Argentina, the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world, known locally as "The Land of the Six Continents" for its geographic and climatic diversity, has a long and fascinating history and is a major economic and political power in South America.
The capital city, Buenos Aires, famous for its 47 historically and culturally distinctive neighborhoods such as La Boca and La Recoleta, is arguably the most cosmopolitan city on the continent, largely as a result of a wave of European immigration in the early 20th century. Almost half of the population of 36 million Argentines are said to live in Greater Buenos Aires and its province. Even so, the city is renowned for its parks and squares, which give it a sense of spaciousness. A major economic and political center, it is also a lively and cultured city with a European feel. Tango was, of course, invented here and is today a virtual obsession; that and a wide variety of other musical styles are at the very core of the local, "porteño" culture along with the "gaucho" heritage of freedom and independence. Yet, Buenos Aires is also home to innumerable art galleries, some 100 museums, countless historical and architectural monuments (including art deco), a cemetery that rivals Paris' Père Lachaise, over 90 theaters, classical music groups and orchestras, ballet, and opera (the Colón Theater is ranked among the top three in the world), while the ubiquitous sidewalk cafés offer unparalleled opportunities for people-watching.
One of the oldest, largest (over 200,000 students), and most prestigious public institutions in Latin America, the Universidad de Buenos Aires' history of social activism and political opposition during the era of dictatorship resulted in a decline from which it is now emerging. Students enroll in the faculty of social sciences (FSOC: ciencias sociales). While UBA is a typical large urban university, coursework is nonetheless widely regarded as among the most demanding available; students are highly motivated and socially involved; and many courses are equivalent to two U.S. college courses.
Academic Program
Students enroll in the equivalent of 4.5 Pomona credits, or 4.5 Middlebury credits for the semester.
All coursework is conducted in Spanish. All students enroll in Writing for Cultural and Linguistic Competency (0.5 Pomona credits), a writing-intensive course that meets once a week. The course receives a letter grade.
Students earn their remaining credits by enrolling in courses at Universidad de Buenos Aires. Students integrate into the university system and take their courses alongside host university students.
The internship is organized by the program and has an academic component. Previous internships have been in, but are not limited to, the following fields: health care, neighborhood government offices, women’s issues, and political research.
Students are required to take at least one course with significant focus on Argentina.
Pomona students may enroll in the Public Health Track. In the School in Argentina’s Public Health Track, students may take classes at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) Facultad de Ciencias Sociales or the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), choosing from a large array of suitable courses in the subject areas of sociology, demography, social work, psychology, and health-related careers. At each university, students also will have access to some courses from many majors and departments, such as Sociology or Social Work at UBA, or Nutrition at UCA.
Students may take one course at the Middlebury center per semester on a CR/NC basis. Students may also take direct enrollment university courses on a CR/NC basis.
Number of Students
Middlebury enrolls approximately 35 students, selected from a national pool.
Host Institution
Middlebury Schools Abroad
Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
Faculty Liaison
Suzanne Chavez-Silverman
Eligibility
- Completion of an upper-division Spanish course (100-level or higher), or the equivalent.
All students are expected to enroll in a Spanish course the semester prior to the term abroad. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed college coursework with Latin American content.
Travel Advisories
