Program Details
- Location:
- Arica, Chile
- Program Type:
- Study Abroad
- Degree Level:
- Undergraduate
- Term:
- Fall Semester, Spring Semester
Program Overview
- Program Description:
Gain unique insight and exposure to health care policies, politics, and delivery methods in a multicultural and rapidly changing region of South America. Central to the program is an analysis of health reform intended primarily to improve health conditions of disadvantaged groups, particularly those in Chile, while also improving health care access for the population at large. Students carefully examine intercultural health and alternative healthcare practices in the context of Chile as well as southern Peru. Students consider different conceptions of wellness and healing, including beliefs and health practices of the Aymara and Mapuche indigenous groups. The program gives students the opportunity to experience Chile's health system firsthand with guided, insightful visits to public and private health centers.
The coursework in the Chile: Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment program combines topical seminars and discussions with field-based learning around the themes of public health and community welfare. These themes are divided into modules so that students can contextualize the Chilean reality, taking into account historical elements, current realities and emerging trends. Theoretical perspectives are provided through interdisciplinary seminars and are reinforced through the Spanish language classes. Subsequently, educational excursions and community work experiences complement classroom work and provide opportunities for critical reflection around programmatic themes.
Please inquire for costs: Fees include tuition, full room and board, all field trips and related fares, health and accident insurance, and other direct program expenses. Participants pay for international airfare and domestic travel to the point of departure from the USA.
- Setting Description:
- Based in Chile's northern-most city of Arica, students in the SIT Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment program examine theoretical and existing approaches to health care delivery in diverse communities across Chile, including in urban and rural areas. Through interdisciplinary coursework, field study, and meaningful site visits to public health centers, students scrutinize both "modern" and traditional medicine practices and delivery methods.
Additional Program Information
- Scholarships:
- Yes
- Scholarships Description:
- Please see our website for more information.
Program Reviews
Overall Rating
Based on 5 Reviews
- An experience to remember in Chile01/10/20
I had a great time in Arica, Chile with SIT. The guest lecturers were interesting, there were a variety of topics covered and the trips we took were very fun! We went to different health centers, practiced my Spanish, and learned about health in the indigenous
communities in the area. While I was in Chile there were a lot of political protests which made the experience that much more interesting, but also hard to study in the country. I stayed with a great host family, and the staff are very nice and supportive as well.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - Wonderful Program with Great Opportunities03/03/18
This program provided many opportunities that would never have been possible alone. We were able to meet people and go to places that aren't accessible to your typical tourist, making the program feel very worthwhile. Another wonderful aspect of the program
was that it was clearly worth the cost. There was never a moment where anyone wondered where all the tuition money had gone; it was visibly being spent on our experiences and and our time abroad.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - Study Abroad Experience in Arica, Chile02/27/18
My study abroad experience in Chile was overall, an amazing experience. The majority of our time was spent in the northernmost city of Arica with its unique geography of being both beach and dessert. Arica is a nice-sized city with plenty to do for fun.
The structure of the program allows for exploration of many interesting topics related to health and culture. I loved being able to travel as part of this program to different areas in the northern region as well as to the southern part of Chile. The application of public health and traditional medicine is very relevant and exceedingly interesting! The SIT staff is also amazing and really cares about its small group of students. The relationships fostered during this time are some that you will continue to have even upon your return back to your home country.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - An Experience in Chilean Traditional Medicine10/29/17
I enjoyed the variety of experiences I had doing this program. We took several trips so we got to see a good portion of the country. The host families were all nice and wanted to help their students and have them be involved with family activities. It
was difficult to adjust to all of the sudden changes at first, but the staff were all helpful at in country orientation. The academics weren't very rigorous, most likely because you are encouraged to do a lot of investigating on your own time and experiencing the culture beyond books. I would have liked a more detailed methods course that gave more practical examples, but the traditional medicine and public health courses were interesting, with a fair number of guest speakers. I loved the ISP (independent study project) period, as it allowed for the most freedom and you can investigate a specific topic that really interests you.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend - A great experience!02/14/17
My semester in Chile was a really unique time that I now look back on and still am able to laugh at and be in awe of. The program is organized in a way that allows you to see travel around Chile and really get a sense of the country as a whole. I stayed
with 4 Chilean families over the course of the semester and was able to learn so much about Chilean culture (and by comparison my own culture) from sharing in their daily lives. My favorite part of the program was the ISP period, which I spent in Santiago volunteering full-time at a non-profit organization. The program director was very flexible with allowing me to conduct an ISP on a topic of particular interest to me, although it was not directly related to the themes of the program. I had an amazing time exploring a beautiful country with a group of fun and inspiring students who I still keep in touch with. My Spanish improved immensely over the course of the semester and I quickly became accustomed to approaching strangers for directions, help or simply making conversation. This is the perfect program for anyone who is interested in studying anthropology or indigenous rights, particularly around the topic of traditional medicine. The program is structured very well and I think that a selling point of the program is that you are exposed to the current controversies surrounding public health related to traditional medicine in a variety of contexts (urban/rural, North/South, etc.)
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend