This program gives students a firsthand look at the layers of history that make Cuba significant in North America and Latin America. The courses offered not only look at the history of the island as a former Spanish colony but also the 20th Century in which Cuba played a significant geopolitical role. The courses and experiences that students have outside the classroom will focus on the history and society of Cuba with attention focused on exploring the fusion of Spanish, African, and indigenous roots plus influence from the United States to create a rich culture of its own. This program is administered by the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), of which the University of Iowa is a member. The USAC Resident Director and staff are present on-site full-time to welcome and support students during their term abroad.

Academic Program

Summer Session

Students take 3-4 credits during this 3 week program. Students can select courses in the areas of Cuban History and Society and Latin American Culture Studies.

You can view more information about the summer session on USAC's website.

Winter Session

This three week session offers coursework in Cuban History and Society and Latin American Culture Studies. Students will take 3-4 credits.

You can view more information about the winter session on USAC's website.

Program Dates

Winter Session, Late December to mid-January
Summer Session II, late June - late July

For More Information

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Before initiating an application with USAC, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

USAC Havana

Students study at the Instituto de Filosofia de Cuba (The Philosophy Institution of Cuba). It was established in 1968 and is an agency for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment. The institute maintains close ties with the University of Havana and other universities in Europe, the US and Latin America. The headquarters of the institute is located in the Vedado neighborhood, near the University of Havana, a jewel of neoclassical architecture built in the late 1920s.

Havana

La Habana is the capital city of Cuba and happens to be its largest city, major port and leading commercial center as well. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants. Contemporary Havana can be described as three cities in one; Old Havana, Vedado and the newer suburban districts. In 1982, the historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cuba

The island of Cuba is the largest in the Caribbean and with its remarkable history make it significant to both North America and Latin America. In 1942, Christopher Columbus landed in Bariay, and claimed the land for the Kingdom of Spain. The colony developed as an urbanized society that primarily supported the Spanish colonial empire. Due in part to Cuban slaves working in an urbanized setting there was a common practice of “coartacion” or buying oneself out of slavery, which was uniquely Cuban and blacks dominated urban industries. After the Spanish-American War, Cuba formally gained its independence from the United States in 1902 at which time the US leased Guantanamo Bay naval base from Cuba. On January 1, 1959, President Batista fled the country as Fidel Castro’s July 26th Movement emerged. Castro legalized the Communist party, expropriated thousands of farmland and in 1960 singed a commercial agreement with the USSR. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cuba lost upwards of $4 – 6 billion in subsidies and aid, which led to a severe economic downturn, food shortages and fuel shortages. Yet, Cuba found assistance and new trade partners in China, Venezuela and Bolivia. In February of 2008, Fidel Castro resigned as president of Cuba and appointed his brother, Raul, as the new president. Also in 2008, the European Union and Cuba agreed to resume full relations and cooperation activities. An agreement was reached between the the U.S. and Cuba to reestablish diplomatic ties and to reopen embassies in their respective capitals on July 20, 2015, however in 2017, the U.S. considered closing its Cuban embassy following mysterious sonic attacks on its staff.

US Department of State Country Information

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.

Living Arrangements

For more information regarding housing, please visit USAC's website.

Passport

US Citizens

If you do not have a passport, it is important that you apply for one as soon as possible to ensure you receive it before the program begins. US citizens can find more information about how to apply for a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

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 your passport is not valid for at least 6 months after your anticipated date of return to the US, you must renew your passport before applying for a visa or leaving the United States.

US citizens can find more information about how to renew a passport on the US Department of State’s website.

Travel Arrangements

Students make their own travel arrangements to arrive in Cuba by a designated date. Specific information will be provided in post-acceptance materials from USAC .

Local Transportation

All housing should be within walking distance to the Instituto de Filosofia de Cuba where students take their classes. While in Cuba students may use the two different bus divisions that Havana has available. The Metro bus serves the inner-city urban area while the Omnibus Metropolitanos connects the adjacent towns and cities in the metropolitan area with the city centre. Reliable taxis are also available.

Eligibility

This program is open to UI students who fulfill the following requirements:

• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA: Students must have at minimum a 2.5 cumulative GPA to participate in this program.
• Good academic and disciplinary standing: Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa. Academic and disciplinary history will also be considered when determining whether a student is prepared to represent the University of Iowa as part of this program. Students who, even after being accepted into a program, are put on either academic and/or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad. In these cases, students must forfeit their acceptance, will not be allowed to study abroad, and are wholly responsible for any and all financial expenses incurred.

Costs

Costs charged to the U-Bill

• Application fee (charged at the time of application, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Course Fee- Includes program course fee, tuition, all or some housing fees, pre-departure advising, airport pickup for those on the group flight, on-site orientation, 24-hour local emergency staff support, and program-organized field trip and excursions. (charged shortly before departure)
• University of Iowa Study Abroad Administrative Fee (charged shortly before departure)
• The mandatory Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance (charged shortly before departure)

Out-of-pocket costs (not charged to U-Bill)

• Round trip airfare (paid by student directly to travel agent or airline- approx. 6-8 weeks prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Passport (paid by student prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Consular and visa fees (paid by student prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Textbooks, copyright permission fees, course packets, and other course-related materials (paid upoon arrival to your host country)
• Medical exam/immunizations (paid by student as needed prior to departure, before financial aid/scholarships disburse)
• Personal expenses and personal travel (paid by student as needed while abroad)
• Rental or purchase of required cell phone- does not include usage fees (paid as needed while abroad)

The cost sheet outlines the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. It includes 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.

The cost sheet includes the Study Abroad Administrative Fee and Mandatory Iowa Regents CISI Travel Insurance. Please see the respective websites for further details. If the fee is inclusive of UI tuition, it is calculated by Current Tuition.

Cost Sheet

USAC Havana - January 2025
Cost Sheet for USAC Havana - Summer Session II - 2024

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Most financial aid (scholarships, grants, and loans) is applicable to study abroad programs. Please check the Study Abroad website for information on financial aid and how it may be applied to studying abroad. You are also encouraged to speak with someone at the Office of Student Financial Aid to explore financial aid options. Scholarship opportunities exist for study abroad participants. Please explore Study Abroad’s websites for UI Study Abroad Scholarship Opportunities.

USAC has several scholarships and grants as well. You can find these on USAC Scholarships & Discounts website.

How to Apply

1. Before initiating an application with USAC, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students must call the Study Abroad office at 319-335-0353 to be assigned to the appropriate study abroad advisor.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Students will need to complete a University of Iowa Study Abroad application and a USAC online application. Information on these applications will come from the study abroad advisor. Final program admissions decision is made by USAC.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Summer session are due on March 4.

Applications for the Winter session are due on October 1.