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Winter
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Resident
• Clear interest and commitment
• Demonstrated preparedness/maturity
• Good academic and disciplinary standing
• Minimum 2.5 GPA (flexible depending on specific circumstances)
• Completion of at least one semester of college-level study at the time the program begins
• Faculty approval
• Participation in orientation programming
• Preference Given to Health & Human Physiology and Related Majors
• No Language Experience Required
• 9/24
Check the 'Costs' section under the Application tab.
The purpose of the course is to compare the health care system of the United States to the health care system of the host country. In order to do so, students will be exposed to a variety of health care systems such as large private and public hospitals, local public hospitals, the public health system, rural health systems, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The students will participate in site visits, meet with health care professionals, job shadowing, and engage with members of the community to learn about their health care needs and cultural beliefs and practices that may influence health care system utilization.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
A syllabus for the Winter 2022 - 2023 session is provided below.
Led by Gayle Walter, PhD, MPH, MCHES®, Department of Health and Human Physiology
Participants are awarded a University of Iowa transcript, and are graded using U.S. letter grades.
This course provides 3 semester hours of resident credit.
This course satisfies a major elective for the UI’s Health and Human Physiology major.
Dates for the Winter 2022 - 2023 session are: December 28, 2022 – January 14, 2023. Courses will be based in the U.S. and held virtually from December 28 – January 1, and will be held in-person in the Dominican Republic from January 2 – January 14. A final itinerary will be available by early fall 2022.
Program dates vary by session. Dates for future sessions are expected to be similar to previous sessions, and will be finalized be early fall.
For more details about this program please contact Winter 2022 - 2023 Faculty Director Gayle Walter or Program Coordinator Cory Petersen.
Your host and partner in the Dominican Republic is a renowned social entrepreneurship firm in the Dominican Republic specializing in social development, sustainability, education and training since 1982. With a portfolio of high profile clients from governments, private sector, NGOs and international organizations, Entrena has implemented projects in eight countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
More information about Entrena can be found on their website
Santo Domingo is the capital city of the Dominican Republic. Founded by Christopher Columbus's brother Bartolome Columbus in 1496, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas and was the first seat of the Spanish colonial empire in the New World. For this reason, the city of Santo Domingo has a rich historic and cultural heritage that makes any visit extremely worthwhile. The city is one of the most populous cities in the Central America-Caribbean area, and the main economic and commercial center of this region.
Beyond the capital, much of the DR is rural: driving through the fertile interior, you’ll see cows and horses grazing alongside the roads, and trucks loaded down with fresh produce. Further inland you’ll encounter dramatic views of hills and mountains, rivers carving their way through lush jungle and stunning waterfalls, and remote deserts, giving the DR a unique physical and cultural complexity.
The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.
Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.
Students will stay together as a group with the Faculty Director in hotels. All program-related housing and transportation in the Dominican Republic is included in the cost of the program.
If you do not have a passport, apply for one as soon as possible to ensure you receive it before the program begins.
The UI Passport Office processes new U.S. passport applications and child/minor renewal applications.
US citizens can find more information about how to renew a passport on the US Department of State’s website. Most adult renewals must be done by mail.
Important notice:
Students with a valid passport should check the expiration date. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER the anticipated return to the US from studying abroad. If yours is not, you must renew your passport.
Expedited processing service is available for US passports (although this still takes several weeks and is at an additional cost). UI Study Abroad encourages students to ask the passport agency at the time of application whether expedited service is recommended.
Students who are not US citizens should contact their consulate for more information if they need to get a new passport or renew their passport.
Students will receive instructions for booking flights after the Confirmation Deadline. A suggested group flight will be shared with the group and students will make their own arrangements.
Those who do not have extensive travel experience are encouraged to book the suggested group flight.
Transportation for all course activities is provided, including a group airport pickup and drop-off at the beginning and end of the course.
This course has a limited capacity. To ensure the highest level of academic preparedness, the instructor will review all applications for final decisions on admission, using the following criteria:
Once the course has filled, UI Study Abroad will maintain a waitlist, and notify any students who are waitlisted. Further information will be sent out at that time to waitlisted students regarding next steps.
Students who attend institutions other than the University of Iowa must also contact their home school study abroad office to review any additional study abroad requirements.
Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.
The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.
Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.
The following cost sheet applies to the Winter 2022 - 2023 session.
Cost Sheet- Comparative Health Systems- 2022 - 2023
The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:
Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:
Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel during your free time during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.
The cost of personal travel depends entirely on each student’s individual travel plans and spending habits. Estimates for personal travel costs provided by past students on this program vary significantly from $300 to as much as $2,000 or more per session.
Students are encouraged to apply for Need-based, Merit, and Global Access Ambassador scholarships awarded by Study Abroad. More information is available on the Scholarships page.
Students who receive a Federal Pell Grant are eligible to apply for the Gilman International Scholarship, an external scholarship awarded by the Department of State. Learn more here.
Financial aid received to attend the University of Iowa (scholarships, grants, and loans) may be applied toward the program cost. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to explore financial aid options.
Applications for the Winter session are due on September 24.
Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information
Students are also encouraged to complete the Health Preparation Guide for International Travelform with their medical practitioner. This document is intended to help you plan for your medical needs abroad. Please DO NOT turn this form in to UI Study Abroad.
Students will receive instructions for booking flights after the Confirmation Deadline. A suggested group flight will be shared with the group and students will make their own arrangements. Those who do not have extensive travel experience are encouraged to book the suggested group flight.
All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.
Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.
It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.
Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.
Review the informaiton under the Visa heading our Prepare for Departure page for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.
In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.
You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.
A mandatory, in-person orientation will be facilitated by the Faculty Leader and Study Abroad Coordinator before departure and will cover content specific to your program and host country.