Study Program in Chile - 1997/1998
Universidad de Concepción
This international program provides students an opportunity to
study in the third oldest Chilean university, while living in
one of the most important industrial centers in Chile.
Concepción is also the capital of the southern region
centering on the Rio Bio-Bio drainage basin. The city is
located about 250 miles south of Santiago. The climate is very
agreeable during the summer (December - February), with
winters not unlike Portland, Oregon (rainy).
Cooperating Institution: Universidad de
Concepción
The private Universidad de Concepción offers a number
of programs, most all of which are available to students from
SUNY. "Visiting student" status to will be granted to
students applying through the SUNY program. Universidad de
Concepción is especially strong in Spanish plus
biological, environmental and marine sciences, but also has
all of the liberal arts curricula, including important
programs in business, history and public administration.
Location: Concepción
The campus of the Universidad de Concepción has the
most unified campus among the Chilean universities. The
population of the city is about 450,000. Concepción is
the most important city in southern Chile and the third
largest city in the republic. For many, Concepción is
the "real" or traditional Chile, unlike Santiago which
is a major world city--too cosmopolitan for some people from
the provinces.
Academic Program
Students going to Concepción to study will normally
enroll in the four or five courses for about fifteen credits.
These courses will be arranged to meet individual needs and
interests of each student; instruction will be in Spanish.
Obviously, applicants should be able to understand lectures in
Spanish and have the ability to take notes and write. The
program seeks not just Spanish majors, but encourages
applicants from arts and science majors as well as
business.
The academic program is designed to permit each student the
greatest possible latitude to explore and to understand the
complexities of Chilean provincial society while also learning
specific new material in course work. The specific
opportunities offered by Concepción include close
proximity to the southern forests, home to the Mapuche people
of Chile.
Students in the Concepción program should be strong in
Spanish and comfortable in an international setting. While the
Chile program will provide support through the SUNY Santiago
Office, the student will be more on his or her own than if
studying in Santiago. And the International Student Office of
the university will do all they can to help with this full
immersion into Chilean society, As there are few international
students in Concepción, this provincial program allows
the student to know through 100% immersion traditional Chilean
culture.
Approximate Program Dates
Spring Semester: Arrive in Chile by late February, semester
ends in mid-July.
Fall Semester: Arrive in Chile by late July, semester ends
early December.
Housing
Students will stay with Chilean families, at a cost of about
$250-$350 a month, meals included, or in a student
residencial at a somewhat lower cost. Rent will be paid
directly by the student to the host family or
residencial one month at a time. The SUNY Program will
locate housing in advance.
Financial Information
Undergraduate tuition for New York resident is $1,700; for
non-residents tuition is set at $4,150. A program fee of
$1,385 is charged all students.
Applicable federal and state financial aid is available.
Students participating in the
program MUST have medical insurance which provides coverage
while travelling and studying abroad.
Transportation
International: Students in the program may
choose to travel together to Chile via our group flight with
reservation arrangement made by the student. Or you may use
the program's group rate to travel at a time of your own
choosing. The program fare is for a year ticket with an open
return date.
In Chile: Students are responsible for their
own
local transportation and other travel expenses. Public
transportation in Chile is accessible and reasonable.
Transportation from the Santiago airport upon arrival with the
group will be provided by the program.
Eligibility
All undergraduates, with an ability to participate in a
Spanish language classroom. Minimum GPA required: 2.5
cumulative (on 4.0 scale). This program enrolls all majors.
The program is open to non-SUNY
students. Arrangements are also possible for graduate
students.
Application Forms
Prospective students must use the standard SUNY international
study program application form, copies of which are available
from the SUNY Plattsburgh Latin American Studies Program
office of SUNY Offices of International Education. Most
successful applications involve phone conversations with
Carmen Madariaga, Executive Director, or William Culver,
Program Director. Applicants are encouraged to call either of
them or to provide your phone number with any initial letter
of inquiry.Deadline for receiving a completed application for the Spring
Semester is November 1.
Deadline for receiving a completed application for the Fall
Semester is April 1.
For Further Information, please contact:
Carmen Madariaga-Culver, Executive Director
Latin American Southern Cone Programs
State University of New York
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York, 12901-2681
Phone: 1-518-564-2395/5827
Fax: 1-518-564-2300/3932
E-mail: socone@splava.cc.plattsburgh.edu