Skip to content

Programs : Brochure

This page is the brochure for your selected program. You can view the provided information for this program on this page and click on the available buttons for additional options.

Cuba: History, Politics, and Culture of Cuba (Outgoing Program) Featured:

Print  Share

  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • This program is currently not accepting applications.
Fact Sheet:
#i18n(14)#
Subjects Available: Africana Studies, Caribbean Studies, Cultural and Area Studies, History, Latin American Studies, Sociology, Spanish Credit Load: 12-16 per semester, 6
Exchange Program: No Faculty-Led: No
Internship Opportunity: Service Learning or other volunteer opportunities are available Language of Instruction: A language other than English is usually used, Spanish
Language Requirement: Coursework equivalent to one year of college-level study required SUNY code: 800
Partner University: N/A Program Advisor: Martinez, Andy
Program Description:

History, Politics, and Culture of Cuba

Cuba Main

Program Information | Requirements | Academics | Support Services | Housing | Cost Estimates | Resources
 

Program Information 

The University at Albany offers a unique opportunity to study the history, culture and politics of Cuba, plus intensive Spanish language classes.
  • The Semester-long program is 3 months long and offers 16 credits.
  • The Summer program is 5 weeks long and offers 6 credits.
The program includes academic classes combined with experiential learning and cultural experiences. Learn from some of Cuba's leading intellectuals, political figures and cultural icons. The program is based in Havana at home stays with Cuban families with frequent trips outside the capitol to visit farming and fishing cooperatives, historic sites, environmental projects, and tourist centers.    

Course descriptions and weekly schedules can be found in the following sections: Please note: YOU MUST BE ENROLLED AS A DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENT AT UALBANY OR ANOTHER SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS PROGRAM!  
 

RequirementsUAlbany Student

  • Students should have studied some Spanish prior to the start of the program, either in college or in high school, or have equivalent background.
  • You must be in good academic standing in order to apply
  • Applications are welcome from students in all majors.
  • The Autonomous University of Social Movements will interview students by phone as part of the application process.   
 
Because of restrictions under the US embargo of Cuba, the Office of Education Abroad at UAlbany must provide a letter to the student signed
by the on-campus coordinator designated to manage travel to Cuba.  For more information on the nature of travel restrictions to Cuba for US citizens, the Office of Foreign Assets Control(OFAC) administers the embargo and the relevant regulations are reproduced below.  

Cuba Sanction Regulations
 

Academics

  • The Semester-long program is 3 months long and offers 16 credits (12 credits in History and Culture and 4 credits in Spanish).
  • The Summer program is 5 weeks long and offers 6 credits (3 credits in History and Culture and 3 credits in Spanish)
  • Formal classes along with two workshops or meetings each week which allow students to work directly with Cuban academics, political leaders and social actors, and one or two experiential learning encounters each week which enable students to connect theory with practice. Please see the below sections for more detailed information on the course descriptions and weekly schedules for the both the summer and semester-length programs.

Semester-length program course descriptions and weekly schedule: 

Semester course descriptions: Semester weekly schedule:
Cuba course description (semester).pdf Cuba weekly schedule (semester).pdf
                                              


 

Summer program course descriptions and weekly schedule:

Summer course descriptions: Summer weekly schedule:
Cuba course description (summer).pdf Cuba weekly schedule (summer).pdf



 

 

Cuban CarFACULTY: The program draws on some of Cuba’s most distinguished academics, political leaders and social actors from the Universities of Habana and Pinar del Rio; leading research institutes, including the Centro de Investigación de la Economía Mundial (CIEM), the Instituto de Investigaciones Culturales Juan Marinello, and the Centro de Estudios sobre Desarrollo Cooperativo y Comunitario; political leaders, including member of the Assembly of People’s Power; non-governmental institutions; and community leaders from cultural, artistic and religious groups.
 
Dr. Thomas Hansen, a professor at the Autonomous University of Social Movements, is the lead professor and program coordinator.  Tom holds a doctorate in Rural Development with a focus on social movements from the Universidad Autónoma  Metropolitana-Xochimilco in Mexico City.  He has 27 years of experience leading educational programs in Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala.  The Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas coordinates scheduling, ground transportation and housing.



General Education Information for UAlbany students: credits earned on this program will automatically satisfy the International Perspectives requirement. Three credits of language study will satisfy the Foreign Language requirement. No additional approval is required for you to earn these General Education credits.  You may file a request to have additional courses approved.

Support Services

  • The University at Albany hosts an orientation prior to the start of the program.
  • UAlbany's Office of Education Abroad staff is available throughout the year to assist study abroad students and their parents.
  • The staff of the Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas in coordination with on-site staff from the Autonomous University make logistical arrangements. 

Living Arrangements

Housing:

Cuba1

Students live with families in Marianao,  located on the southwest side of Havana, about 20 minutes from the city center.  It is a popular barrio with a large Afro-Cuban population.  Families are carefully screened by on-site staff  Home stays provide students with a unique opportunity to learn firsthand from Cuban families while also improving their Spanish.  

Internet Access:
There will be two types of internet access available in Cuba.  At the Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas there will be sporadic access.  It is VERY slow.  You won't be able to access pages with lots of graphics or videos, and you will not be able to access email clients like Yahoo or most university based accounts.  You are encouraged to open a gmail account set to download html format only.

The second type of email access can be found at WIFI spots around Havana. It costs $2 per hour and it is much faster than that available at the Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas. Depending on the availability of bandwidth on any particular day, you may or may not be able to do things like register for classes or access homepages with lots of bells and whistles. Telephone service is readily available to the US at a cost of about US$1.50 per minute, using phone cards that can be purchased in Cuba. Some US cell phone companies have a roaming service in Cuba, check with your provider for available services.

Costs

Download an estimate of costs for this program: 
Summer 2018 Cost Estimate: Cuba Summer 2018 Cost Sheet
Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 Cost Estimate: Cuba 2018-2019 Cost Sheet

Costs include room, board, round-trip airfare, tuition, and fees, and on-site assistance from the Universidad de Ciencias Pedagogicas and on-site staff.  Students must obtain their own passports and arrange to travel to and from Havana.

Click here for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid. 
 

AUSM Scholarship Application:

The Autonomous University of Social Movements offers a scholarship program designed to supplement any grants or other financial awards. It is not intended to be your only funding source. To apply for an AUSM scholarship, fill out and submit this scholarship form with your program application before the posted scholarship application deadlines. Scholarships applications will not be considered unless they are accompanied by a program application. Please find the application below.Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, with preference given to applicants with proven grassroots organizing experience.


Bandera

Resources:
Autonomous University of Social Movements Website
ASUM Staff
AUSM Contact Information
Cuba Program Info



Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Fall 2018 03/01/2018
03/07/2018 09/02/2018 11/30/2018
NOTE: Orientation starts on September 2, 2018. Classes start on Monday, September 3, 2018. Classes and Exams end on Thursday, November 29, 2018.
Summer 2018 03/01/2018
03/15/2018 06/02/2018 07/02/2018
NOTE: Orientation starts on June 2, 2018. Classes start on Monday, June 3, 2018. Classes and Exams end on Sunday, July 1, 2018.

Indicates that deadline has passed

This program is currently not accepting applications.