Chile, Santiago - SIT: Santiago - Comparative Education and Social Change

Through exposure to classroom environments and traditional lecture, students will learn about educational policies and theories while considering the relationship between education, society, and diversity in both Chile and Argentina.

Program Location

Founded in 1541, Santiago has been the capital city of Chile since colonial times. The city has a downtown core of 19th-century neoclassical architecture and winding side-streets, dotted by art deco, neo-gothic, and other styles. Santiago's cityscape is shaped by several stand-alone hills and the fast-flowing Mapocho River, lined by parks such as Parque Forestal. The Andes Mountains can be seen from most points in the city.

Institution

For more than 50 years, SIT has been a program provider focused on experiential education for students seeking to become effective leaders, professionals, and citizens.

Academics

Lecture and seminar based instruction alongside educational excursions. Students will learn to consider education as a tool for social change. The courses of study vary from intercultural education, public health, impact of globalization on education, and human rights. Students also need to complete either an internship or an independent study project. Students should have three recent semesters of college-level Spanish as these courses will be taught in Spanish.

Courses such as Education Quality and Equity, Bilingual Intercultural Education, Research Methods, and Spanish language are offered. In addition to the required courses, students have the option of enrolling in a 4 –week internship with a local school or community organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina or Chile or conducting an Independent Study Project to research a topic of their choice based on the themes of the program.

Housing

Students will stay with host families and immerse themselves in Chilean culture. For the first 5 weeks of the program, students will live with a host family in Santiago. Then, students will live with an indigenous Mapuche family in the southern rural community of Temuco. A two-week excursion in Buenos Aires will introduce students to professionals, academics, other university students, and host families.

Program Cost

The program fee includes tuition (12-16 credits), accommodation, program orientation, scheduled academic excursions, and international health insurance. The program cost is based on full-time semester tuition and on-campus Marist housing. Students receive a detailed cost sheet once they have been admitted to the Marist Abroad Program.

Admission Criteria

• Minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA at the time of application
• Sophomore standing or higher at the time of study abroad
• Academic Advisor approval of program and coursework