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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 |
| PROGRAM DATES | January 1-16, 2009 |
| CLASS STANDING | Sophomore, Junior, Senior |
| APPLICATION DEADLINE | Extended: November 1, 2008 |
| FEES | $3,186* [2008-2009] |
| FINANCIAL AID | Yes |
| GPA | Good Academic Standing |
| LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION |
English |
Program Information
This Study in Mexico program is offered during Winter Break and the group will travel to
Mexico City, San Cristobal de las Casas, Acteal and the community of San Caralampio in the state of Chiapas.
Explore social, socioeconomic, environmental, human rights, and political issues with special focus on gender and the indigenous people in Mexico. Witness the effects of free trade and globalization on women, workers, farmers, indigenous people and the environment in Mexico. Thirteen years after the passage of NAFTA, examine the impact of the free trade agreement between Mexico and the United States, a developing country and the world’s largest economy.
Meet people from Mexico who are working for change. Learn together with people from Mexico and the United States as they 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 and has led three previous Witness for Peace delegations to Mexico. Additional instructor and orientation leader for the course is Cindy Christian.
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). The 2005 census population was 4,293,459 people.
The state capital city is Tuxtla Gutiйrrez; other cities and towns in Chiapas include San Cristobal de las Casas, Comitбn, and Tapachula. Chiapas is home to the ancient Maya ruins of Palenque, Yaxchilan, Bonampak, Chinkultic, and Tonina. For more information, click here.
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.
The program has a full schedule in Mexico. Students will visit historical sites, the museum of Frida Kahlo and the National Museum of Anthropology. Additionally there will be a one-day excursion to the pyramids of Teotihuacán and the archaeological site of Palenque.
You will travel to Mexico City, San Cristobal de las Casas, Acteal and the community of San Caralampio in the state of Chiapas.
As a part of the Witness for Peace Delegation the group will:
- Learn from non-governmental agencies working on trade and labor issues
- Examine the complexity of gender, class, and ethnicity in Mexico
- Study the connection between conflict in Mexico and globalization of the economy, including trade agreements such as NAFTA
- Hear from women and men who are working for better wages and working conditions
- Experience life with an Indigenous community
- Explore the impacts of NAFTA and learn about alternatives to the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA)
- Witness the mobilization of grassroots organizations and the struggle for true democracy in Mexico
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 is approximately $3,186. A non-refundable deposit will be due upon acceptance to the program. The remainder of the program fee will be billed through Student Accounts Receivable.
The program package includes:
- Tuition for 3-credit course
- Roundtrip airfare from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN to Mexico City, Mexico
- 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 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 registration deadline is extended to November 1, 2008. Early registration is strongly encouraged, as space is limited and the class will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The tentative program date is January 1 - 16, 2009.
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
