All students take the first three seminar courses, and choose either an Independent Study Project or Advanced Spanish Language. A hands-on internship designed to meet your own learning goals is combined with a seminar, independent project and a homestay for an intensive immersion into Latin American daily life and culture. Models of community participation, organization, development and social change are compared and contrasted. Students learn first-hand about social problems in Ecuadorian communities and explore ways in which communities are addressing these challenges. Internships are chosen that connect with the program themes.
Many opportunities are available for students from all majors.
Students work in environmental programs, socio-economic development, women's health education, child and youth outreach, and many other types of projects, contributing to the ongoing work of the agency and learning an immense amount from colleagues and community people. Students meet weekly for internship and core seminars, are at the internship at least 20 hours a week, and conduct occasional small group projects and large group field trips. Living with a local family creates additional cultural learning. CILA is for students from all majors interested in social change in Latin American communities and eager for practical experience as well as immersion in the Spanish language. The CILA program is an integrated set of learning experiences.