Approaches to Poverty and Development:

Santiago, Chile

CSC 33973/THEO 33973

Spring 2009

Immersion Date: March through June

Location: Santiago, Chile

Size: 15-18 Notre Dame students

Seminar Director: Annie Cahill Kelly

Application: Contact Annie Cahill Kelly

Introduction

“Approaches to Poverty and Development” is a multi-disciplinary course combining experiential and service learning with social analysis, theological reflection and ethical viewpoints. The seminar is taught by Professor Isabel Donoso at the Jesuit University Alberto Hurtado, which has many graduate and undergraduate academic resources in the social sciences, theology, and new forms of education.

The seminar is limited to Notre Dame students, although the Notre Dame students may be integrated into a seminar with Chilean students. The seminar follows the Chilean school calendar, beginning the first week of March and ending in early July. Upon arrival, students will engage in a program of “field education” (en terreno), a three-plus hour a week commitment in a small supervised service-learning opportunity. These projects will usually take place Thursday afternoons at times assigned by the on-site supervisors. One other afternoon a week, usually Tuesday, there is a two and a half hour seminar at la Universidad Alberto Hurtado, in which Isabel or other visiting professors and resource persons provide different perspectives from varying academic disciplines such as social science, political science, theology, etc. There is also space for questions and opportunities to link issues that emerge from the experiential and service learning with the theoretical presentations. In Chile, the readings, presentations, and written assignments are all in Spanish.

The course is divided into two components: “Perspectives on Poverty” and “Approaches to Development.” Students receive five Notre Dame credits for this course and must decide if they will apply as Theology, Sociology, Anthropology or Political Science credit. The credits will be divided into 3 graded credits, and 2 Field Work (Pass/Fail) credits. Students may ask their advisors about receiving credit from other disciplines. As a Theology course it will not replace the required Theo 100 class, nor will it count for the required second course. Students pursuing a Latin American Studies concentration at Notre Dame may also direct their Poverty and Development Seminar credits towards this concentration.

Students who take the course are required to participate in a one-credit preparatory course in the fall at Notre Dame.

Fall Prerequisite Class

Learning Objectives:

1. Begin to thoughtfully engage course subject matter on cultural, theological, economic, and political issues well before arrival in Chile. 

2. Become comfortable with basic terms and premises for the course in English before using them in Spanish. 

3. Gain familiarity with the network of resources and expertise in the area of Chilean poverty and development issues that are available at Notre Dame and South Bend community.

4. Build fellowship and community and facilitate discussion among the course participants to lay the foundation for a supportive learning environment in the spring semester. 

Academic Responsibilities:

1. Due to limited meeting time, attendance at all six 2.5 hour sessions is mandatory.  The course will be graded pass/fail, so please note that failure to meet class responsibilities will result in the latter.
2. Complete all the readings before class and come with critical questions. 
3. Come to class with a one-page typed reaction to the readings for each class. 
4. Students will present in small groups on various Chilean media. 
5. Write a 5-7 page reflection paper due early December, 2007. 
6. Subject Matter, Dates, and Times of Class Sessions: TBD

Community Building:

To enhance a sense of fellowship in the class, we will share meals at the beginning of each session.  Small groups of students will help prepare a simple meal in advance for one of the six class sessions.

For more information about the course requirements for the Spring semester class in Chile, please contact Annie Cahill Kelly for more information.

Additional Resources For This Seminar

Students are encouraged to discuss the Universidad Alberto Hurtado program with professors in their major to explore readings, etc. before and after the experience.  Both at Universidad Alberto Hurtado and in other parts of Santiago, there are persons with comprehensive experience related to the issues dealt with in the course. 

Costs

There is a $40 application fee associated with the program. If you are invited to participate in the seminar, it will be non-refundable. If you are not invited to participate, the $40 will be returned to you. Any questions about the course or the cost can be directed to Annie Cahill Kelly at 631-7862.