International Business and Global Citizenship
Fall Semester
in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Mid August - Early December
On January 1, 1994 the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented, removing most barriers to trade and investment among the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Today, Mexico is the United States’ number 2 trading partner with 13.5% of its total exports. It is also front and center in debates about globalization and U.S. immigration policy.
Our study center is located in Cuernavaca, a picturesque city in central Mexico known both as “the city of eternal spring,” and as a growing industrial and international business center. The city is a 3 ½ hours drive north of Acapulco and 1 hour south of Mexico City, which is not only the political and financial capital of the country but also considered by many to be the business capital of Latin America.
Earn credit in Business, Marketing, and Spanish. Credits also available in Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, History, Political Science, Religion, and Women's Studies. Small group intensive Spanish courses are provided by Mexican instructors.
Sample Fall Semester Schedule
| Week 1 | Educational Seminar in Mexico City |
| Week 2 | Orientation in Cuernavaca area and start of courses other than Spanish |
| Weeks 3 - 6 | Courses, including intensive Spanish course #1 (see list of options below) |
| Week 7 | Fall Break |
| Week 8 | Educational Excursion and Seminar on Eco-Tourism in Michoacan or Acapulco area |
| Weeks 9 – 12 | Courses, including optional intensive Spanish course #2 |
| Weeks 13-16 | Courses, including optional intensive Spanish course #3 |
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.
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 four weeks living with a local family in Cuernavaca.
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. More about our staff in Mexico
Travel Experiences:
- a 3-4 day seminar in Mexico City,
- a 3-4 day seminar in Acapulco, the Monarch butterfly sanctuary, or another popular area for ecotourism,
- day trips to rural, indigenous villages, and
- opportunities for individual travel on weekends and during breaks.
Curriculum
Students may choose three or 4 of the following course options:
- BUS 495: Global Business and Developing Countries: Mexico and Beyond
- MKT 466: International Marketing
- SPANISH: 1-3 Spanish courses: Choose from 17 different beginning to advanced courses, including Topics in Business Spanish.
- An Internship for credit in Business, Marketing, or several other disciplines
- An Independent Study for credit in Business, Marketing, or several other disciplines
* Augsburg students: please note that both BUS 495 and MKT 466 meet the requirements of the Management and International Business specializations, and BUS 495 may be taken in lieu of BUS 465.
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
Requirements:
Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors at any college or university. Enrollment is limited. No prior Spanish is needed; however, students will find it very helpful to have completed the equivalent of at least one semester of college-level Spanish. Prerequisites for the BUS 495 course are: Introduction to Economics, and either the Principles of Marketing or the Principles of Business; or consent of the instructors.
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.
*Augsburg students: please note the Augsburg College deadline for applying for fall semester study abroad is March 1.
