Pitt in Bolivia: Culture, Society and Health

A country that faces challenges very different from those in the U.S., Bolivia is an exciting place to learn about contemporary issues facing a diverse and largely indigenous population. During this 6-week program students will take two academic courses on culture and infectious diseases specific to the Andean country.

Based on the feedback from the students, we are also adding a 1-credit spanish language course, that students will take as during their first two weeks in Bolivia. Students of all levels of Spanish (including NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL) are welcome to apply to the program. Although not mandatory we do encourage you to sign up for at least one semester of the college level Spanish before going on the program. Taking Spanish language classes will allow you to connect with the locals and what a bonus for your resume!

During the program students will also get to visit several of Bolivia’s most famous sites. In the Chapare, students will adventure through the Amazon, encountering monkeys, hiking through rainforests, and experiencing outstanding tropical fruits and foods.

Excursions are subject to change depending on whether conditions as well as any COVID-19 regulations put in place by the local, state, and country governments of Bolivia.

What You'll Accomplish:

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity:

to learn about issues facing current Bolivian society with the focus on the historical, geographical, social, economic, political and cultural contexts
to understand communicable diseases in vulnerable populations and how mitigate risks to prevent diseases
to explore Bolivia's most famous sites from La Paz to Chapare

Intercultural Learning Objectives:

Develop cultural self-awareness and knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks (Knowledge);
Develop an understanding of cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal communication styles and learn to successfully adapt in various presented cultural contexts (Skills);
Develop the ability to engage and learn from perspectives and experiences different from one’s own (Skills);
Learn to exercise curiosity and openness in interactions with other cultures (Attitudes);
Develop transferrable and personal leadership skills (Skills, Attitudes).

Learning objectives are based on the AAC&U VALUE rubrics for Global Learning and Intercultural Knowledge and Competence

Bolivia is located in the heart of South America. It is a land locked country with the Andes Mountains to the west and the Amazon Jungle to the east. Our program takes place in the city of Cochabamba or “Llajta” (its name in Quechua). Surrounded by the spectacular Andes Mountains, this city is Bolivia’s third largest next to Santa Cruz to the east and La Paz to the west.

During the Inca Empire, Cochabamba was used strictly as farmland to feed the entire Inca Empire. Remains from this empire provide an excellent opportunity for students to study this ancient civilization. In Cochabamba as well as in the other nine departments of Bolivia, the indigenous groups still practice their traditional customs such as the winter solstice, “Andean cosmovision” (Andean view of the earth), “koa” (ritual to Pachamama, Mother Earth), language, food, “Urkupiña” (a celebration to the virgin), and a “Cholita,” (a traditionally dressed woman). However, due to the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1530s, these indigenous cultures have been mixed with Spanish cultures.

Bolivia is a very diverse country reflected in its languages, indigenous practices, politics, ethnicities, and customs. This makes Bolivia a fascinating and interesting country. The Bolivian people are very proud of their country’s journey throughout history and keep alive their traditions, which all too many countries have already lost to the Western World. Bolivia is an adventure within itself making it an amazing place to learn and grow.

Where You'll Live:

Students and the faculty director will be staying in shared accommodations at a local hostel in Cochabamba. The hostel is centrally located: within walking distance to many of the city’s main attractions and surrounded by lots of restaurants and markets, with both Bolivian and non-Bolivian food options.

You can expect the following:

Shared bedrooms (2 or 3 students/bedroom)
Bedding
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Internet access

Please note that meals are not included in the program fee.

We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change. Contact your program manager with any questions.

What You'll Study:

You will receive a total of 7 credits on Pitt in Bolivia program. You will get a letter grade for the Contemporary Issues in Bolivia course, as well as the Infectious Diseases course.

The Spanish course will be S/NC (pass/fail) based.

If you are seeking to count these courses towards a major, minor or certificate, please meet with your academic advisor to discuss this program and what the courses will fulfill for you.

Contemporary Issues: Bolivia (SOC1503)

This course will introduce students to issues facing current Bolivian society from multiple disciplines. The focus will be on the historical, geographical, social, economic, political and cultural contexts. Topics that will be discussed include indigenous healthcare, health policy, education, interculturality, gender, and the war on drugs. Students will learn through lectures, observations and personal communication with the local Cochabamba community about social realities, social change, and local challenges.

Independent Study: "Beginning Spanish Abroad" (Bolivia) (SPAN1901)

Students are required to participate in a weekend intensive Spanish class prior to the departure, and will continue taking appropriate level of Spanish language at a Runawasi language school in Bolivia. This course falls outside of the Spanish department normal course progression. Students will need to take a placement test upon return to determine the appropriate level to continue. This course will be offered as S/NC. 1 credit

Independent Study: "Continuing Spanish Abroad" (Bolivia) (SPAN1901)

Infectious Diseases of Bolivia (BIOL0070)

BIOL 00700

This course will introduce students to the infectious diseases that are currently present within the Bolivian society. The focus will be on the historical, geographical, social and cultural context as well as the health system in place to combat these diseases. Students will learn through lectures, observations, field and case studies. As a part of the course, students will be required to attend field trips to local laboratory facilities both public and private, pending pandemic restrictions.

Syllabus:

Download Infectious Diseases Syllabus.pdf (263.64 KB)

Experiential Learning Description:

Due to the pandemic, we are suspending the service-learning portion of the program to mitigate the risk of potentially spreading the virus to vulnerable populations with which we work alongside for Summer 2023.

Service -Learning Placement Fields
Project teams will work on-site at a local non-profit or NGO completing daily assigned tasks and in addition will be guided to identify a sustainable project that meets the needs of the organization, based on students academic and professional interests and skills.

Students-identified projects provide an opportunity to creatively apply and develop skills and knowledge from almost any academic field. Education, ESL, ASL, Natural sciences, Computer science, Spanish, Liberal Arts, Environmental Science, Nursing and Pre-Health could all be instrumental in team cooperation to address some of the challenges that local communities are dealing with.

In an effort to combine the needs of local partner organizations and the skills of individual students, participants will be asked to complete a skills based application. The review committee will then place students into project teams. Please note that project teams are decided and assigned after acceptance into the program, based on the skills and academic background of the applicants and the needs of the organizations. You will not be able to request a particular placement.

See short descriptions of the organizations we have been working with and the projects students were able to contribute to here.
Reach out to your Pitt program manager to learn more about placements.

We work closely with our Third Party Provider Connect2Bolivia to offer students this wonderful program. Connect2Bolivia was founded by Alexis Wieczorek, a former Pitt Alum and David Ruiz, Bolivian Architect. For more detailed info on their mission check out the Connect2Bolivia webpage: http://connect2bolivia.com/

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts:

Oksana Stalczynski

Privet! I'm Oksana Stalczynski and I'm an Assistant Director of Study Abroad at the Global Experiences Office. I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, was an exchange student and Russian Language Scholar at Reed College in Portland, OR and did a summer language program in Dresden, Germany. Global experiences broaden your horizon, grow your circle of friends and improve your career opportunities. That’s why I think everyone should do one!

Feel free to contact me to find out more about global experiences programs at Pitt, and/or to learn/practice some Russian.

E-mail:

Oksana.stalczynski@pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

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Your In-Country Contacts:

Dr. Jill Henning

Jill D. Henning, PhD is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Campus. She has a broad background in immunology, infectious diseases, and cancer biology. In general, her research examines how infectious disease affect humans and animals—a concept referred to as “One Health.” She has divided her research into two specific categories: viral influences on immune function associated with cancer and zoonotic infectious diseases and their vectors. She completed her Ph.D. in Infectious Diseases Microbiology from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health in 2008. She was a post-doctoral fellow in biobehavioral medicine for a year and joined the faculty here at Pitt-Johnstown in 2009.

E-mail:

henning@pitt.edu

Items Billed by Pitt
	In-State	Out-of-State
Program Cost	$6,499	$6,699
Study Abroad Fee	$300	$300
Total Billed by Pitt	$6,799	$6,999

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Airfare		$1,200 - $1,500
Personal Expenses and Meals		$1,000
Vaccines		$100
Visa		$200

What's Included:

As a part of your program fee, the following are included:

Tuition for 7 credits
Shared accommodations in a hostel
International travel health insurance
Cultural activities
Local excursions (Featured excursions include one of the Bolivia's most famous site - Chapare: students will visit this rural province in northern Bolivia. Here students will adventure through the Amazon, encountering monkeys, hiking through rainforests, and experiencing outstanding tropical fruits and foods).

What Else You Need to Know:

To mitigate the risk of potentially spreading the virus to our on the ground staff and the general Bolivian population our provider is asking for proof of vaccination to be able to participate in the program.
You will need to be tested and be able to submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test no later than 48 hours before departure.