Crossing Borders: Gender and Social Change in Mesoamerica
Fall Semester
Late August - Mid December
Location: Cuernavaca, Mexico
(with 10-12 days in El Salvador)
Learn about the central issues facing Mesoamerica, with emphasis on the experiences and empowerment of women. You will engage in gender analysis of key social, economic, political, and cultural issues in Mexico and El Salvador; explore the interconnectedness of race, class, and gender; and learn first hand from both women and men who are involved in struggles for sustainable development and social change. Earn credit in Religion, Political Science, Women's Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Spanish. The semester includes small group intensive Spanish study provided by Mexican instructors. Fieldwork opportunities (including both internships and independent research) are also available.
| Week 1: | Orientation in the Cuernavaca area |
| Weeks 2-7: | Intensive Spanish classes (3 hours/day, 4 days/week for 5 weeks) plus POL/WST 359 and REL/WST366 |
| Weeks 8-13: | POL/WST 359 and REL/WST 366 courses continue and students complete one of the following during this time: 1) a second Spanish course, 2) an internship, or 3) and independent study |
| Weeks 14-15: | Educational Seminar in El Salvador |
| Week 16: | Wrap-up coursework in Cuernavaca |
Location
The program is based in Cuernavaca, a city known for its perennial springtime (70-80 degrees). Cuernavaca, the capital of the state of Morelos, is about a 1 1/2 hours drive south of Mexico City. Both the city and the state are important in Mexican history: the palace of the conqueror Hernan Cortez borders the central plaza in Cuernavaca and Morelos is known as “the cradle of the Mexican revolution” of 1910 led by Emiliano Zapata, who was born in a small town near Cuernavaca. A city of more than one million, Cuernavaca is also known for its innovative grass-roots education programs, economic cooperatives, and base Christian communities inspired by liberation theology.
Spanish
Choose one to three of 17 different Spanish course options from beginning-advanced levels, including specialized topics such as literature, the arts, women's studies, Spanish for Heritage speakers, Spanish for business, etc. (See Spanish course options)
The Center for Global Education contracts its language instruction out to the Universal Center for Language and Social Communication in Cuernavaca. Universal is a highly respected institution among the many language schools in Cuernavaca. The school's primary focus is on oral competency and on having a solid grammatical base. Classes are small, usually ranging from two to no more than six students. For more information, see the Universal website at www.universal-spanish.com.
Travel Experiences
The program includes a two-week educational seminar to El Salvador, and day trips to Mexico City and to rural villages, as well as opportunities for individual travel on weekends and during breaks.Housing
The Center for Global Education maintains two houses in Cuernavaca which will be your home base during the semester. It is located in Colonia San Anton, across the street from the language school where you will take your Spanish classes and just a 15 minute walk from downtown Cuernavaca. Approximately four students will share a room. There is also common living space for classes, study and leisure time, as well as a small library. Meals (including vegetarian options) are prepared and served on the premises.
Homestay
You will spend six weeks living with a local working class family in Cuernavaca. Longer homestays are available upon request. Lesbian and gay-friendly homestays also available.
Staff
The Center for Global Education has an ethnically and culturally diverse staff of North Americans and Latin Americans who coordinate educational programs. The program instructors are Augsburg College faculty who live full-time in Mexico and Central America, have advanced studies and are bi-lingual. In addition, a diverse pool of individuals and organizations serve as community resources. You will also be assisted by an intern/resident advisor who lives in the house and assists in planning house meetings and activities. Meet our staff
Curriculum
Most students will take four courses: 1) a Spanish language course; 2) Women, Gender and Social Change in Latin America (POL/WST); and 3) Latin American Liberation Theologies (REL/WST). For the fourth course, options are: a) a second Spanish language course, b) an internship, or c) an independent study (see below).
Fieldwork Options:
During the second half of the semester, students may choose to complete and internship or independent study.
Internships and Independent Studies may be taken for credit in:
- Business
- Environmental Studies
- History
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Marketing
- Political Science
- Religion
- Spanish
- Women's Studies
- Youth and Family Ministry
To learn more about field work opportunities offered through Center for Global Education semester programs see the Internship or Independent Study pages.
Community Service
Community service opportunities are also available for students who do not wish to complete a formal internship but would like hands-on experience serving in the community.
Requirements:
Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors at any college or university. Enrollment is limited; one previous college-level course in Spanish or its equivalent is required.
Credit:
Each course is the equivalent of one course credit (or four semester hours), for a program total of or 16 semester hours.
Application Deadlines:
Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis. The deadline is April 1. Enrollment is limited; early application is encouraged to ensure a place in the program.
