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"I
believe studying abroad greatly benefited my experience as a Youth
and Family Ministry major. Through my Liberation Theology course, I
was able to see the power of faith in creating social change. I saw
the importance of connecting to others within communities…
Completing my internship abroad allowed me to improve my Spanish
language skills and cultural competency." |
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Semesters
programs focusing on Youth and Family Ministry
Study in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Augsburg’s Center for Global Education offers unique opportunities for
Religion (REL) and Youth and Family Ministry (YFM) majors to study in
Mexico by participating in a tailored version of their existing
fall semester programs.
 YFM majors can mix and match some of the best
features of both programs, including a week-long seminar at the
U.S.-Mexico border, an internship in a Mexican congregation or
faith-based organization, homestays with Mexican families, and
1-3 intensive Spanish language classes.
8 Reasons Why You
Should Consider Studying in Mexico for a Semester:
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Mexicans are currently the largest immigrant
group in the United States, and therefore it is important for
people in youth and family ministries to develop skills to be
able to reach out to Mexican immigrants.
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You can complete your YFM internship in
Mexico with a Mexican congregation or faith-based agency,
thereby gaining valuable cross-cultural work experience and
developing the intercultural and language skills needed to work
with Spanish-speaking ministries in the U.S.
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You can develop Spanish language skills by
spending at least 5-6 weeks living with a Mexican host family,
taking one or two intensive Spanish classes in groups of no more
than 6 students, and participating in a Mexican congregation.
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You can get credit for at least 2.5 Religion
courses: YFM 205, the YFM 399 Internship, and REL 366 “Latin
American Liberation Theologies,” which also meets the Liberal
Arts Foundation
requirement at Augsburg AND meets a requirement for the YFM
major since it can substitute for REL 481 (Contemporary
Theology) or serve as one of the approved electives.
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You can complete an independent research
project on youth and family ministries in Mexico (YFM 499).
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You don’t need to be fluent in Spanish
because some of the courses are taught in English. Minimum is 1
semester college-level Spanish.
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You get to participate in the following
regional travel opportunities:
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Spend your orientation week in the
U.S.-Mexico border region where you will learn about the
current immigration debate and ministries that assist
immigrants.
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Engage in many excursions to pyramids,
historic sites, churches, and museums.
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Engage in day trips and potential
overnight trips to rural, indigenous communities.
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Travel on your own to the beach,
mountains, or colonial cities during your week-long fall
break.
8. The Augsburg program is located in Cuernavaca,
which
is known as “the City of Eternal Spring."
Click here for more
reasons to study in Mexico.
Sample Semester Schedule
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Week 1: |
Orientation
seminar on immigration issues in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad
Juarez |
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Weeks 2-5: |
YFM 205 + options of REL 366, Internship, Independent Study,
and one Spanish
course, etc. |
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Week 6: |
Fall Break |
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Weeks 7-10: |
YFM 205 + options of REL 366, internship, independent study,
and a second
Spanish course, etc. |
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Weeks 11-16: |
YFM 205 +
options of REL 366, internship, independent study, and a third
Spanish course, etc. |
Course Offerings for YFM Majors
YFM 205.7 Ministry in a Mexican Context
This ˝-credit course provides students with a basic
understanding of current social, economic, political and cultural
realities in Mexico through an exploration of Mexican history, culture,
and cosmovision. The purpose is to frame students’ knowledge of the
fields of ministry, health care, and human services in Mexico. It will
also provide important background for working with Mexican migrants and
immigrants in the United States.
+ 3 or 4 of the following course options:
Fall Semester
Crossing Borders:
Gender and Social Change in Mesoamerica
Spring Semester
Migration and Globalization: Engaging our Communities
Download Application form now
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"This has and
will continue to influence my work in the church. In the USA today,
our congregations are slowly realizing what we should have realized
all along: In order to be the body of Christ, we must strive to walk
alongside our neighbors from other cultures. I am so grateful that
my time abroad enabled me to begin such a path.”
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Jeanette
Clark, Mexico 2005, YFM 2007
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