Language and Culture in Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Earn 8 or 9 hours of university credit in Spanish courses, depending on previous coursework
- Experience Argentine culture first-hand by living with host families
- Immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking environment to improve language skills
- Take classes from faculty and staff from KU and the Universidad de San Andrés
The Summer Language Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, offers students the opportunity to obtain university credit in Spanish, improve language skills, and experience Argentinean culture first-hand by living with families in Buenos Aires. Courses are taught by both Universidad de San Andrés faculty and KU faculty and staff.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina located on the Río de la Plata, is a 500-year old cosmopolitan city renowned for its rich cultural and historical heritage. Each neighborhood has its own characteristics and style; for example, San Telmo is famous for tango, La Boca for its colorful houses, and Recoleta for its ornate cemetery, museums, and parks.
Universidad de San Andrés (UdeSA)
The Universidad de San Andrés is a small, private liberal arts university with roots going back to the early 1800s. The program will be located on the UdeSA's downtown campus, which is close to the world-famous Teatro Colón opera house, the Casa Rosada, the Plaza de Mayo, and the Puerto Madero neighborhood.
Eight or nine hours of undergraduate credit are granted by the University of Kansas upon successful completion of the program. Classes are conducted entirely in Spanish and will typically meet four days a week. All students take the conversation course together taught by KU staff. KU faculty will teach SPAN 463 and KU staff will teach SPAN 346. UdeSA professors will teach the grammar courses.
Level I (8 credit hours)
Pre-requisite: SPAN 216 or otherwise being eligible for SPAN 324 & SPAN 328.
SPAN 324: Grammar and Composition (3 credit hours)
SPAN 328: Intermediate Spanish Conversation (2 credit hours)
SPAN 346: Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures (3 credit hours)
Level II (8 credit hours)
Pre-requisite: SPAN 340. Students who will have completed SPAN 324/328 by the start of the program can apply and the professors will review their applications. Accepted students will defer SPAN 340 until the Fall semester.
Only students who will have completed SPAN 346 are eligible to enroll in SPAN 463.
SPAN 424: Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar (3 credit hours)
SPAN 428: Advanced Spanish Conversation (2 credit hours)
SPAN 346: Transatlantic Hispanic Cultures OR SPAN 463: National Traditions in Spanish America: Argentine Culture in the 20th and 21st Centuries: Words, Images, and Sounds (3 credit hours), depending on previous coursework.
Level III (8 or 9 credit hours)
Pre-requisite: SPAN 424/428
SPAN 522: Advanced Studies in Spanish Language (3 credit hours)
SPAN 471: Studies in Spanish-American Culture and Civilization: Conversation (2 or 3 credit hours). This is a conversation course that will fulfill a Spanish major requirement only if taken for 3 credit hours.
SPAN 463: National Traditions in Spanish America: Argentine Culture in the 20th and 21st Centuries: Words, Images, and Sounds (3 credit hours)
Students will live with host families. Depending on placement, up to two students will be housed in shared or single room accommodations. Homestays will include breakfast daily, dinner Monday-Friday, and WiFi.
Homes will be located in neighborhoods near downtown Buenos Aires where classes are held such as Recoleta, Barrio Norte, and Palermo. Most students will take public transportation to get to class.
Students will participate in cultural activities and local excursions to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Argentine culture. Examples of local excursions include:
- A visit to the UdeSA main campus to meet UdeSA students
- A tour of a park dedicated to the victims of the Dirty War
- A tango lesson and show
- A visit to the Evita Museum
- A boat tour of El Tigre, a town on the delta of the Río la Plata
- A visit to a traditional Argentine ranch with a demonstration of Argentine cowboy skills
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Additional Resources
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
Open to students from accredited U.S. colleges or universities who have completed the required pre-requisites (or the equivalent) of college-level Spanish. Minimum 2.5 GPA. Exceptions considered after submission of a petition.
The Summer 2025 program will be co-directed by Professors Sean Gullickson and Santiago Rozo Sanchez.
Associate Professor Sean Gullickson
Visiting Assistant Professor Santiago Rozo Sánchez