The International PDS in Santiago, Chile provides opportunities for teacher candidates and faculty members from Buffalo State and Universidad Mayor to learn from one another - virtually and through study and service exchange activities. Buffalo State teacher candidates and faculty travel to Chile every other June for three weeks. Universidad Mayor teacher candidates and faculty travel to Buffalo every other February for three weeks.
Santiago, Chile (view map) is located in the central valley of the Republic of Chile and serves as the country's capital city. Chile, the long ribbon of land running along the southwest coast of South America, rests between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. It boasts a very diverse climate, said to be comprised of seven separate climatic types experiencing four seasons--summer December to February, fall March through May, winter June to August, and spring September through May. Castillian, a very distinct version of Spanish, is the national language. Also spoken are four indigenous languages and German.
The overall cost of the program includes: roundtrip flight, lodging with host families, group ground transportation, language course/textbook, group cultural excursions, travel health insurance, program administrative fees and the tourist fee to enter country but does not include anticipated or unexpected personal expenses. The current program estimate is $4500. Final program costs are determined once all participants are enrolled. Some expenses are included in a one-time fee applied to Buffalo State tuition bill. Other expenses are paid separately by each student before and during travel.
Upcoming Program
Travel: late May/early June 2022 (3 weeks)
Coursework: Spring Semester 2022
Application Period Opens: August 2021
Application Deadline: November 1, 2021
Buffalo State Leaders
Pixita del Prado Hill, Elementary Education
Angela Patti, Exceptional Education
Raquel Schmidt, Exceptional Education
International Partners
Universidad Mayor
ECELA Spanish Language School
Applications are accepted through the School of Education during open application periods only (see above). Applicants must submit a completed application form, essay of intent, one academic reference, and a copy of past grades and current course registration. Handwritten applications are acceptable.
Eligibility:
- Open to all current Buffalo State undergraduate or graduate students in teacher education - including those graduating the May prior travel
- Must maintain good academic standing
- Must be able to obtain passport
Follow Chile participants as they experience life abroad.
View individual profiles of past participants - colorful demonstrations of the impact of IPDS programs on the personal and professional lives of our students.
Bryanna reflects on how her experiences in the Dominican Republic and Chile changed her views of teaching.
Christine shares her observations at two special education schools in Chile and the teaching strategies she utilized in a second grade classroom in Italy.
Education’s Globalization Efforts Continue through Buffalo Public Schools
In addition to sending participants to Chile, the School of Education welcomes visitors from Chile to the United States. Teacher candidates from Universidad Mayor, along with their faculty leaders, spend three weeks in the Buffalo-area each spring semester.
Pixita del Prado Hill, Elementary Education