Mexico: Guadalajara Summer

The Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara

Established in 1935, the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG) is the oldest private university in Mexico and is often ranked as one of the country's top five institutions of higher education. Its nearly 20,000 students represent all states of Mexico and 35 countries, many attracted by UAG's well-known medical school. Surrounded by parks and residential neighborhoods, UAG is only minutes away from downtown Guadalajara, easily accessible by public transportation.

Course Offerings

In the Summer Language and Culture Program, Spanish language courses are combined with Mexican culture courses available in both English and Spanish. This program is open to students at any level of Spanish proficiency, from beginning to advanced, who wish to improve their Spanish language skills and gain a greater understanding of Mexican culture. Course options include International Business in Mexico, Introduction to the History of Mexico, Mexican Folklore, and Mayan Cultures.

Note: The two summer sessions can be combined to create an eight-week summer program.

During each four-week summer session, students earn seven semester (11 quarter) credits.

 

Student Life

Participants are encouraged to immerse themselves in the local culture through extracurricular activities at the university. International students also have the option of participating in a monthly excursion to a historically or culturally significant location in and around Guadalajara. (The costs associated with these optional excursions are not included in the program fee.)
Student activities and clubs at UAG are also open to international students. Participants are encouraged to take part in the North American Students Association, which promotes intercultural understanding between study abroad and Mexican students.

 

Housing

Living with a host family provides students with valuable insights into Mexican life and culture. Students are placed with local families in a private or shared room, and are provided three meals per day. Homes are typically located in residential areas convenient to campus; students generally walk or take a short bus ride to class.

Alumni Feedback

"Studying abroad is the best decision I have ever made, I am so grateful I took advantage of this opportunity. This experience will stay with me for the rest of my life, I have learned so many new things I could never learn at home and made lifelong friends. Mexico is so incredible I extended my stay!"
- Margi Garrison, Central Washington University

"The program has been a life changing experience for me. I was only going to study for 8 weeks at the University but after the first 2 weeks I knew I wanted to stay and study longer because of the atmosphere and people. I have met life long friends, I have learned life long experiences, and I have recieved a good education. The culture is very diverse and I have enjoyed many aspects of the Mexican culture. The people are very friendly and welcoming, the food is wonderful, and the weather is awesome. The classes have been great because they are very small . I am very glad I made the decision to study in Guadalajara and look forward to coming back to visit or even study here again."
- Scott Alexander, Central Washington University

"I really like Guadalajara because the big-city life does not drown out the typical Mexican traditions. An added bonus is that there are several small municipalities and towns on the outskirts of the city where a large number of artisans make and sell their products. My favorite cultural experiences so far have been seeing mariachis perform in a variety of places and going to the Ballet Folcl—rico (Folkloric Ballet) that takes place every Sunday morning. By bus, the city is about 5 hours away from Puerto Vallarta, 3 1/2 hours away from Guanajuato, and 8 hours away from Mexico City, so there are many good opportunities for weekend trips that explore other parts of Mexico."
-Katie Giancola, Youngstown State University

 

Duration

Summer 2010 Language & Culture Programs:

• Session I: June 14 - July 9, 2010
• Session II: July 12 - August 6, 2010

Application Deadline(s)

April 1

Financial Aid

• Financial aid may be used to study abroad if the program has been approved for credit by the students' home institution. Students should contact their Financial Aid Office to learn more.
• CCIS offers scholarships to students from CCIS Member Institutions. Students should contact their Study Abroad Advisor to learn more about the application procedures and deadlines.
• Additional scholarship opportunities may be found on the IIE Passport - Study Abroad Funding website.

Eligibility Requirements

• Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student
• Sophomore (2nd year) class standing
• Minimum GPA of 2.50
• Good judicial standing with no major disciplinary violations in the past 12 months
• Other Info: No previous knowledge of Spanish is required for the Intensive Spanish Language Program, but some prior study is recommended

Language

All levels of Spanish speakers are welcome

Academic Levels

Undergraduate

Costs

Summer 2010 Language and Culture Program Costs: 

• Session I : $1,502
• Session II: $1,502
• Sessions I & II: $2,504

Note: Upon acceptance, participants will be required to pay a $300.00 deposit to Central Washington University in order to secure their placement in the program. This amount is then deducted from the final program fee.
All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this

Costs Included

Fees paid directly to Central Washington University

• Tuition and fees at UAG
• Study Abroad health insurance 
• Official transcript from UAG

Costs Not Included

Fees paid directly to UAG

• Additional excursions
• Airport pickup fee ($20)
• Homestay placement fee ($20)

Other estimated costs:

• CWU Application fee ($50)
• Airfare ($600-$850) 
• Room and board ($375 USD per month for shared room, $425 USD per month for single room) 
• Personal expenses ($400-$1,000) 
• Passport (estimated $100) 
• Books ($100)
• Local transportation ($150-375)

Note: All UAG fees are subject to change and the CCIS website will be updated as fee increases are made available to Central Washington University.

Entry Requirements

• Currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student
• Sophomore (2nd year) class standing
• Minimum GPA of 2.50
• Good judicial standing with no major disciplinary violations in the past 12 months

Other Info: No previous knowledge of Spanish is required for the Intensive Spanish Language Program, but some prior study is recommended

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

Related Links

• Wikipedia Guadalajara, Jalisco

 

Application Instructions:

1. Complete the CCIS Application

To apply for the CCIS Guadalajara Summer Program, be sure to complete all of the following application requirements:

• CCIS Study Abroad Application
• Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Application
• CWU Disciplinary Clearance Form
• $50 Non-Refundable CWU Study Abroad Application Fee (check, money order, or cashier's check made payable to Central Washington University)

2. Mail your application materials to Central Washington University

Once you have completed the CCIS Application, mail all of your application materials to:

Rebecca Garate, Study Abroad Advisor
Study Abroad & Exchange Programs
Central Washington University
400 East University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7407

E-mail: goabroad@cwu.edu
Tel: (509) 963-3623
Fax: (509) 963-1558
CWU Facebook Group for Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara

3. Secure your placement by paying the CWU Program Deposit

Upon acceptance, participants will be required to pay a $300 deposit within two weeks to secure their placement in the CCIS Guadalajara Summer Program. This deposit will then be deducted from the final program fee. Additional information about this requirement will be included in your acceptance packet from Central Washington University.

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.