A country that faces challenges very different from those in the U.S., Bolivia is an exciting place to learn about contemporary issues facing a diverse and largely indigenous population. During this 6-week program students will take two academic courses on culture and infectious diseases specific to the Andean country. During the first two weeks, students will also take a 1.0 credit Spanish language course with a local instructor. Students of all levels of Spanish (including NO EXPERIENCE AT ALL) are welcome to apply to the program. Although not mandatory we do encourage you to sign up for at least one semester of the college level Spanish before going on the program. Taking Spanish language classes will allow you to connect with the locals and what a bonus for your resume!

During the program students will also get to visit several of Bolivia’s most famous sites. In the Chapare, students will adventure through the Amazon, encountering monkeys, hiking through rainforests, and experiencing outstanding tropical fruits and foods.

Excursions are subject to change as needed.

Read more about the program in the Pitt in Bolivia Spotlight post here.

Hear from a former Pitt in Bolivia student here:

As part of the Infectious Diseases course, students will participate in a service-learning project. Students will work on-site with a local organization called the Centro Educativo y Recreativo Foundation Casari. Projects at the Casari Foundation will include building a water purification system on-site as well as volunteering to tutor and mentor the children at the Casari Foundation. Currently, the Casari Foundation receives water delivered every few days. A water purification system would provide a sustainable way for the children at the center to have access to clean drinking water.

Students will have the opportunity to creatively apply and develop skills and knowledge from almost any academic field. Education, ESL, ASL, Natural sciences, Computer science, Spanish, Liberal Arts, Environmental Science, Engineering, Public Health, Nursing and Pre-Health could all be instrumental in addressing some of the challenges that the local communities are dealing with.

For more information on the Casari Foundation, please visit: www.comitatocasari.org

What You'll Accomplish:

As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity:

to learn about issues facing current Bolivian society with the focus on the historical, geographical, social, economic, political and cultural contexts
to understand communicable diseases in vulnerable populations and how mitigate risks to prevent diseases
to help solve water access issues for local organizations
to explore Bolivia's most famous sites from La Paz to Chapare

Intercultural Learning Objectives:

Develop cultural self-awareness and knowledge of cultural worldview frameworks (Knowledge);
Develop an understanding of cultural differences in verbal and nonverbal communication styles and learn to successfully adapt in various presented cultural contexts (Skills);
Develop the ability to engage and learn from perspectives and experiences different from one’s own (Skills);
Learn to exercise curiosity and openness in interactions with other cultures (Attitudes);
Develop transferrable and personal leadership skills (Skills, Attitudes).

Learning objectives are based on the AAC&U VALUE rubrics for Global Learning and Intercultural Knowledge and Competence

Bolivia is located in the heart of South America. It is a land locked country with the Andes Mountains to the west and the Amazon Jungle to the east. Our program takes place in the city of Cochabamba or “Llajta” (its name in Quechua). Surrounded by the spectacular Andes Mountains, this city is Bolivia’s third largest next to Santa Cruz to the east and La Paz to the west.

During the Inca Empire, Cochabamba was used strictly as farmland to feed the entire Inca Empire. Remains from this empire provide an excellent opportunity for students to study this ancient civilization. In Cochabamba as well as in the other nine departments of Bolivia, the indigenous groups still practice their traditional customs such as the winter solstice, “Andean cosmovision” (Andean view of the earth), “koa” (ritual to Pachamama, Mother Earth), language, food, “Urkupiña” (a celebration to the virgin), and a “Cholita,” (a traditionally dressed woman). However, due to the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1530s, these indigenous cultures have been mixed with Spanish cultures.

Bolivia is a very diverse country reflected in its languages, indigenous practices, politics, ethnicities, and customs. This makes Bolivia a fascinating and interesting country. The Bolivian people are very proud of their country’s journey throughout history and keep alive their traditions, which all too many countries have already lost to the Western World. Bolivia is an adventure within itself making it an amazing place to learn and grow.

This short clip shows only a portion of what you can see and do in Bolivia!

Where You'll Live:

Students will be staying in shared accommodations at a local hostel, hotel, or Aparthotel in Cochabamba. Accommodations are centrally located: within walking distance to many of the city’s main attractions and surrounded by lots of restaurants and markets, with both Bolivian and non-Bolivian food options.

You can expect the following in your accommodations:

Shared bedrooms (2 or 3 students/bedroom)
Bedding
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Internet access

Please note that meals are not included in the program fee.

We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change. Contact your program manager with any questions.

What You'll Study:

You will receive a total of 7.0 credits upon successful completion of the Pitt in Bolivia program. You will get a letter grade for the Contemporary Issues in Bolivia course, as well as the Infectious Diseases course. The 1.0 credit Spanish course will be S/NC (pass/fail) based.

If you are seeking to count these courses towards a major, minor or certificate, please meet with your academic advisor to discuss this program and what the courses will fulfill for you.

The Infectious Diseases course will be taught by Pitt professor, Dr. Danielle M. Tufts. The Contemporary Issues and Spanish courses are taught by local faculty.

Contemporary Issues: Bolivia (SOC1503)

This course will introduce students to issues facing current Bolivian society from multiple disciplines. The focus will be on the historical, geographical, social, economic, political and cultural contexts. Topics that will be discussed include indigenous healthcare, health policy, education, interculturality, gender, and the war on drugs. Students will learn through lectures, observations and personal communication with the local Cochabamba community about social realities, social change, and local challenges.

Syllabus:

Download 2024 BOLIVIA_SOC. .docx (33.24 KB)

Independent Study: "Beginning Spanish Abroad" (Bolivia) (SPAN1901)

Students are required to participate in a weekend intensive Spanish class prior to the departure, and will continue taking appropriate level of Spanish language at a Runawasi language school in Bolivia. This course falls outside of the Spanish department normal course progression. Students will need to take a placement test upon return to determine the appropriate level to continue. This course will be offered as S/NC. 1 credit

Independent Study: "Continuing Spanish Abroad" (Bolivia) (SPAN1901)

Infectious Diseases of Bolivia (BIOL0070)

BIOL 00700

This course will introduce students to the infectious diseases that are currently present within the Bolivian society. The focus will be on the historical, geographical, social and cultural context as well as the health system in place to combat these diseases. Students will learn through lectures, observations, field and case studies. As a part of the course, students will be required to attend field trips to local laboratory facilities both public and private. Additionally, as part of this course, students will be required to participate in a service-learning project at a local non-profit organization. The service-learning component will involve building a water purification system and mentoring children who are served by the Center.

Syllabus:

Download Infectious Diseases Syllabus 2024.pdf (325.89 KB)

Experiential Learning Description:

Service-Learning

As part of the Infectious Diseases course, students will participate in a service-learning project. Students will work on-site with a local organization called the Centro Educativo y Recreativo Foundation Casari. The Casari Foundation was founded by Massimo Casari. Originally from Milan, Italy, Massimo came to Bolivia in the 1980s and opened his own center to provide children a safe place where they can receive educational assistance, nutrition, and a nurturing environment. Many of the Bolivian children that the Foundation serves are not receiving a quality education due to their home life circumstances. In many cases, children are forced to work for or alongside their parents from a young age. Additionally, due to lack of social services and facilities, children of incarcerated parents who have no where else to go, are sent to the penitentiary with their parents. The Casari Foundation provides transportation for the children to leave the penitentiary and join their peers at the Casari Foundation center. For more information on the Casari Foundation, please visit: www.comitatocasari.org

Projects at the Casari Foundation will include building a water purification system on-site as well as volunteering to tutor and mentor the children at the Casari Foundation. Currently, the Casari Foundation receives water delivered every few days. A water purification system would provide a sustainable way for the children at the center to have access to clean drinking water.

We work closely with our in-country partner, Connect2Bolivia. Connect2Bolivia was founded by Alexis Wieczorek, a former Pitt Alum and David Ruiz, Bolivian Architect. For more detailed info on their mission check out the Connect2Bolivia webpage: http://connect2bolivia.com/

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts:

Lauren Perri

Hi! I'm Lauren, Program Manager for Arts & Sciences students. As an undergraduate student, I studied abroad in Marburg, Germany. Since then, my career in international education has taken me to many locations around the world. Particularly, I have an affinity for Florence, Italy. There is nothing quite like the challenge of navigating a new city, country, and culture! Let's chat about global experiences.

E-mail:

lap140@pitt.edu

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Your In-Country Contacts:

Dr. Danielle M. Tufts

Danielle M. Tufts, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Infectious Diseases and Microbiology department in the School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Tufts is a vector-borne disease ecologist with interests in evolutionary genetics, pathogen transmission pathways, parasitology, ecological drivers of pathogen emergence, mathematical modeling, and host-vector-parasite interactions. Her goal is to enhance our understanding of these complex interactions by combining theory from disease ecology and genetics research with empirical approaches. She utilizes field collected and laboratory derived samples, mathematical and statistical models to connect these findings to patterns found in nature and analyzes these samples using molecular tools. She completed her PhD in 2013 at the University of Nebraska investigating phenotypic plasticity and genetic specialization of high altitude mammals. She studied vector-borne diseases as a postdoc and associate research scientist at Columbia University in New York City until 2020 when she joined the faculty at Pitt.

E-mail:

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Items Billed by Pitt
	In-State	Out-of-State
Program Cost	$6,099.00	$6,299.00
Pitt GEO Admin Fee	$300	$300
Total Billed by Pitt	$6,399.00	$6,599.00

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Airfare		$1,700
Personal Expenses and Meals		$1,000
Vaccines		$100
Visa		$200
Local Healthcare Costs		$100

The above estimates are estimates. Remember, your lifestyle and spending habits will largely influence your budget.

What's Included:

As a part of your program fee, the following are included:

Tuition for 7.0 credits
service learning experience
Shared accommodations in a hostel/hotel/aparthotel
International travel health insurance
Cultural activities
Local excursions (Featured excursions include one of the Bolivia's most famous site - Chapare)

When You'll Go:

This program runs for 6 weeks in the summer. For exact dates, please refer to the program page sidebar.

What Else You Need to Know:

Students are required to present their COVID-19 CDC vaccination card to our provider in order to participate in this program.

Students are required to present their Yellow Fever vaccination card when entering Bolivia. U.S. passport holders require a visa.

Cochabamba, Bolivia and this program provide students with a very rich and challenging experience. Students should be prepared to encounter situations which may be unfamiliar. Having an open mind and a desire to understand are essential for a successful experience.

As your body adapts to a new environment, you may find that you require a visit to the doctor from time to time. Doctor visits in Bolivia are generally inexpensive. However, you should plan to have enough money to cover any upfront healthcare costs (even when using your Pitt-provided ISOS insurance). If you have specific concerns, please reach out to your program manager.