Montevideo Courses – 2025 Summer
Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.
Courses
You may take three to seven credits. At least one 3-credit course is required. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.
Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.
Spanish Language and Literature Studies
- SummerSpanish 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
- SummerSpanish 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
- SummerSpanish 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
- SummerSpanish 300-level 1-3 credits Taught in Spanish
An optional three credit course addressed to students that have already completed two years of Spanish at the college level and want to start participating in the oral activities that the immersion setting facilitates.
Prerequisite: Two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent, or instructor approval
- SummerSpanish World Languages and Literatures 100-level 1 credit Taught in English/Spanish
This course is designed to provide students who have not previously studied Spanish with basic lexical, grammatical, and functional resources to manage daily situations while studying abroad.
- SummerSpanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish
This course is for students to improve and develop their knowledge and Spanish skills. Through the practice of speaking and listening to Spanish in different practical situations, as well as textual analysis and interpretation, class debates, newspaper articles, presentations, and interviews with local businesspeople and entrepreneurs, the students will gain new vocabulary and confidence to know and skillfully handle actual business realities not only in Uruguay but in Latin America. Therefore, as a result, the students will have the opportunity to acquire specific knowledge and language of businesses and local markets.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
Latin American Studies | Gender Studies
- SummerDance 100-level 1 credit Taught in English and Spanish
This course is addressed to those students who enjoy dancing and wanting to learn about traditional Latin American dances like “Cha chachá”, “Son”, “Bachata” “Merengue”, “Salsa”, “Mambo”, “Tango” and so on. At the same time, the students have the chance to practice Spanish and become more acquainted with the Latin American culture.
This course has an additional fee
- SummerPolitical Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English
Governments and politics in Latin America are connected to colonial dependence and subsequent deformations in social-economic, cultural, political, and ideological life. This course will address the core political issues facing the region, such as, authoritarianism, dictatorships, revolutions, social conflicts, political corruption, United States foreign policy, political and economic development, democratic transition, and indigenous and other minority group rights, as it pertains to Latin America and the Caribbean.
- SummerInternational Business Marketing 400-level 3 credits Taught in English
The course is designed to enable students to develop marketing strategies and plans in and across a range of different international market environments. While extending students' marketing and strategic skills obtained in earlier courses into a global context, students also develop knowledge and skills in international marketing processes.
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level marketing or business administration
- SummerSociology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course introduces the concept of gender and focuses on the role of local feminist organizations in the struggle for gender equality. It is an opportunity to explore the human rights situation for women in Uruguay and Río de la Plata. The course will analyze the main struggles of women’s movements in Uruguay, from the end of the dictatorship (1985) until now. By inviting some critical characters from cultural and political life, attending special events, and visiting women NGOs, the group will have the chance to discuss these topics firsthand with women that are part of these processes.
- SummerSociology Women's Studies / Gender Studies 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course introduces foundational concepts of human sexual diversity and cultural attitudes towards certain manifestations and interpretations of gender and sexuality. Students will explore how the regional and international human rights standards seek to define and guarantee the rights of LGBTQ+ persons, and to what extent the current global and Latin American contexts reflect this. Zooming into the regional LGBTQ+ movement, we will focus on the path to equality in Uruguay, with a direct dialogue with activists of a local LGBTQ+ organization and LGBTQ+ rights public institution.
- SummerEntrepreneurship General Business 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
The entrepreneurial spirit is within each student and is not something that can be taught. Students will enhance the natural entrepreneurial spirit by providing practical skills training and exposing students to the process of turning ideas into products. Students will explore a variety of frameworks and concepts used for discovery, business, and management. Guest speakers are also scheduled throughout the course to ensure students gain valuable information regarding software, tourism, and the food industries.
To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu
U.S. Visiting Professors
While most USAC courses are taught by local faculty, the following U.S. professor will also teach in this program:
Summer, 2025
Course: International Marketing
Igor Makienko, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno
Dr. Igor Makienko is Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Nevada, Reno. His other degrees are in mechanical engineering, journalism, international economics, and mass communication. He has worked as an engineer, journalist, and marketing manager for two international companies. He teaches marketing management, marketing research, and IMC campaigns.
Internships
For eligibility requirements and application information, see the USAC internship page.
For more information about placement options, see the Montevideo internship page.
- SummerInternships 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
USAC skills-based internships abroad are designed to complement a student’s program of study while providing a structured work or field experience under the direction of a professional supervisor and with the oversight and support of an on-site USAC internship coordinator.
USAC internships facilitate the academic and professional development of students through:
1) the practical application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to a professional work environment.
2) the further development of practical competencies essential to the ongoing work of the placement site.
3) the cultivation of a network of professional contacts.
USAC internships will expose students to the workplace culture, norms, and expectations of their respective placement site and host country, deepening cross-cultural understanding and helping students develop intercultural communication and language skills in an internationally focused organization or other professional work setting.
Through the consistent participation in the processes and practices of a professional field, students will acquire a working knowledge of that field and will apply that learning to their own career and academic choices and goals.
This course has an additional fee
Workshops
(Not for credit)
- Summer
The Latin American Cuisine workshop offers an immersive experience for students passionate about cooking, providing them the chance to learn about and prepare traditional Latin American dishes such as empanadas, milanesas, burritos, pastel de carne, and more.
Through hands-on cooking sessions, students will not only learn culinary techniques but also practice their Spanish and deepen their understanding of Latin American culture.
The workshop menu is seasonal and updated based on the availability of fresh market products, ensuring a unique and varied menu with each session.
Vegetarian and vegan participants are welcome. No previous cooking experience is required.
This workshop has an additional fee.
This workshop requires a minimum enrollment of four students to run.