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.

Socio-Political 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 the program's academic director throughout the semester. See the "Internship" tab for more information.

University Info

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV) is a relatively small university of 9,000 students 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 de Valparaíso
Universidad de Valparaíso (UV) is home to 14,000 students, fewer than 2 percent of whom are international students. This high ratio of Chilean students makes UV an attractive option for students who want to truly immerse themselves into Chilean culture and academic life. UV offers excellent learning opportunities in the areas of economics, sociology, international business, public administration and social work, among others. The university is renowned for its support of fine arts and encourages students to attend the abundant exhibitions, concerts and film festivals on campus.

IFSA-Butler students are allowed to enroll in up to two courses at the UV. Students who enroll in a course at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María may enroll in only one class at the UV. One contact hour is equal to 1 U.S. semester credit hour. Due to changes in UV administration, we cannot guarantee that courses will be available. Please contact your IFSA-Butler program advisor for more details on study at UV.

Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (commonly referred to as the USM) has 10,000 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. Students who are taking courses at Universidad de Valparaíso may enroll in only one class at USM. 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?
Each of the three universities provides an online course catalog that lists 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 de Valparaíso:

1. Click here to access UV's online course catalog.
2. Choose a carrera (major) from the list that appears in blue at the top of the page.
3. Under "Secciones," click on the "folleto para descargar" link to download an informational brochure and course listings. Courses are on page 2 of the brochure.

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, but there is a limit to how many courses can be taken at the other two universities. Students can take up to two courses outside the PUCV, whether they take two at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, two at the Universidad de Valparaíso or one in each institution.

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 de Valparaíso: Medicine (only a few spots are available in a few courses), theater, cinema and tourism.
• 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.