Guanajuato, Mexico

Program Brochure

Contact the Program Director

Jaime H. Herrera

English Department
P:  480-461-7484
F:  480-461-7644

Office: LA3 - 1
jaime.herrera@mesacc.edu

 

A valid passport book or card is required to enter or re-enter the United States - Passport Info Here

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Program Location

Guanajuato is located in the geographic center of Mexico, about three and half-hours northwest of Mexico City, and its capital city is one of Mexico's most famous tourist spots. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and city planners must abide by strict rules when building and refurbishing buildings in order to maintain their colonial integrity.

The city is situated in the Veeder Mountains at over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft) above sea level and the buildings, scattered on the side of the mountains, surround the city center. Guanajuato's many colorful buildings include historical buildings such as the Alhóndiga de Granaditas; several haciendas-ranches, including the Ex Hacienda de la Barrera; and houses preserved as museums, such as the Diego Rivera Museum, where the famous Mexican artist once lived.

May 30 - June 16, 2013 (change of return date)

Based in Guanajuato, the capital city of the state of Guanajuato and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this program offers students a culturally enriching experience in Mexico while they earn college credits. Guanajuato is a Mexican colonial gem: a city of incredible charm whose residents are known for their graciousness and hospitality.  There are dozens of plazas and plazuelas which lend the city a distinctive European flavor unlike, perhaps, any other Mexican city.  Exploring the city on foot offers something new to discover at each turn of a corner.  Students learn, live, and travel while immersed in the vibrant culture of Mexico.  Coursework, workshops, excursions, and service-learning experiences enhance cultural understanding and provide a variety of opportunities to practice the Spanish language.

Estimated Program Costs

• Program Fee: $1,713 (due 4/8/13)
• Includes academic facilities at the University of Guanajuato, cultural excursions, homestay with local family, local ground transportation, and travel insurance.
• Tuition: 4-7 credits 
• Registration Fees: $15
• Airfare is NOT included (estimated at $600).
• Meals are included as part of the homestay except during excursions. Estimated meal expense: $100

Guanajuato Program Excursions

Educational goals are enhanced by including activities such as visits to art galleries, museums, cemeteries, silver mines, haciendas, pyramids, volcanoes and other archeological, cultural, and historical sites including:

• 4-day excursion to Mexico City*
  • World famous Museum of Anthropology
  • Teotihuacan Pyramids*
• Excursion to San Miguel de Allende*

*UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Guanajuato Program Details

• Home Stay:  Through a homestay experience, students benefit from the invaluable cultural experience of living with a Mexican family, allowing for immediate and Spanish language immersion where they do not simply learn about the culture, but live it!  

• Service Learning:  The service-learning component enables participants to become familiar with the Mexican educational system, gain experience working with Spanish-speaking students in a classroom setting, and identify teaching and learning strategies that create positive learning environments for diverse student populations.  Opportunities to serve in other service agencies may be arranged based on student needs/interests.
• Workshops:  Educational workshops offered for program participants incorporate significant components of Mexican culture, including language, art forms, history, cuisine, and the educational system.  These workshops increase cultural awareness and understanding while complementing their coursework and immersion experience.

Courses Offered (4-7 credits)

• EDU282AA 15442 Service-Learning (1) REQUIRED
  • Instructors: Dr. Nora Reyes and Karen Guerrero
• HIS145 19055 History of Mexico (3) [SB, G, H] REQUIRED
  • Instructor: Jaime Herrera
• SPA298AC 15613 Special Projects (3) Optional Course in Guanajuato
  • Instructor: Jaime Herrera
• EDU230 19039 Cultural Diversity in Education (3) [C] Optional Online Course
  • ​Instructors: Dr. Nora Reyes and Karen Guerrero
• EDU298AC 19040 Special Projects (3) Optional Course in Guanajuato
  • Instructors: Dr. Nora Reyes and Karen Guerrero

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