1. Ethnomusicology Minor
  2. The Cuba Experience

The Cuba Experience

A faculty-led short-term study abroad trip open to all majors, The Cuba Experience offers students an opportunity to learn about Cuba's unique culture, history, music & dance, architecture & art, religion, economy, politics, and international relations. The trip takes place each January over the winter term. 

The Cuba Experience

students in cubaThe Cuba Experience offers students the unparalleled opportunity to learn firsthand about Cuba through an academic lens. In collaboration with their professors, students will design and conduct authentic field research into the intersection of music, religion, dance, food, and culture in Havana, the oldest city in the New World. Students will also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites surrounding Trinidad de Cuba (founded in 1514). Located in the foothills of Cuba's second largest mountain range, and just minutes from turquoise waters of the Caribbean, Trinidad's cobblestoned streets are teeming with music, colorful art, cafes, and nightlife. We'll also have an opportunity to explore Cuba's vast biodiversity and unique agricultural systems in and around the small town of Las Terrazas, located in hilly regions of western Cuba.

Program Information

 

  • Students who register for credit can request either a MUS or ANT designation (ANT is the default). WC students can use the course to satisfy: Business Global Learning Requirement, International Studies Experiential Learning Requirement (and potentially Study Abroad), Fine Arts Distribution, Social Science Distribution, Black Studies Minor, Latin American Studies Minor, Music Major/Minor Electives, Anthropology Major/Minor Electives and/or Ethnomusicology Requirements.
  • This is an immersive & experiential course. While in Cuba students will have a full day (and often evening) of structured and unstructured activities including tours, concerts, and dance classes. Though we will have lots of open discussions, we will not be lecturing to students. Instead, students are expected to learn as much as possible about Cuban history & culture prior to travel.
  • Activities/Work Prior to Departure2 short  books & response papers
    • 3 video/documentaries & online discussion
    • NPR Popdcasts (listening only)
    • Pre-Travel Listening Quiz (to introduce students
    • Several pre-travel lectures, discussions, & trainings (virtual and in-person) 
  • Graded activities while in CubaEthnographic Journaling
    • Observation-oriented writing
    • Class Discussions
    • Activities/Work After Return to the USMulti-media Journal
    • 4 pages post-trip synthesis paper

 

Program cost for the trip is $3,750

Cost includes:

  • Tuition (4 credits)
  • Round trip flight Florida - Havana
  • Tourist Card / Visa *
  • Travel Medical Insurance (including COVID)
  • Emegency Evacuation Insurance
  • One night hotel in Miami January 1, 2026
  • 8 nights accommodations in Havana &
  • Trinidad (doubles)
  • Breakfast (9 day)
  • Lunch (4 days)
  • Dinner (9 days)
  • Bottled water
  • Museum, concert, and gallery fees
  • Tour guide tips
  • Ground transportation in Cuba

Not included in the program cost:

  • $300-$400 Flights from home to Miami
  • $40-$60 Lunch (4 days)
  • Optional tips for tour guides
  • Optional souvenirs & snacks
  • Optional taxis used during limited “free time.”

*Visas: Most US citizens and many foreign nationals can travel to Cuba using a Tourist Card that can be purchased in the airport. This is generally very easy and does not require any paperwork. We will acquire these for most students. However, some foreign nationals and all persons born in Cuba (regardless of citizenship) are required to obtain a Visa. This should be done well in advance and directly with Cuban embassy. We are happy to give advice about visas, but the ultimate responsibility and cost for securing visas for students falling these categories fall to the individual.  Please reach out to us with questions and we will do our best to advise. 

 

September 20

  • Signed Application

October 20

  • $500 Deposit. Refundable for any reason until October 20. After October 20, refunds will only be given if the entire trip is canceled by the school.

November 1

  • Passport Scan to [email protected] valid through July 20, 2026
    • If you have troubles meeting this deadline, just communicate with Dr. Schweitzer

November 15

  • $3250 Balance (To Business Office. Put “Cuba Seminar” in the notes section)
  • Risk & Liability Waiver
  • Visa Application | CTS Travel Affidavit
  • College Liability Waiver
  • Tour Provider Liability Waiver
  • Tour Provider Travel Affidavit
 

Itinerary 

dancing in cubaThe Cuba Experience has an established history of ensuring a safe, educational, and fun environment for growth and transformation among our students. While the unknown is sure to generate anxiety among participants and their families, we ask for flexibilty and patience as we rarely finalize the day-to-day itinerary more than just a few weeks prior to departure. This year in particular, the logistical challenges we face are substantial. The main variables that will determine when we can share a detailed itinerary are:

-  The impact of an incoming US administration on US-Cuba policy.
- The availability of featured musicians, artisans, and guides
- Weather forecasts - since many of our activities are outdoors

To give a better idea of what the trip looks like, however,  we provide below an overview of the types of housing, food, activities, and opportunities we typically offer:

Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Students should make their own way to our hotel in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale region on the evening of June 10. Around 6PM, we will gather in the lobby and head out for a meal in local restaurants (unless COVID requires us to later our plans). Students should plan to land in Florida by 4PM. If necessary, we can accommodate late arrivals. 

Havana
During our 4-6 nights in  Havana, our group stays in professional government-sanctioned guest rooms in the homes of working class Cubans. Each licensed guest room has air conditioning. Guests have access to guest-only restrooms and refrigerator. All of our rooms are located in houses within a 2 block radius of each other. We will be one block from the Malecón (the iconic seawall in Havana) and 6 blocks from the tourist district and old town Havana. We will likely not have access to television, phones, cell phones, or internet – such luxuries are only just now making their way to the average person in Havana.

Trindad de Cuba
We typically spend two-three nights in Trinidad, where we use similar guest rooms as in Havana. A small but vibrant town, Trinidad is very walkable (aside form the rough cobblestone streets that are known to twist ankles). Our homes are a mere 100 yards form the very center of town.