PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Students participating in the Cuba program will connect with Cubans directly to learn first-hand about the Cuban experience. Students will begin by spending time in the vibrant capital city of Havana. Then, we will travel to other rural and urban centers, including the historic village site of the Bay of Pigs, the colonial city of Cienfuegos on the southern Caribbean coast, and Santa Clara, famous for its monuments to Ernesto "Che" Guevara. Throughout this study abroad course, students will visit community organizations, nonprofits, and government agencies for hands-on community-based learning. Cuban professors from the University of Havana and representatives from Cuban governmental and nongovernmental organizations will provide insights that foster a deep understanding of the Cuban cultural and historical context. Prominent themes covered throughout the program include Cuban history, Cuban-US relations, political economy, governance, arts and culture, education, public health, community development, and political systems.
Graduate and undergraduate students may apply. Students will stay in housing provided by the program and most meals will be included as part of program costs. Students will select a research focus of interest related to Cuba to develop before and during the study abroad trip. We adopt a co-learning community approach throughout the course. Associate Professor Kevin Kecskes from the Public Administration Department will lead the trip to Cuba. Dr. Kecskes brings over 35 years of experience working in Latin America and the Caribbean to the program, having worked in civic engagement and community development throughout the region.
Students that participate in the faculty-led academic program in Cuba are anticipated to achieve increased knowledge related to Cuba about global issues, processes, trends, and systems. Through spending time with and learning from Cubans, students will be able to demonstrate a greater understanding of their own culture comparatively in the global context. Furthermore, students will begin to understand how their careers and fields of interest manifest differently in Cuba. Students will gain internationalization skills for understanding diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference that facilitate thinking critically in order to solve complex problems. Students with a background in Spanish will have the opportunity to practice language skills in Cuba in an immersion setting (Spanish language proficiency is not required). Having the opportunity to practice Spanish will allow students to enhance their learning in other academic areas, increase cultural understanding, and develop their language skills and cultural knowledge. During the trip, students will be challenged to interpret issues and situations from more than one cultural perspective, which will translate into increased cultural awareness when they return to Portland.
Student research articles developed as part of the Cuba: Governance, Community and Contradiction cohorts in 2016 and 2017 were published in February 2019 in the
Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs. Check them out here:
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/hgjpa/vol3/iss1
FACT SHEET |
Education Abroad Advisor |
Questions? Contact Hannah Fischer at any time! |
Get Started |
Watch Ed Abroad 101 |
Faculty Leader |
Dr. Kevin Kecskes, Public Administration
Portland State University |
Travel Dates |
December 8 - 17, 2021*
(Travel is over Winter Break)
*Please Note: Students should plan to arrive in Miami on December 7th. The group flight to Cuba will depart on December 8th. |
Areas of Study |
- Cultural Studies
- International Studies
- Education
- Community Health
- Spanish
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Urban Studies & Planning
- Service Learning
- Community Development
- International Development
|
Required Pre-Departure Meetings |
Yes |
Course & Credit |
PA 410: Governance, Community, and Contradiction
4 undergraduate credits
PA 544: Governance, Community, and Contradiction
3 graduate credits |
Language of Instruction |
English |
Host Country Language |
Spanish |
Housing |
Homestay |
Class Standing Eligibility |
- Junior
- Senior
- Post-Baccalaureate
- Graduate
Students must be degree-seeking at PSU. |
Minimum GPA Requirements |
Undergraduate: 2.50
Graduate: 3.00 |
Previous Coursework |
None required |
Language Requirement |
No previous language study required |
Considerations |
Please note, this program requires significant time outdoors, resulting in potentially significant sun exposure for participants. Many areas of Cuba are not ADA accessible.
If you have any questions or concerns about your ability to participate due to these considerations, please contact the Education Abroad Advisor responsible for this program. |
Application Requirements |
- $50 Application Fee
- Unofficial Transcript
- Interview
- 2 short essays
- 1 Letter of Recommendation (submitted electronically via VikingsAbroad)
- This is not a formal letter of recommendation, rather your recommender will need to fill out a short questionnaire about you with space for comments.
- This cannot be submitted by the program leader
|
**PRICING LISTED IS FROM DECEMBER 2019.**
NEW PRICING FOR DECEMBER 2021 WILL BE ANNOUNCED JANUARY 2021. |
PROGRAM FEE |
ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS |
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS |
$4,445 |
$1,465 |
$5,910 |
PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES |
- 3 or 4 PSU credits
- Roundtrip flight from Miami to Havana
- Accommodation in hotels or homestays
- Most meals
- Excursions
- Transportation
- Cuban visitors visa
- PSU Education Abroad Fee
- International Health Insurance
|
ADDITIONAL ESTIMATED COSTS INCLUDES |
- Roundtrip airfare to Miami (estimated at $700)
- Airport hotel in Miami for 1 night prior to the program start date (estimated at $150)
- Additional meals (estimated at $150)
- Personal spending money (estimated at $200)
- Additional taxis or buses (estimated at $100)
- Immunizations (estimated at $200)
- Passport
|
*Please note, all students enrolling for PSU credit are charged an additional PSU Rec Center Fee. For a current listing, please refer to PSU Fees.
*Application Fee: All applications include a $50 non-refundable fee due on the application deadline. Students who do not intend to complete a program application are required to withdraw before the deadline, otherwise, the $50 application fee will be assessed to the students' account.