic activities will provide students with the opportunity to improve critical thinking to integrate literature, history, and culture, as well as to develop a personal understanding of culture and society. Deadlines are taken seriously here. Students must check with their professors to find out exam and project presentation dates, and CIEE will not alter deadlines or exam dates for students who have made conflicting travel plans. Attendance is mandatory and Incompletes are not accepted.
Class Format
Courses are for CIEE students only. Classes are scheduled Monday-Friday and meet two, three, or four times per week, depending on the course. Attendance is mandatory both for in-classroom classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online with our learning management system, Canvas.
Grading
Letter grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, and F are given. Assessment is based on the individual’s overall performance in the course, including attendance, class participation, essays, coursework, presentations, and final examinations, papers, or presentations. Each course will have specific considerations for evaluation and grading.
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.
Language of Instruction
English and/or 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.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
Course Notes
- Students may enroll in the elective Communicative Language class during one session.
- “(GI)” denotes courses that originated at CIEE’s Global Institutes and are offered at multiple Global Institutes and CIEE Sites.
Summer 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenSummer Session I
Summer Session II
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
Click to OpenScholarships & 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
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Session I 2023 4 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Jun 12, 2023 |
$4,250
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $3,253 ** Housing = $500 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $4,250Estimated CostsStudents 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 = $30 ††† Books & Supplies = $25 †††† Personal expenses = $50 ††††† Round trip airfare between locations = $1,000 †††††† Other = $0 Total Estimated Costs = $1,705Financial AidCIEE 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. 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 by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes all meals † Homestays include three meals per day. †† Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Airport transfer at the end of the program †††† Books are available for participants at the library and supplies are minimal. ††††† Depends on personal and social activities †††††† Depending on destination |
| Summer Session I and II 2023 8 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | May 15, 2023 | Jul 10, 2023 |
$7,650
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Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $6,153 ** Housing = $1,000 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $7,650Estimated CostsStudents 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 = $1,200 †† Local Transportation = $60 ††† Books & Supplies = $75 †††† Visa Fees = $75 ††††† Personal expenses = $150 †††††† Round trip airfare between locations = $2,000 ††††††† Other = $0 Total Estimated Costs = $3,560Financial AidCIEE 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. 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 by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes all meals † Homestays include three meals per day. †† Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Airport transfer a the end of the program †††† Books are available for participants at the library and supplies are minimal. ††††† Paid upon departure at the airport. †††††† Depends on personal and social activities ††††††† Depending on destination |
| Summer Session II 2023 4 weeks | Apr 1, 2023 | Jun 12, 2023 | Jul 10, 2023 |
$4,250
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE 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 insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $3,253 ** Housing = $500 *** Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $4,250Estimated CostsStudents 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 = $30 ††† Books & Supplies = $25 †††† Personal expenses = $50 ††††† Round trip airfare between locations = $1,000 †††††† Other = $0 Total Estimated Costs = $1,705Financial AidCIEE 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. 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 by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes all meals † Homestays include three meals per day. †† Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† Airport transfer a the end of the program †††† Books are available at the library for participants and supplies are minimal. ††††† Depends on personal social activities †††††† Depending on destination |
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.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Dorka Tejada
Faculty-led and Custom and Short Term Program Manager
Dorka Tejada earned her technical degree in Agronomy at Loyola Dajabón, Dominican Republic, and has taken numerous business administration, tourism, and hotel management courses.
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Randolp Valenzuela
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, CIEE SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Randolp Valenzuela earned his technical degree in Electrical Technics at Politécnico México, Dominican Republic, and has taken numerous courses in business administration.
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Michelle Jiménez
ACADEMIC AND PROGRAM MANAGER
Michelle Jiménez is a Medical Doctor and Specialist in Internal Medicine from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madere y Maestra PUCMM.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
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.
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