Program Courses

What program courses does IFSA-Butler offer?
The following courses are specially designed for IFSA-Butler students on the Chilean Universities Program in Valparaíso. You are required to enroll in the mandatory Spanish language class; your placement level will be determined by an oral and written exam after your arrival in Chile. Additionally, you can choose to enroll in one of the two additional program courses offered. There is also an internship option designed specifically for IFSA-Butler students. Students can enroll in one optional program course as well as participate on the internship.

Click here to download all program course syllabi, or click on a course title below to download an individual course syllabus.

Advanced Written and Oral Spanish (4 U.S. semester credit hours)
This course is designed by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) specifically for non-native Spanish speakers. Placement is determined during your orientation abroad. This course is mandatory for all IFSA-Butler students.

Sociopolitical History of Latin America (20th Century) (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
This course aims to give students an understanding of how the political system that is seen indiscriminately in Latin American countries corresponds to a socio-economic and psychological structure that makes political stability difficult.

Contemporary Chilean Literature (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
This course serves as an overview of Chilean literature, including its relationship to the country's history, society and culture.

Internship in Community Action (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
Five students each semester are chosen to participate in an internship which is certified by the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (USM). Students must complete 30 hours of community service, as well as complete 15 contact hours with course professor throughout the semester. See the "Internship" tab for more information.

University Info

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) has approximately 14,000 students. It is set in the twin cities of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. You'll find a tightly-knit community of students pursuing their academics and many extracurricular cultural and sporting activities. PUCV offers a wide variety of courses available to IFSA-Butler students. Course listings will not be available until orientation in Chile. As such, you will select and register for courses when you arrive in Chile. One credit at the PUCV is equal to 1 U.S. semester credit hour. Courses are typically worth 2 to 4 U.S. semester credit hours.

Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (commonly referred to as the USM) has 13,000 students in an environment dedicated to teaching and research at the highest level. All of the university's academic programs are well known for their excellence.

USM believes that providing a comprehensive academic program means including sports, physical activity, arts and languages as a substantial part of the student's formation. For that reason, the Institute of Humanities Studies (Departamento de Estudios Humanísticos) plays a key role in providing students with tools to become citizens who are sensitive to what is happening around them. USM's Department of Humanities offers disciplines that are geared toward both national and international students. In addition, the department has many non-traditional courses that focus on culture, civilization, sociology, politics, music, ethics and literature.

The Department of Humanities also provides students with a wide range of undergraduate academic support activities such as theatre workshops, painting exhibitions and subject-related seminars. Its aim is to enhance the central USM mission of teaching and research in science and technology in a number of ways.

IFSA-Butler students are able to take a maximum of two classes in USM's humanities department. One credit at the USM is equal to 1.5 U.S. semester credit hours.

University Courses

What university courses am I eligible to take?
As an IFSA-Butler student, you may enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and space is available. Additionally, you may enroll in open courses as long as you meet any prerequisites and have the adequate level of Spanish. Course syllabi may not be available until the beginning of your semester.

Keep the following in mind:

• Year-long courses are open only to students who plan on taking both semesters of the course.
• Odd numbered semesters correspond to semester 1 (U.S. spring semester), and even numbered semesters correspond to semester 2 (U.S. fall semester).

Where can I find a list of courses that the host universities offer?
Both of the universities provide online course catalogs that list courses that may be available during your study abroad semester or year. Keep in mind that these listings are provisional. Follow the steps below to access the online course catalog:

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso:

1. Click here to access PUCV's online course catalog.
2. Select a major of your interest under the various facultades listed.
3. Scroll down to see a list of all the courses that may be available for that specific area of study.

Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María:

1. Click here to access USM's online course catalog.
2. Click on "Engineering and Architecture Programs."
3. Select "Main Campus" and then "Estudios Humanísticos" from the drop down menues.
4. There you will find a list of courses that may be offered. You can find the course descriptions by clicking on the symbol that looks like a document and says "course description."

If a particular course you are looking for is not listed, contact your program advisor for more information. Course availability changes every semester.

* Students can take as many courses at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) as they would like. Students can take up to two courses at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.

Are there any restrictions or additional requirements for courses I can take?
Students cannot take classes in the following departments at the following schools:

• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso: Architecture, music (only some courses available), law (only some courses available) and engineering (other than commercial engineering, not recommended due to difficulty).
• Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María: Students can only take classes in the humanities department.

I need to provide course descriptions and/or syllabi to my home university advisor. Where can I find those?
If course descriptions or syllabi are not available online, contact your program advisor for assistance. Please provide the following information in your request:

• University
• Department or facultad
• Course title and course number (if available)

Please limit your request to 10 courses at a time. Keep in mind that it may take a few days to a month to obtain this information.

How are Chilean university courses different from the courses at my U.S. university?
The system of higher education in Chile is more specialized than the U.S. liberal arts curriculum, which means that Chilean students enter the university with some background in the subjects they wish to study. Therefore, local students take most of, if not all, their courses in one faculty and receive a degree in one field. In the U.S. system, students take a little of everything and don't specialize until a couple of years into their studies.

Additionally, you might notice that your Chilean classmates know each other very well. This is because students enroll in carreras rather than majors. Carreras are similar to majors in the United States but with
a more structured program of study and fewer elective courses. Students from the same carrera enroll in the same courses together during their entire undergraduate career.

Registration

How will I register for courses?
Course registration will not take place until you are in Chile. You, along with the help of the IFSA-Butler staff, will plan your course schedule during orientation. Before leaving for Chile, it is a good idea to start thinking about the courses you want to take while studying abroad. Be sure to discuss your courses with your U.S. university academic and/or study abroad advisor.

While we are sure that your time abroad will be rewarding, you must be aware of some of the challenges inherent in dealing with the Chilean educational system. Our resident director will not only discuss these issues at orientation but will also be available to help you with any problems that may arise during the semester.

Keep in mind that the educational system in Chile is different from the system in the U.S. For example, Chilean universities do not usually publish course schedules until just before the start of the semester. In many cases, current course listings are not available until you arrive on site.

What if I need to take a required course?
Because of the universities' schedules, it is difficult to confirm course availability before you depart. If you are flexible in your course choices, you will probably be able to find a course that fits your needs. Keep in mind that if you need a specific course to fulfill your home institution's requirements, we may not be able to confirm the availability of that course or enroll you in it even if it is available. Both academic flexibility and patience are requirements for studying in Latin America.

Science and engineering courses require a high level of expertise, and students should be prepared for the increased challenge of studying these disciplines in Spanish. As these are fields in which there are generally few international students, visiting students may feel that a support system is not readily available. However, previous visiting students on the Chilean Universities Program in Valparaíso have found science and engineering course professors to be helpful.

What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full university course load as determined by IFSA-Butler, which is 15-16 U.S. semester credit hours per semester. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. full course load. The number of courses you will take depends on the individual value of the courses you select. Please be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your home university or host university to take or process additional credits. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.

All courses are graded on an A-F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. Students are not allowed to register for on-line, distance education or hybrid courses. See the "Academics" and "Program Fees and Financial Aid" sections in Preparing to Study Abroad for more information.

Exams

What do I need to know about exams?
Due to the difference in academic systems, your exam schedule will not be available until after you register for courses after you arrive in Chile. Be sure to confirm exam dates with your professor at the beginning of the semester. You are not permitted to reschedule exams, request alternate assessment or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler will not be able to assist you in conducting an academic record query on the class in which you made this arrangement. Additionally, all academic obligations, including final exams, must be complete before leaving Chile.

Transcripts

How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?
After you return to the U.S., IFSA-Butler will send a Butler University transcript to your home university. The transcript reflects the courses taken, credits attempted and grades earned on the Chilean Universities Program during your study abroad semester or year. We will also send an official transcript to your permanent home address.

Academic Tutoring

What if I need academic help during the semester?
In addition to the formal Spanish class, IFSA-Butler can organize tutoring sessions for students throughout the semester or year. These may be scheduled at various times during the week, when students meet with the tutor on an individual basis. Please speak with the IFSA-Butler resident staff if you would like the assistance of a tutor.

Areas of Study

On the Chilean Universities Program, Valparaíso, you are able to take university courses in a wide range of subject areas. Most departments at PUCV are open to IFSA-Butler students, as well as humanities courses at USM (see "University Courses" tab for more information on restrictions). IFSA-Butler hopes that students will be able to take courses for their U.S. institution degree requirements in order to stay on track for graduation.

Following is a sample list of courses that previous IFSA-Butler students have taken in Valparaíso during past semesters. Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list. There are hundreds of courses at PUCV and USM from which you can choose. To see full course listings that may be available during your study abroad semester, click on the "University Courses" tab to access the online course catalogs for these universities.

Popular Subjects and Courses*

Anthropology:

• Cultural Anthropology
• General Anthropology

Art History:

• History of Universal Art

Biology:

• Introduction to Oceanography
• Microbiology
• Natural Resources and Climatic Change
• Submarine Geology of the Chilean Margin

Economics:

• Chile and its Insertion into the Global Economy
• Globalization, Innovation and Economic Development

Education:

• Puppet Workshop
• Construction of the Professional Identity

Film Studies:

• Basic Concepts of Cinematographic Language
• Historic Evolution of Film

Geography:

• Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
• Geoecology
• Geography of Chile
• Geography of Latin America
• Introduction to Mountaineering
• Urban and Rural Geography

History:

• 20th Century Latin American History
• Modern History of Chile
• Urban History and Regional History of Valparaíso
• History and Film: War and Peace Art and Society in Pre-Hispanic Chile
• Economic and Social History
• Sociopolitical History of Latin America, 20th Century
• Regional and Local History

Physical Education:

• Camping Techniques and Outdoor Education
• Mapuches (Araucanos) Games of Chile
• Mountain Sports

Political Science:

• International Politics

Psychology:

• Developmental Psychology
• General Psychology
• Industrial Psychology
• Multicultural Education
• Psychology of Love and Sexuality

Religious Studies:

• Introduction to the History of Religions
• Religious Psychology

Sociology:

• Cultural Antropology
• Mondernity and Social Issues
• Social Violence

Spanish Language and Literature:

• Chilean and Hispanic American Literature
• Chilean Dialectology
• Contemporary Latin American Poetry
• Poetry Reading
• Spanish Literature
• Theory of Translation and Interpretation

* All courses listed on this page were available to IFSA-Butler students during previous semesters on the Chilean Universities Program, Valparaíso. IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that a course listed here or on the universities' online course catalog will be available or open to IFSA-Butler students during future study abroad semesters. Please contact your IFSA-Butler program advisor if you have questions about course availability.