Chile: Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment

Coursework

Prerequisites:
Previous college-level coursework in public health, development studies, community or social sciences, or other related fields. At least four recent semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent and the ability to follow coursework in Spanish as assessed by SIT.

Access Virtual Library Guide

The program’s coursework combines topical seminars and discussions with field-based learning around the themes of public health, traditional medicine, and community empowerment. 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.

The topic of public health is intertwined with the programmatic themes of alternative health practices, community welfare, and social justice within Chile.

Spanish is the primary language of instruction throughout the program. Students will be expected to follow advanced readings and conduct conversations with health professionals.

The following syllabi are for the upcoming session. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.

The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.

Public Health in Chile - syllabus (PDF)
(IPBH 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
An interdisciplinary course conducted in Spanish, with required readings, examining theoretical and current approaches to health care delivery in urban and rural, and “modern” and traditional, communities across present-day Chile. Resources utilized in the delivery of course content include the Universidad de Tarapacá, the Indigenous Health System, public health centers, local and national government health officials, herbalists, intercultural medicine practitioners, the Chilean intercultural hospital Nueva Imperial, and the traditional health center and Mapuche intercultural hospital Makewe .

Traditional Medicine and Community Health - syllabus (PDF)
(IPBH 3005 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to learn about alternative healthcare practices in Chile and their role in community health. Course content includes alternative concepts, practices, and visions of health. The focus of the course is on the population of Mapuche and Aymara peoples as well as other rural populations. Course curriculum will be conveyed through lectures, reading materials, discussions, and field-based learning experiences. Lectures and discussions will be conducted in Spanish by Chilean specialists.

Public Health Research Methods and Ethics - syllabus (PDF)
(IPBH 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
A course in research methods in both the social and natural sciences, focusing on how to collect, analyze, integrate, and report social and public health data to critically understand and evaluate program-related public health issues. Field studies include designing a research project; writing a research proposal; interviewing; surveys; and maintaining a field journal. Specific public health research methods include concepts of scientific research; basic techniques used in public health research; data collection and analysis; epidemiology and considerations in the Chilean context; ethical issues related to public health projects and research; the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy; and observation and participation in community health projects.

Intensive Language Study: Spanish for the Health Sciences I - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 2000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Spanish for the Health Sciences II - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 2500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Spanish for the Health Sciences III - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Spanish for the Health Sciences IV - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Emphasis on speaking and comprehension skills through classroom and field instruction. Special attention is given to medical and health terminology in Spanish. Based on in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing, students are placed in intensive intermediate or advanced classes.

Independent Study Project or Health Practicum- syllabus (PDF)
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted in Arica, Putre, Valparaíso, Temuco, or in another approved location in Chile appropriate to the project. Students can choose to conduct an Independent Study Project or to participate in a guided, month-long health practicum. Sample topic areas: women’s health; psychiatric illness and community outreach; drug and alcohol treatment; intercultural health; Chilean AIDS policy; promotion and prevention policies; indigenous practice of health; epidemiology.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research

All Global Health programs
All programs in Latin America

Credits: 16

Duration: 15 weeks

Program Base: Arica

Language Study: Spanish

Prerequisites: Coursework in public health, development studies, community or social sciences, or other related fields; 4 semesters college-level Spanish. Read more...