Come explore the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, historic preservation, economics and real estate development in Havana, Cuba. This 2024 winter term interdisciplinary course begins virtually for three days then goes to Havana, Cuba for two weeks in January 2024. The course will examine the intersections of these disciplines, including how they are manifested in the arts, culture, and society. Havana is one of the oldest cities in the hemisphere, having recently celebrated its 500th anniversary. The course will provide the opportunity for the students to intensely interact with Cuban experts, and professors; walk Havana’s neighborhoods and communities; and experience the sites, sounds, and culture of this most unique World Heritage City.

We are inviting students with interest in the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, historic preservation, economics and real estate development to take the course.
The course will be highly interactive with extensive opportunities to be part of a participatory learning environment with a diverse team of instructors and guests.
Students will learn about the rich and complex contextual past and present framework of each of the disciplines, weaving in the arts and culture.

Daily site visits and mobile workshops will ensure a broad exposure to all aspects of Havana.

**This program begins with three virtual sessions before traveling to Havana for two weeks.**
Course Dates: January 3, 2024 - January 19, 2024
Travel Dates: January 7, 2024 - January 19, 2024

INFO SESSIONS:
Wednesday, September 13: 12:00pm
https://umd.zoom.us/j/92233500886

Wednesday, September 20: 7:00pm
https://umd.zoom.us/j/96624584640

You must be in good academic and judicial standing and you must not have any registration blocks to participate in this program. The minimum GPA for this program is listed above.

All UMD and non-UMD freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students are eligible to apply. Non-UMD students can also apply.

If you are interested in this program but do not meet the eligibility requirements, reach out to the Program Leader (listed in the Contacts tab) to discuss your interest in the program.

After you commit to the program, Education Abroad will enroll you in one of the following three (3) credit UMD courses:

ARCH478D: Havana’s Art & Culture: The intersection of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics
ARCH678D: Havana’s Art & Culture: The intersection of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics
RDEV689C: Havana’s Art & Culture: The intersection of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics
URSP688R: Havana’s Art & Culture: The intersection of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics
HISP619C: Havana’s Art & Culture: The intersection of architecture, planning, preservation, and economics

The credit you earn during this program will count as resident credit.

Housing will be provided at “casas particulares”, private homes. This will encourage unique interaction opportunities with your Cuban hosts on a daily basis. Breakfasts included.

ALL COST INFORMATION REPRESENTS 2023 COSTS. 2024 COSTS WILL BE UPDATED SOON.

Please refer to the following resources for funding study abroad:

Financial Aid
Scholarships
Financial Policies

*This program qualifies for eligible Pell Grant recipients to apply for the Gilman International Scholarship. Online applications will open in mid-August and are due Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 11:59pm PT.

APPLICATION FEE

$50

This is a non-refundable fee to submit an application.

Education Abroad Fee

$500

This is a non-refundable fee charged to your account when the application status changes from "Accepted to "Committed." This includes services provided by Education Abroad such as registration, billing, advising, risk management, and pre-departure orientation.

International Health Insurance

$45

This coverage is required and complements students' regular U.S. primary health insurance coverage.

Housing Fee

$0

This fee represents the housing provided during the program.

Tuition

$3,982

These are the instructional costs which include tuition, in-country transportation, course related activities, group meals, and teaching services.

PROGRAM FEE / BILLABLE COSTS

$4,527

This fee is charged to your student account and is based on our program deadlines. Please direct any additional questions to the Office of Student Financial Services and Cashiering.

Meals (estimate)

$100

Passport

$165

Visa

$0

Roundtrip airfare (estimate)

$1,000

Course materials

$0

Optional activities expenses

$150

Trip cancelation insurance (optional)

$180

ESTIMATED OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES

$1,575

*Non-UMD graduate students will need to pay a $75 application fee to the UMD Graduate School to participate in this program.

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE $6,152

PLEASE NOTE: All University of Maryland study abroad programs are financially self-supporting and, therefore, subject to cancellation due to low enrollment.

The Instructor Team includes Gerrit Knapp, UMD’s Director of the National Center for Smart Growth Research; Reemberto Rodriguez, a Cuban-born long-time practitioner of all four disciplines focused on the course with recent emphasis in placemaking and community organizing; Isabel Rigol Savio, UNESCO historic preservation expert and prolific speaker from the University of Havana; and, Miguel Padron, Urban Planning Professor at the San Geronimo campus of the University of Havana. There will also be additional guest lecturers and mobile workshop guides.

For course, itinerary or in-country information, please contact the Program Leader(s). For general questions or assistance with applying, contact EA Short-term Programs.

Below is a sample day-to-day itinerary (subject to change):

VIRTUAL (4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST)

WEDNESDAY, January 3rd
Welcome & General Course Overview

THURSDAY, January 4th
History and Culture of Cuba

FRIDAY, January 5th
Q&A and Conversation: Content +

IN-PERSON IN HAVANA

SUNDAY, January 7th
Travel Day & Welcome Dinner*

MONDAY, January 8th
General Orientation to Havana
(Tour & Visit to Model of City)

TUESDAY, January 9th
Visit with City of Havana Staff
(Tour of Centro Habana)

WEDNESDAY, January 10th
Nearby Neighborhoods
(Tour of Vedado)

THURSDAY, January 11th
Visit to the Escuela de Artes
(Tour of Miramar and Environs)

FRIDAY, January 12th
Havana’s Outlying Neighborhoods
(Tour of La Habana del Este, Alamar, and Villa Panamericana)

SATURDAY, January 13th
Day Trip: Viñales

SUNDAY, January 14th
Day Trip: Varadero

MONDAY, January 15th
Museums, Historical Sites, & More

TUESDAY, January 16th
Capitolio and Other Preservation Sites

WEDNESDAY, January 178th
Visits to Forts and Fortifications

THURSDAY, January 18th
Wrap Up, Debrief, and Farewell Dinner

FRIDAY, January 19th
Travel Day - End of course

Program Dates

Term	Year	Application Deadline	Admission Notification	Program Start	Program End
Winterterm	2024	10/01/2023	10/11/2023	01/03/2024	01/19/2024
This program begins with three virtual sessions before traveling to Havana for two weeks. Course Dates: January 3, 2024 - January 19, 2024; Travel Dates: January 8, 2024 - January 19, 2024.