Connect with global challenges through local voices across Argentina’s diverse landscapes—from Buenos Aires to Patagonia and the Northern borderlands—where political and social actors are shaping collective futures in motion.
16
3 semesters Spanish, Relevant previous coursework
Spanish
Spanish
Aug 25 – Dec 7
Argentina
Buenos Aires
Varies
Peace & Justice
Identity & Human Resilience
Argentina is a living dynamic site of social justice in action. With a long history of grassroots mobilization and innovative advocacy, the country offers a unique opportunity to witness how societies confront inequality, political polarization, and global challenges, such as climate change, human rights crises, and democratic backsliding. From feminist movements to environmental justice, from Afro-Argentine organizing to migration and Indigenous land defense, Argentina is a vital case study for students interested in both grassroots activism and institutional responses to complex social issues.
In dialogue with local experts, activists, NGOs, and think tanks, you’ll join the debate, on the ground and on a global scale, to imagine political and community-based alternatives to injustice. Whether your path leads to international development, research, public policy, or grassroots organizing, this experience will sharpen your analytical skills and expand your understanding of how change happens.
From the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires to the vast rural landscapes of Patagonia, the Northwest, and Rosario—experience a program that balances city life and immersion in nature, movement and reflection, global questions and local voices.
Practicing Spanish will help you to build authentic relationships, conduct interviews, and read the world in another language—highly valued skills in careers such as international relations, anthropology, global studies, political science, government, economics, environmental studies, and human rights.
Previous college-level coursework or background in social work, political economy, development studies, or Latin American studies, as assessed by SIT. Three recent semesters of college-level Spanish or equivalent and the ability to follow coursework in Spanish, as assessed by SIT.
Walk the frontlines of environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty. In Patagonia, meet with Mapuche communities and local environmental defenders to explore how land, memory, and identity intersect. You will learn about the challenges that the extractivist model set for contemporary democracies and collective rights, and hear how activists frame gender equity through ecofeminism.
Delve into human rights organizations and social movements in one of the most economically impoverished and culturally conservative regions of the country. Interact with Indigenous groups resisting lithium mining in the Salinas Grandes, where the global energy transition meets local justice causes, and learn how activists promote food sovereignty in the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
In Rosario, a hub of progressive spirit, historic architecture, activism, and global trade, witness how grassroots movements, scientists, and artists respond to the pressures of agribusiness, real estate speculation, and inequality. From defending the Paraná River to promoting community-based alternatives in marginalized neighborhoods, this politically engaged city offers a powerful lens on environmental justice and the geopolitics of global commerce.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
History and Human Rights in Argentina – syllabus
(LACB3005 / 3 credits)
What do human rights look like in everyday life—and how are they defended, challenged, and reimagined over time? This seminar uses Argentina as a living classroom to explore the development of human rights as both a legal framework and a social demand.
From the legacy of dictatorship to democratic transitions and beyond, students trace Argentina’s long and complex journey toward justice, memory, and inclusion. The course focuses on how human rights—civil and political, economic, social, cultural, and emerging “solidarity rights”—have been shaped by historical events, institutional change, and international standards.
Through site visits, guest speakers, and classroom discussions, students examine how laws, courts, and international organizations interact with local actors to define and defend human rights. Topics include gender rights, Indigenous and migrant rights, the right to protest, environmental justice, and the right to the city. Students also confront enduring challenges such as racism, inequality, and state violence.
Held primarily in Buenos Aires, with time spent in Patagonia, this immersive, Spanish-language seminar encourages students to connect academic learning with real-world struggles for human dignity—and to understand the evolving nature of rights in the 21st century.
Social Movements and Human Rights in Argentina – syllabus
(LACB3000 / 3 credits)
What drives people to organize, resist, and imagine new ways of living? This seminar explores the vibrant world of social movements in Argentina and their role in shaping justice from the ground up.
Focusing on collective action, the course examines how grassroots movements, community organizations, and NGOs work to transform society—challenging inequality, defending rights, and proposing alternatives to dominant systems. Students engage with key concepts such as decolonization, territory, popular economy, food sovereignty, and the power of popular education. Special focus is given to the leadership of women, youth, and Indigenous communities in contemporary activism.
Students analyze real-world cases to understand how social movements mobilize resources, create networks, and influence policy and culture. While the course is grounded in Argentina, it also offers a broader Latin American lens on social transformation.
The seminar takes place primarily in Buenos Aires, with immersive learning in Salta, Jujuy, and Santa Fe. All coursework is conducted in Spanish.
Spanish for Social Sciences I – syllabus
(SPAN2003 / 3 credits)
Spanish for Social Sciences II – syllabus
(SPAN2503 / 3 credits)
Spanish for Social Sciences III – syllabus
(SPAN3003 / 3 credits)
Spanish for Social Sciences IV – syllabus
(SPAN3503 / 3 credits)
In this course, students hone their speaking, reading, and writing skills through classroom and field instruction. They practice reading professional social science literature as they learn the terms and expressions needed to discuss human rights and social movement issues, to conduct field research, and to interact in settings related to the program themes. Students are placed in small classes based on an in-country evaluation that tests both written and oral proficiency.
Research Methods and Ethics – syllabus
ANTH3500 / 3 credits
How do we turn questions into meaningful research—or build knowledge through hands-on experience—grounded in context, ethics, and human connection? This course prepares students for either an Independent Study Project (ISP) or an Internship, offering tools to carry out ethical, community-based work on social movements and human rights in Argentina.
Students explore research methods, intercultural learning, and the responsibilities of working in diverse contexts through interactive lectures, field visits, and reflective assignments. Those pursuing the ISP track develop a research question and write a full proposal for ethical review. Those on the Internship track analyze organizational culture, engage with host institutions, and design a detailed Internship Work Plan and Learning Agreement.
Choose one of the following two courses.
Independent Study Project – syllabus
(ISPR3000 / 4 credits)
How can students create knowledge that is both rigorous and rooted in lived experience? The Independent Study Project (ISP) offers students the opportunity to conduct original research on a topic of their choice related to the program’s themes.
Carried out in Buenos Aires or another approved location, the ISP allows students to apply their academic learning through immersive fieldwork. Under faculty guidance (thematic and language tutors), students engage with communities, organizations, and individuals to explore pressing issues such as memory, identity, justice, or collective resistance.
The project culminates in a written paper and final presentation, where students share their findings and reflect on the research process. Whether grounded in interviews, participant observation, or archival work, each ISP is a unique expression of intellectual curiosity and social commitment.
ISP work serves as a capstone to the semester’s learning.
Sample ISP topic areas:
Browse this program’s Independent Study Projects / undergraduate research.
Watch an ISP done in video format.
OR
Internship and Seminar – syllabus
(ITRN3000 / 4 credits)
Students are placed with NGOs, community groups, or research centers working on themes such as human rights, grassroots organizing, gender justice, or environmental defense. In addition to on-the-ground work, students engage in guided reflection and write an analytical paper connecting their experience to broader program themes.
Topics may include organizational dynamics, the ethics of solidarity, or designing responses to real-world challenges. The seminar encourages students to critically assess their roles as interns, develop intercultural skills, and imagine their place in global justice work.
Sample Internships
While in Buenos Aires, you’ll live with a local family—a key part of the experience that offers both independence and connection. Homestays provide a safe, welcoming space where you can navigate daily life with the support of people who know the city, the culture, and how to help when you need it. You’ll have your own routine, your own room, your key, and the freedom to explore the city like a local—while also having someone to talk to at the end of the day. Many students find this balance of autonomy and grounding becomes one of the most meaningful aspects of their semester. Independent travel during free time is always possible and encouraged.
Buenos Aires offers an outstanding array of cultural assets and offerings, which many students enjoy together with their families. Most host families are middle class and live in apartments or small houses in the city. All live within the Capital Federal District.
During trips, we will stay in hostels and hotel rooms.
Local staff will help you find a suitable accommodation in case you travel for your ISP.
Small hotels and hostels
Students on this program represent a broad array of colleges, universities, and majors. Many have gone on to do important work that connects back to their experience abroad with SIT. Recent positions held by alumni include:
Working for the United Nations, U.S. government agencies and embassies, NGOs, and the Peace Corps in advocacy, human rights, international relations, education, and policy-making
Founder and programs manager of Garden of Hope, Antigua, Guatemala
Graduate assistant at The Washington Post, Washington, DC
Thomas J. Watson Fellow researching informal waste collection systems, Egypt, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Guatemala
Research analyst at an international think tank focused on climate justice and migration
Data and policy specialist for a global organization working on women rights
Community engagement coordinator at a nonprofit advancing digital inclusion and equity
Campaign strategist for an educational advocacy network operating across the Americas
Fulbright scholars
SIT Study Abroad is committed to ensuring that international education is within reach for all students. We believe in the transformative power of immersive, intercultural experiences and are dedicated to supporting students in their educational journey.
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A critical step in preparing for your study abroad program is planning how you will maintain your health and wellbeing. Please review the following information carefully and contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
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Depending on your passport of origin, you may need a visa for this program. Please contact your admissions officer for more information.
Three program alumni have been awarded Fulbright scholarships that will allow them to continue their studies and gain additional professional experience.
The Smith College journal Meridians: feminism, race, transnationalism has awarded SIT alumna Cece Roth-Eagle the Elizabeth Alexander Creative Writing Award for Prose for her piece, Month of Wind/Mes del Viento.
