CIC Latin American Health, Nutrition and Environmental Issues Program
Summer - 2009
Academic Program
Students may apply for the summer session, fall session, or both. The summer component includes educational excursions to sites relevant to the study of Dominican health and nutrition, Spanish language instruction, and a research project related to program themes under the guidance of the faculty director and program staff . The independent research conducted is the culmination of the thematic seminar (5 sh) that also encompasses orientation to health and nutrition issues in the Dominican Republic and methodology for researching topics related to these issues. Students also take a Spanish language course at the appropriate level (3 sh). Excursions include visits to community health centers, a reforestation project, hospitals and clinics.
Please see the sample Spanish language course syllabus and the sample Research Seminar syllabus from the 2007 session. These sample syllabi are subject to modification from year to year, so you may find small changes to the course content in 2008.
Partner Institutions
The University of Iowa Office for Study Abroad administers the program on behalf of the CIC. This office, in conjunction with CIC-appointed resident directors, works with two implementing partners in the Dominican Republic: ENTRENA for the summer component and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) for the fall component.
ENTRENA is a private, professional service and training organization based in Santo Domingo that specializes in management of development projects throughout the Dominican Republic. Best known for its training of Peace Corps Volunteers, ENTRENA provides Spanish language training and carries out service projects in a wide variety of fields including agro-forestry, community health and child survival, integrated rural development, and formal and non-formal education. For more information on Entrena please visit: http://entrenadr.com
The PUCMM, founded in 1962, is considered the best private institution of higher learning in the Dominican Republic. Its main campus, host to the CIC fall component, is located in Santiago de los Caballeros, 90 miles north of Santo Domingo. The PUCMM has well-developed degree programs in a variety of disciplines, including education, medicine, business, engineering, architecture, humanities, social sciences, and law. The campus boasts modern facilities and spacious grounds. Students in the fall program take courses related to the program theme and other areas of interest. More information is available on the Fall program web page.