Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN)

UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL NORTE (UCN)
This exchange program is sponsored by ISEP.
Contact Chris Kjonaas at the International Student Center for more information.

Location: Antofagasta
Population: 300,000

Location: Coquimbo
Population: 165,000

Language of instruction: Spanish
Academic year or semester exchanges


Universidad Católica del Norte
Course information

Profile: The Universidad Católica del Norte (Catholic University of the North) is a Catholic and pluralistic university. Founded in 1956 in the city of Antofagasta, it was the third Catholic university to be established in Chile and in 1964 it was recognized by the Government of Chile as an autonomous university, integrated with the Council of Presidents of Chilean Universities as the eighth oldest university in Chile.
The strategic objectives of the University is an emphasis on educating the student as a complete person and pursing UCN’s international vocation, promoting the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and abilities at the academic level while cultivating spiritual values in the personal realm.

Locale: UCN has two campuses: the main campus in Antofagasta, and the Guayacan Campus in the city of Coquimbo.

Divisions:
Antofagasta Campus Undergraduate Departments: Architecture, Astronomy, Auditor-Certified Public Accountant, Business, Chemical Analyst, Chemistry Licentiate (Education-Teaching), Chemistry, Engineering, Geology, Journalism, Law, Management, Physics, Pedagogy in Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Psychology, Pedagogy in English, Statistics

Coquimbo Campus Undergraduate Departments: Business Management, Engineering/Aquiculture, Engineering and Risk Management Environment, Law, Licentiate of Religious Sciences, Marine Biology, Medicine Pedagogy in Philosophy, and Religion (Education and Teaching)

The Intensive Spanish and Chilean Culture Program is offered to intermediate-level students who are not proficient enough to take regular courses. This program is divided into three sections with a total of 180 contact hours and 12 credits. In addition, students are permitted to audit regular UCN classes to improve their listening skills.

Room and board: Participants will live with host families who provide meals. Family housing may be available.

Language notes: Language of instruction is Spanish. Students are recommended to have taken three or four semesters of college-level Spanish. Students will take a Preliminary Examination Test to measure Spanish proficiency once they arrive at UCN.
Students who do not have sufficient Spanish language proficiency will enroll in the Intensive Spanish and Chilean Culture Program.

Spanish language courses are available in addition to regular courses throughout the year and costs are included in the ISEP program. Presession and January session

Program dates: Academic year: early March to mid-December; Semester 1: early March to mid-July; Semester 2: early August to mid-December. Observes Southern Hemisphere Calendar.

Location: Valparaiso
Population: 300,000
Language of Instruction: Spanish

Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso
Courses Available

Profile: The Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (UCV), founded in 1928, has established itself as one of the most prestigious, traditional higher educational institutions in Chile. The university faculty includes 450 full-time professors, 70 percent hold a master's or Ph.D. degree. The student body numbers over 11,500 students in 50 undergraduate programs and 25 graduate programs.

The UCV facilities include a modern library system, sport centers, specialized laboratories, cafeterias and recreational centers. The university runs a television channel, radio station, film storehouse and an editorial.

As international students at the UCV, ISEP participants have access to primary health care services at no cost and a special student ID card for public transportation.

Locale: The university is distributed in different campuses and university centers located in the main cities of the Valparaiso region. The region combines beautiful weather, wonderful beaches and the splendid Cordillera de Los Andes. With a population of more than one million, the region has a multicultural flavor.

The city of Valparaíso is the cultural and legislative capital, and the main commercial harbor, of Chile. Seventy miles from the capital city of Chile, Santiago, Valparaíso fascinates visitors with its history, geography and architecture.

Divisions: Faculties of Agronomy; Basic Sciences and Mathematics (biology & natural sciences,biochemistry, statistics, kinesiology, optics, industrial chemistry, physics, mathematics, chemistry & natural sciences); Economics and Management (accounting/auditing, commercial engineering/business administration, social work); Law; Philosophy and Education (interpreting, translation, psychology,Spanish and communications, music, physical education, philosophy, history, geography and social sciences, English, special education, elementary education, pre-school education); Engineering (biochemical, electrical, electronic, industrial, computer sciences, mechanical, chemical, extractive metallurgy, transportation, construction, bio processes); Natural Resources (geography, food engineering, fishing engineering, oceanography); Religious Sciences; and the School of Journalism.

Academic notes: All programs are recommended for ISEP students with a good command of Spanish. Courses of interest to ISEP students include history (Hispano American, American, Chilean, Pre Colombian cultures), geography (Chilean, Latin American, tourism), arts (art workshop: Taller de América, urban space), literature (Chilean, Spanish, processes of speech comprehension and production), and economics (macroeconomics, business administration, economic policy).

Language notes: A minimum of 5 semesters of university-level Spanish language study is required. Upon arrival ISEP participants take a preliminary Spanish proficiency examination consisting of two parts -written and oral. In order to enroll in regular courses, students must attain the intermediate or advanced level on the exam. ISEP participants may enroll in one Spanish language class per semester (included in ISEP benefits).

Room and board: Students will be housed in single-occupancy rooms with host families and will receive twenty-one meals per week from the host family. No married student housing is available.

Exchange dates : Early March to mid-July, August to December, or early March to December.

Special conditions: Junior or senior status with good academic standing. Architecture and Design are closed to ISEP participants. Access to psychology courses limited to students with appropriate background in the field.

UNIVERSIDAD DE VIÑA DEL MAR
This exchange program is sponsored by ISEP.
Contact Chris Kjonaas at the International Student Center for more information.

Location: Viña del Mar
Language of instruction: Spanish
Academic year or semester exchanges

Universidad de Vina del Mar Website
Course information

Profile: Universidad de Viña del Mar (UVM) was founded in 1988, and has rapidly become one of Chile 's most prestigious private higher education institutions. The university has been a pioneer in the creation of new fields of study in Chile , such as Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources and Architecture. Facilities include a modern library system, sports centers, recreational spaces, and a radio station. Total enrollment: 5,000.

Locale: Founded in 1874, Viña del Mar has become the most famous resort city on South America 's Pacific coast. Viña del Mar and nearby Valparaíso offer the cultural opportunities of a bustling metro region and the tranquility of a stable social environment.

Divisions: Schools of Agricultural Sciences (agronomy, biotechnology, veterinary medicine); Architecture; Arts and Design (arts, graphic design, interior design); Basic Sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics); Communications (journalism & public relations); Economics and Management (accounting/ auditing, commercial engineering, business administration); Education and Humanities (humanities [history, philosophy & literature], elementary education, preschool education); Engineering (computer science, engineering [civil, computer, construction, environmental, industrial, information systems]); Law; Social Sciences (psychology, sociology); Institute of International Relations (Professional Graduate Certificate Program in International Relations, summer school seminars); Departments of Basic Sciences (professional basic sciences); Humanities (literature, cultures in contact, Latino dancing, Spanish & Latin American/ Chilean culture, English, German & French).

Academic notes: Courses of interest to ISEP students include Cultures in Contact. The purpose of this course is to create an environment where Chilean and international students can learn from each other's cultures with the hope of developing projects that will benefit the surrounding community. The Cultures in Contact course, "Developing Intercultural competences in the areas of human, social and business responsibility," is offered every semester.

UVM also offers a Professional Graduate Certificate Program [Diploma] in International Relations. The aim of this diploma is to provide knowledge, to promote the discussion and the analysis of the varied disciplines and different phenomena that form the basis of international relations, and to give the necessary tools to understand the origin of the present world-wide society, some of its multiple dimensions and its more relevant situations.

Another special course of interest to international students is Latino dancing: A blending of three musical cultures. The rich blending of African, Spanish, and Portuguese music and folklore has produced an incredible variety of dances and musical rhythms. This music is an important component of the Latin American culture that students need to know, understand, and value while they are in Chile .

Room and board: Participants live with host families who provide meals.

Language notes: Although it is not required, the UVM recommends that students have at least three semesters of university-level Spanish instruction prior to exchange. Upon arrival ISEP participants take a preliminary Spanish proficiency examination consisting of two parts-written and oral. In order to enroll in regular courses, students must attain the intermediate or advanced level on the exam.

International Students WHO DO MEET the language requirements can take UVM regular courses and participate in the following Spanish & Latin American/ Chilean Culture Programs: Intensive Spanish & Chilean Culture Program (intermediate to intermediate-high level, or intermediate-high to advance level) and Spanish Conversation & Latin American Culture Program (advanced to superior level).

Students who DO NOT MEET the language requirements cannot take regular courses at the UVM due to the fact that all UVM courses are in Spanish. The International Office offers the following Spanish Programs intended for these students: Intensive Spanish & Chilean Culture Program (beginning to intermediate level). The UVM also offers pre-session intensive language courses prior to each semester (not included in ISEP benefits).

Program dates: Academic year: early March to mid-December; Semester 1: early March to mid-July; Semester 2: early August to mid-December. Observes Southern Hemisphere Calendar.