Santiago Courses – 2027 Spring

USAC Course Descriptions

Click the course title to view course details, description and availability. To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

• Advanced Spanish I

  Fall

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed for students who may manage daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course will offer students the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college Spanish

• Advanced Spanish II

  Fall

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  These two advanced courses of Spanish have been designed for students who may manage in daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, these courses will offer them the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.

  Prerequisite: seven semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility in Latin America

  Spring

  Economics Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In this course we will study the key concepts of Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. Specifically, we will focus in business cases and the difficulties of doing ethical business with social responsibility in developing countries with weak institutions, such as the Latin American countries. Main industries to analyze will be mining projects, and its socio-environmental conflicts, energy projects and retail.

• Comparative Criminal Justice Systems: Chile

  Spring

  Criminal Justice 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Crime and the Media

  Fall

  Criminal Justice Journalism 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Criminal Justice Journalism 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Dances of Latin America

  Fall

  Dance 100-level 1 credit Taught in Spanish and English

  Spring

  Dance 100-level 1 credit Taught in Spanish and English

  This course provides a comprehensive introduction to a variety of dances of Latin America. Students will learn the essential steps of a selection of four dances typical of the region. The course is designed to encourage students to acquire a greater understanding and interest in Latin American culture.

  This course is taught once a week for four months. Each session lasts two hours and will cover one Latin American rhythm. The rhythms to be covered include Merengue, Salsa, Chachacha, Bachata, and Tango.

  This course has an additional fee

• Elementary Spanish I

  Fall

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

• Elementary Spanish II

  Fall

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Government and Politics in Latin America

  Fall

  History Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  History Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Students in this course will analyze major socio-political and economic processes within the scope of Latin American politics. The course will cover historical adaptations of central political and economic development models and their democratic transition. Students will have the opportunity to produce research analyses on indigenous movements, social policy, drugs, sustainable development, women and LGBTQ rights, and religion.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level political science

• Intermediate Spanish I

  Fall

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Intermediate Spanish II

  Fall

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• International and Cross-Cultural Reporting

  Fall

  Journalism 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Journalism 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will focus on best practices in foreign reporting, planning for reporting trips in culturally diverse communities, analyzing international media within global and historical contexts and learning to create publishable cross-cultural news content, as well as provide comparative analyses between the cultural context of Mexico and Central American countries, and the Southern Cone (Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay). Also, comparisons among the international political arena of Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador would be part of the analysis. This course is designed to prepare students to work as multimedia journalists in a foreign country such as Latin American countries as well as report on diaspora and immigrant communities within the United States. The concept of cross-cultural reporting also extends to working in distinct communities.

• International Human Rights

  Fall

  Political Science Sociology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Political Science Sociology Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course examines the challenges of promoting and protecting human rights in Latin America. Focusing on the most critical analytical and empirical debates since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, Students will discuss the most relevant theoretical frameworks in the historical context of the construction of international human rights regimes. The course will expose the challenges Latin American peoples have faced under authoritarian regimes as well as human rights abuses committed during the period of "state terrorism.” Students will also develop the framework to effectively analyze transitional justice policies in democratization processes.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college level history or political science

• International Political Economy and Business

  Fall

  Economics Political Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  In the last decades of the twentieth century, the Latin American economies found themselves in a profound economic, social and political crisis. In response to this, the governments implemented a set of profound pro-market reforms, a.k.a. the Washington Consensus. After decades of protectionism, the economies were now opened up to foreign trade and investment. Market forces were favored instead of State intervention. Social policy based on solidarity was replaced by individual risk-taking. The initial results were more than favorable, but the weaknesses of this new paradigm were revealed during the Asian crisis (1997) which triggered a backlash against the Washington Consensus in Latin America and it is uncertain whether the pro-market reforms will be deepened adjusted, or even reversed.

  In this course we will study the process of economic aperture alongside with weakened social safety-nets. Specifically, we will assess the economic structure and performance of Latin American countries, together with its most important policy components.

• Introduction to Communication and Media Studies

  Fall

  Journalism Speech Communications 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course aims to introduce fundamental principles in communication and media studies, presenting a variety of theories that aim to explain the reasons behind our communication patterns. It provides a

  comprehensive overview of the communications field, delving into both theoretical and historical perspectives. The course also examines the evolution of technology studies within Media and

  Communication Studies, exploring how communication technologies have remodeled human consciousness and culture by discussing diverse theoretical viewpoints regarding the media's role and influence in society, impacting social values, political beliefs, identities, and behaviors. Students will have the opportunity to study specific media, such as texts, films, and television shows, and analyze the implications of adapting narratives from print to visual forms across different time periods. Additionally, the course explores the influence of class, gender, generation, and race dynamics on both media production and reception.

• Latin American International Relations

  Fall

  Political Science Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Political Science Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  During its independent life, Latin America has been a live performer in the international scenery. Nevertheless, its behavior has been plenty of times only a reaction to external factors, ensuring its own interest and rules. Political treaties from Europe and United States towards this region are one of the many factors that Latin-American international relations have usually had to deal with.

  This course covers international relations as from a Latin-American perspective and how, as from the early XXI century, these have projected themselves worldwide in several arenas such as the political, social and the cultural ones. Along with the formerly described, it is proposed to discuss the projection of international relations in terms of the interests that matter to this region in particular.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Marketing and Social Media

  Spring

  General Business Journalism Marketing 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Social media marketing involves leveraging social platforms to boost brand recognition, target key audiences, generate leads, and foster strong customer relationships. By consistently creating and sharing valuable, relevant content, businesses can attract and retain well-defined audiences, gaining a competitive edge. Companies today have the challenge of learning how to capitalize on social media’s potential and, even though many have already established presences on the most popular platforms like Facebook, TikTok or Instagram, regularly sharing new content, they often lack a strong and comprehensive social media strategy. For people entering the workforce today, it is necessary to acquire a broad understanding of social media marketing and be adept at implementing the latest and continuously evolving strategies to help businesses succeed.

• Marketing Principles

  Fall

  General Business Marketing 200-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course will introduce students to the fundamental principles of marketing, including market segmentation, market demand, marketing strategy, initial product planning and promotion, and a focus on customers and competitors as primary points of reference.

• Mental Illness and Criminal Justice

  Fall

  Criminal Justice Psychology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  We’re excited to introduce this new course option as course details are being finalized. Please check back after 1/15 for full course details.

• Native Cultures of Chile

  Fall

  Anthropology World Languages and Literatures 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Spring

  Anthropology World Languages and Literatures 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores Chile’s native cultures and languages, encompassing diverse contexts from the north to the southern region. Students will analyze the current situation of native peoples as a reflection of a long history of resistance against colonization and foreign influences. The course will investigate aspects of native cultures, including history, religion, economy, and social organization. It will also analyze how these elements combine to form cultural identities and how these identities are conveyed through language and other ways of expression.

  Prerequisite: introductory coursework in college-level anthropology

• Peace, Conflict and Democracy in Latin America

  Fall

  History Political Science Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  History Political Science Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course will cover topics related to democratization in Latin America, such as the political and social changes from the 1980s. Students will develop skills to effectively analyze the dynamics of dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, and Venezuela. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness of establishing peace and cooperation by creating robust social institutions, strengthening civil society, safeguarding human rights, and decreasing socio-economic inequalities.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Race, Gender and Media

  Spring

  Journalism 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course examines the intersections between the media and the social constructions and understanding of race and gender. Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate topics related to mediated representations of gender, sexuality, intersectionality, diversity in media industries, gendered labor markets, gendered audiences and fan cultures, gender, power, and identity in digital era communication. These topics will be explored and studied through literature from sociology, communication and media studies, cultural studies, feminist theory, and internet/new media studies.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level journalism or communication

• Spanish Composition I

  Fall

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish Composition II

  Fall

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish Conversation and Oral Skills

  Fall

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to improve the knowledge, listening, and expressive capabilities of language students. Students will not only learn necessary vocabulary to express themselves in daily situations, but they will also learn to navigate more complex situations through conversation and free discussion of contemporary topics, using visual material, listening comprehension exercises, articles, and other course materials. The objective of the course is to facilitate the acquisition of language necessary to express oneself in daily situations.

  Prerequisite: Four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent, or instructor approval

• Survey of Latin American Literature I

  Fall

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  A panoramic vision of Latin American literature, from its beginnings to the 20th century. The course will study the evolution of different genre, fundamentally the novel, poetry and theater, through their more important movements, as well as representative key works.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish; students who have completed second-year Spanish with strong grades may be considered with home university approval

• Survey of Latin American Literature II

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course offers a broad view of the evolution of Spanish-speaking Latin American literary genres during the 20th century. Several key works as well as many literary excerpts will be examined to provide a well-rounded vision of this century, including Gabriel García Márquez, Pablo Neruda, Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriela Mistral, César Vallejos, and others.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish; students who have completed second-year Spanish with strong grades may be considered with home university approval

• Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Latin American Cinema

  Fall

  Art Film Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  The purpose of this course is to provide a Pan-American vision of Latin American cinema from the 1980s to the present. The course will focus on the relationships established between societies and cinema, observing how the links are made in different aesthetics, and expressing different cinematographic language and content. Through the analysis of every film, the course will unveil the diverse cultural imagery which has been part of the artistic tradition of the continent.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Latin American Short Story and Essay

  Spring

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course will cover topics in Latin American literature to develop students' ability to analyze texts and their relationship to the political and cultural environment of the time. Students will examine the evolution of the short story in different periods and key authors in the production of this literary genre.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Women and Society: Latin American Perspectives

  Fall

  Anthropology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Anthropology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course focuses on the problems women face in Latin American societies. These issues are products of the male-female interrelations rooted in Latin American cultures, communities, and ideologies. The course will approach the role of women in developed societies from different critical perspectives, contrasting what has happened with Latin American women and their cultures throughout history.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Writing for Strategic Communications

  Fall

  Journalism Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  Spring

  Journalism Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  In this course students will develop a personal, professional-quality, strategic communications writing portfolio through writing activities intended to encourage career readiness and develop essential skills to becoming a successful writer.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent