Seminar/Field Trip
to León, Nicaragua
With the majestic volcano Momotombo looming in the distance, León is the historic and cultural heart of Nicaragua. Beautiful beaches, mangrove forests, wildlife, volcanoes, hiking opportunities and colonial architecture abound. For more than 200 years it was the capital of the country before moving to Managua in 1851. Located approximately 30 minutes from the Pacific side of Nicaragua, the largest country in Central America, the city is also home to the University of León, founded in 1812 and considered one of the most important universities in Central America.
Nicaragua is the focus of the Center for Latin American Studies' 2010 Seminar and Field Trip. Matt Rhodes, doctoral candidate in the School of Education with extensive residence experience in Latin America, will direct the program. Undergraduates interested in Latin America at Pitt who are maintaining a grade point average of at least a 2.75 are eligible to apply.
The 10 to 15 students selected for the program will participate in a preparatory spring term seminar followed by the summer session field trip to León, the second largest city in Nicaragua. The nine credits earned for successful completion of the seminar and field trip meet the School of Arts and Sciences foreign culture curriculum requirement and are applied toward the certificate in Latin American Studies.
Spring Term Seminar, ARTSC1501 (3 credits) This interdisciplinary seminar is d
esigned to prepare students for the field trip. During the seminar, students will examine the history, culture, demography, geography and politics of Nicaragua. Materials dealing with cross-cultural communication and the challenges and rewards of the international living experience also will be introduced. Additionally, students will be guided through the design of individual research projects that they will carry out in León during the field trip.
Summer Session Field Trip, ARTSC 1502 (6 credits) During the field trip, students will spend six weeks in León residing with Spanish-speaking host families and carrying out their research projects. The approximate dates for the field stay are May 5 through June 20.
Language: Students are required to have sufficient proficiency in Spanish to conduct their research and to communicate with their host families. (Language courses, offered in the spring term, may be required to develop the needed proficiency.)
Cost: The total student cost of the program is about $4,300. This includes about $3,300 (in-state) and about $4,900 (out-of-state) for six credits of tuition, plus a contribution of $1,000 towards field expenses. The balance of all costs for round-trip air fare, in-country excursions, as well as room and board with a host family will be paid for by the Center for Latin American Studies.
