Chile: Comparative Education and Social Change

Coursework

Prerequisites:
Previous college-level coursework in education, Latin American studies, or development studies. Three recent semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent and the ability to follow coursework in Spanish, as assessed by SIT.

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The interdisciplinary coursework in the Chile: Comparative Education and Social Change program explores the political, social, and economic factors affecting educational systems and social change in Chile and Argentina. Students examine these effects firsthand through field studies and interactions with urban and rural communities throughout Chile and in Buenos Aires. During the final month of the semester, students leverage their accumulated knowledge and research experience to complete an Independent Study Project.

The Chile: Comparative Education and Social Change program offers the following courses. These course descriptions can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.

Education Quality and Equity: Tensions and Proposals- syllabus (PDF)
(LACB 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
In this first seminar, students examine the Chilean educational system in the context of global changes. In particular, they study the relationship between education and society in Chile and the current crisis in education. Course topics include educational equity policies and the impact on social indicators; education and human rights: gender, sexuality, religion, and ideology; special education and its challenges; rural education; and university reform. All coursework is conducted in Spanish.

Bilingual Intercultural Education and Popular Education- syllabus (PDF)
(LACB 3005 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
The second seminar introduces a comparative focus by having students examine both the Chilean and Argentine educational systems. The course focuses on intercultural education, the role of ethnicity and diversity in educational practices, and bilingual education in South America. Students will examine the particular case of Mapuche communities in Chile. As a second major theme, students also consider popular education models, reading Freire and others, relating these models to social movements. In both areas — the intercultural and the popular — students critically examine the tensions among the different actors in the educational system: students, teachers, and the government. Similarly, through both intercultural and popular education themes, students discuss issues of equity, human rights, and educational policies with reference to the current legislative framework. All coursework is conducted in Spanish.

Intensive Language Study: Spanish for Social Sciences and Education I - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 2000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Spanish for Social Sciences and Education II - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 2500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Intensive Language Study: Spanish for Social Sciences and Education III - syllabus (PDF)
(SPAN 3000 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
In this course, students hone their speaking, reading, and writing skills through classroom and field instruction. They practice reading educational literature as they learn the formal terms and local expressions needed to discuss educational policy, to conduct field research, and to interact in settings related to the program themes and excursion destinations. Students are placed in small classes based on an in-country evaluation that tests both written and oral proficiency.

Research Methods and Ethics - syllabus (PDF)
(ANTH 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
In this research methods course designed to prepare students for the Independent Study Project, students learn how to organize and conduct a research project. Through lectures, readings, and field activities, students study and practice basic social science and educational research methods. They examine the ethical issues surrounding field research related to working with schools, children, and marginalized groups, and are guided through the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review process, which forms a core component of the course. By the end of the course, students will have chosen a research topic, selected appropriate methods, and written a solid proposal for an Independent Study Project related to the program themes. All coursework is conducted in Spanish.

Independent Study Project - syllabus (PDF)
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted in Buenos Aires or in another approved location appropriate to the project, the Independent Study Project offers students the opportunity to conduct field research on a topic of their choice within the program’s thematic parameters. The project integrates learning from the various components of the program and culminates in a final presentation and formal research paper. Students may choose to incorporate a guided practicum experience into the project as well. Sample topic areas: identity issues and intercultural education in rural Mapuche schools; education and cultural identity through children’s arts expressions; structural aspects of education; English language practicum; the Penguin revolution and its effects; school reentry in Buenos Aires; ethnicity in child care in slum areas of Buenos Aires; gender roles in schools; national identity in students; human rights; popular education and social change.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research

Credits: 16

Duration: 15 weeks

Program Base: Santiago

Language Study: Spanish

Prerequisites: Coursework in education, Latin American studies, or development studies; 3 semesters college-level Spanish. Read more...