Join us in Havana, Cuba for spring break! Havana is the capital city and economic heart of Cuba. It is home to the Cuban Government and numerous cultural sites, as well as many important commercial and academic institutions. Cuba provides a broad spectrum of learning opportunities, and is relevant for comparative policy studies, given its proximity to the U.S. and dramatically different government structure.
SPEA in Cuba
Places you will visit during the SPEA in Cuba program
Learn more about the SPEA in Cuba program
- Program dates
SPEA in Cuba will not take place over Spring Break 2019.
- Course information
V482 – Public Policy in Cuba: A Comparative Study (3cr.)
Program Director: Dan Preston
SPEA in Cuba (V482) is a three-credit spring course that runs during the first eight weeks of the spring semester, culminating with a trip to Cuba over spring break. Prior to departure, you will study Cuban history, culture and foreign policy and will gain a general understanding of Cuba’s system of governance, social programs and how Cuba’s economic and political model compares to democratic and capitalist systems such as the United States. The issues explored in Cuba are expected to include healthcare, social security, education, economic development, the legal environment and the policy-making process.
The course requires eight two-hour class meetings each Friday prior to departure during the first 8 weeks of the spring semester, eight intensive days spent in Cuba over spring break and one class meeting upon return to Bloomington.
- Group excursions
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- Walk the streets of modern Havana and Old Havana
- Visit the Museum of the Revolution
- Visit a sustainable agriculture project
- Take an excursion to Matanzas and Varadero
- Visit a women’s advocacy center
- Education guest lecture; tour local schools
- Health system guest lecture; visit medical clinic
- Social Security guest lecture; visit senior center
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- Who may apply
SPEA in Cuba is open to undergraduate students at IU Bloomington only. You must be enrolled in V160/S160 in Spring 2018 or have taken it previously. Preference will be given to those with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and Spanish proficiency equivalent to at least one year of Spanish language study at IU Bloomington.
- Accommodations
You will stay at a hotel located in central Havana. The hotel will be located in close proximity to Prado promenade, the Malecón, the Capitolio and Parque Central. Breakfast will be provided by the hotel as part of the program.
- Cost
2018 SPEA in Cuba Program Fee: $3,100
This includes:
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- Lodging
- Flight from Indianapolis to Cuba (roundtrip)
- Medical insurance
- Site visits, guest speakers, and entrances for museums
- Some Meals
- Lodging
* Program fee is subject to change due to unforeseeable circumstances
IU Tuition
Please Note: If you are enrolled as a full-time student during the spring semester and enroll in V482 as part of your block credits, there is no additional tuition cost to participate in SPEA in Cuba.
Additional Costs
You will need to pay for food that is not included in the program and other incidentals.
Scholarships
The SPEA Abroad Spring Break Scholarship is available to help SPEA students from IUB study abroad. Please visit our scholarship page for eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
Other scholarships are available on a competitive basis.
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- Resources
People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them.
— Martin Yan, Chinese chef, writer, and TV host