Embedded Spring: Rutgers-Cultural landscapes of Argentina and Uruguay

Students will enroll in a 3-credit course on campus (New Brunswick) + 1 more credit for their participation in the study abroad program during spring break. Total enrollment is 3+1=4 credits in the Spring 2026.

Credits

3+1

Program Advisor

Lloyd Pearson

The Program

In this Spring-embedded course, we visit and interact with heritage places in Argentina and Uruguay to identify, appreciate, and discuss the complexities of cultural landscapes across both sides of the Rio de la Plata: Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay), as well as their vicinities.

Program Locations

Argentina

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Montevideo (Uruguay) are bustling capital cities in South America where multiculturalism meets natural and man-made environments to create unique cultural experiences. Connected by a ferry across the Rio de la Plata (defined as some as the widest river in the world at 140 mi), these former sister-colonies of Spain show similarities and differences in the management of their cultural and natural heritage resources.

Uruguay

Colonia

Colonia do Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay and the capital of the Colonia Department.

The Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) section of Colonia del Sacramento is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has some cobblestone streets built by the Portuguese in the 17th century, and is within walking distance of the town's ferry terminal.

Academics

This international experience is ideal for students interested in global and transnational issues, global culture, Latin American cultures and landscapes, and, naturally, cultural heritage and preservation methods from a global comparative perspective.

This course combines traditional classroom lectures and discussion that foster a rich understanding of crucial concepts, and a Study Abroad experience that allows students to test and perfect these concepts in various contexts through experiential learning. This course and its accompanying on-campus seminar will count towards all the Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies (CHAPS) degree programs and other allied programs that accept CHAPS courses as electives.

Housing and Meals

Students will share twin or triple hotel rooms (breakfast included), in walking-friendly areas at the center of each city. All but one dinner are included in the cost of the trip.

Scholarships

Rutgers Global-Study Abroad Scholarships

Available to all Rutgers students participating in a Rutgers Global–Study Abroad program. Applications can be found inside of your study abroad program application. For more information, please visit the Scholarship section of our website.

Benjamin A. Gilman Study Abroad Scholarships

Available to study abroad students who receive a Pell Grant. For more information about the scholarship and additional eligibility requirements please visit the Gilman website.

Faculty Leaders

Dr. Trinidad Rico

Trinidad Rico is Director of the Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies program at Rutgers University, and faculty in Art History. She is a native of Argentina and has extensive experience traveling and collaborating with South American institutions. Prof. Rico holds a BA in Archaeology, an MA in Conservation, and a PhD in Anthropology, and therefore supports interdisciplinary teaching and research profiles. Her area of expertise is the study of non-Western heritage practices, and she completed long-term research projects in Indonesia and Qatar before focusing on Argentina.