Academics

Fields of Study: Social Sciences, Science

This is a rare opportunity to acquire professional health and medical experience as an undergraduate. The program includes six weeks of courses in Santiago, a weeklong clinical rotation in a rural area, and a final rotation in urban Santo Domingo. Courses focus on the various dimensions of community public health in the Dominican Republic: health management, preventative health programs, and the availability and impact of health-related community services. Meanwhile, the Spanish-taught curriculum allows you to improve your proficiency in Spanish.

Unique study opportunities

  • Learn medical terminology in Spanish as you interact with local patients and staff at health clinics.
  • Examine a range of pre-professional healthcare topics.
  • Gain insights into the needs of underserved communities in the Dominican Republic.
  • Acquire the skills needed to become a bilingual health professional.

Language

Language of Instruction: Spanish

Spanish Language Study: Required

All instruction is in Spanish. The curriculum also includes a course in advanced conversational Spanish with a focus on medical terminology.

Courses and credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program:

  • Take three courses for a total of 15 quarter/10 semester UC units.
  • All courses must be taken for a letter grade.

Current Program Courses

This program includes three courses:

listed under Development Studies, Health Sciences, and Latin American Studies, upper division, 6 quarter/4 semester UC units.

listed under Development Studies, Health Sciences, and Latin American Studies, upper division, 4.5 quarter/3 semester UC units.

listed under Spanish, upper division, 4.5 quarter/3 semester UC units. A language placement exam will be conducted to ensure appropriate language course placement. 

Additional or optional coursework, internships, and research for academic credit are not possible on this program.

Catalogs and resources

  • Program Information: See the CIEE website for additional information
  • UCEAP Course Catalog: See a list of courses UC students have taken on this program.
  • Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location.

Academic culture

Instructors from Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) design and teach all courses in this program. You will be in class alongside other UC and international students.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework. Grades are typically available two to three months after the program ends. They may not arrive in time to accommodate summer degree verification deadlines.