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Study in Mexico - Intensive Fieldwork
Program Information | Location Information | Courses Available | Eligibility | Costs | Deadlines & Dates | Orientation | Housing | What's Next? | Photos | Helpful Links
| PROGRAM TERMS | Winter Break 2010 |
| PROGRAM DATES | January 2-16, 2010 |
| CLASS STANDING | Sophomore, Junior, Senior |
| APPLICATION DEADLINE | Extended: November 6, 2009 |
| FEES | Approximately $2371 |
| FINANCIAL AID | Yes |
| GPA | Good Academic Standing |
| LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION |
English |
Program Information
This study abroad course is an inter-interdisciplinary course that examines the impact of the free trade agreement between a developing country and the world’s largest economy. You will be able to witness the effects of free trade and globalization on women, workers, farmers, indigenous people and the environment in Mexico. You will meet people from Mexico working for change. This course will have an emphasis on the role of women and indigenous communities in globalization, economic violence, human rights and the environment. Learn together with people from Mexico and the United States as we challenge economic injustice. This is an educational endeavor that will provide you with face-to-face experiences with people in Mexico.
The program will be led by Susan Pelayo-Woodward, Director of the Hispanic/Latino/Chicana Learning Resource Center and teaches in the Women’s Studies Department at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is a native of Mexico City.
Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is the political, financial and cultural center of Mexico. Located in the Valley of Mexico with a population of over 8.7 million the city was originally established by the Aztecs in 1325. Current day Mexico City offers a picturesque city with mountains and multiple lakes. A great diversity offered in activities, cuisine, and architecture help to make this a contemporary cosmopolitan city.
Chiapas State, located in the south-eastern region of Mexico, is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the north, Veracruz to the northwest, and Oaxaca to the west. Chiapas has an area of 74,211 km2 (28,653 sq. mi).
Throughout Mexico there are ongoing economic and social concerns including low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states.
Courses Available
Students will complete FST 3574 / WS 3896 International Fieldwork in Women's Studies, a 3 credit course. Credits taken on this study abroad program do not count in tuition banding.
You will have a full schedule during your stay in Mexico. You will stay in Mexico City in La Casa de los Amigos, located in the heart of downtown Mexico City. The three days in Mexico City you will visit historical sites, and the National Museum of Anthropology. We will go on a one-day excursion to the pyramids of Teotihuacán.
Eligibility
Participants MUST have a passport, valid for at least 6 months after their return to the U.S. Students must be in good academic standing.
Costs
The program package cost is to be determined. A non-refundable application fee of $50 will be billed to your student account and a deposit of $400 will be billed to your student account upon your confirmation of participation. The remainder of the program fee will be billed through Student Accounts Receivable.
The program package includes:
- Tuition for 3-credit course
- Transportation within Mexico
- Housing
- Meals
- Fees to museums and historical sites
- Extensive reading and activists tools both before and after the delegation
- Cultural Insurance Services International health insurance
Items not included are the cost of obtaining a passport, roundtrip airfare to Mexico City and personal spending money. It is recommended that all participants bring additional money for personal and miscellaneous expenses.
Fluctuating currency exchange rates may increase or decrease the cost of your international experience. Financial aid may be applied toward the cost of the program if you are enrolled as a full-time student. There are several study abroad scholarships for University of Minnesota students.
Deadlines & Dates
The application deadline is extended to November 6, 2009. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited and the class will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tentative program dates are January 2-16, 2010.
Orientation
There will be three mandatory orientation meetings before departure. Students will be required to complete a set of readings before the trip. Also, students will be required to keep a journal of reflections on specific questions related to the program. Research on a related topic and the completion of that project will be required after the trip.
Housing
Housing is arranged by the program.
What's Next?
Before applying, it is a good idea to follow the steps under steps to studying abroad. The IEO web site also provides information on financing, health & safety and other important information to consider when choosing to study abroad. When ready to apply, the UMD study abroad application may be downloaded from the IEO web site Please complete the application with required accompanying materials and return it to IEO.
Contact Susan Pelayo-Woodward for program questions. For application/registration and location questions, contact Leigh Neys at (218) 726-7053 or email: lneys@d.umn.edu
