Dominican Republic

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The Dominican Republic is an island nation that occupies the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with its neighbor Haiti to the west. Located in the Greater Antilles along the northern rim of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is also juxtaposed geographically and to a large extent historically and politically between the other two important Spanish-speaking islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. A nation of nearly 9 million inhabitants, the Dominican Republic is a vibrant country that celebrates its rich cultural heritage and other traditions in music and the arts. Since a mid-1960s revolution and U.S. occupation the Dominican Republic has been a stable democracy with peaceful transitions of leadership and a growing economy that connected globally both to the U.S. and other Latin American and Caribbean markets.

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA MADRE Y MAESTRA
Santiago de los Caballeros
Undergraduate Programs
Semester and Year Programs
Founded in 1962, the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) is one of the nation’s most highly regarded institutions of higher learning. With approximately 10,000 students enrolled, the university offers degree programs in a variety of disciplines that ranges from architecture and business administration to engineering and the natural and social sciences. Its medical and dentistry schools and its education programs are also highly regarded nationally and it is not uncommon for Spanish-speaking residents of the U.S. to go there to pursue professional degrees in the health sciences.

While students may take courses with local students taught in Spanish, they may also be able to choose from a selection of special courses that have been specifically designed for the visiting international exchange student. The PUCMM has hosted visiting international programs at its campus for close to twenty years and has a long tradition of providing excellent student support services and also places students with local host families. The PUCMM's main campus is located in Santiago. Santiago is nestled in the northern Cibao valley region about two hours north of the capital of Santo Domingo and an hour south of the northern coast and Puerto Plata. Santiago itself now boasts a new international airport with daily direct flights to New York and Miami.

Academic Areas     www.pucmm.edu.do/
Architecture
Business Administration
Education
Engineering
Nursing and Health Sciences
Philosophy and Theology

Prerequisites
Minimum 2.75 GPA. Fluency or advanced skills in Spanish language. UM students should have taken through at least SPA 214 (or the equivalent course) prior to participation.

Room and Board
The PUCMM does not have on-campus residence halls. Most Dominican students live at home and commute by car or public transportation. The international office at the PUCMM will place you with a host family in relative proximity to the campus. Costs below are estimates and can vary based on type of accommodation and exchange rate. The PUCMM international office believes that the homestay is the ideal experience for maximum integration into the local culture and society.

Program Dates
Fall:late August to mid December
Spring:early January to late April