Semester in Mexico Program

The Semester in Mexico Program takes place Spring and Fall semesters at the Center for Linguistic Multicultural Studies/CLMS in the Universidad Internacional (UNINTER), in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

The main objectives are

  • To use Spanish, learning both its grammar and lexicon.
  • To develop communicative strategies which promote thorough and in-depth oral and written communication skills in Spanish in formal, semiformal, and casual settings.
  • To live and learn authentic Hispanic culture, avoiding stereotypes.

Admission Requirements:

  • The program is open to sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students in all majors
  • 2.5 overall GPA (2.8 for students from other universities)
  • No previous knowledge of Spanish is required

The program coordinator will meet with you before enrolling in courses in order to determine your level of proficiency. This allows the coordinator to advise you which courses are more appropriate, considering proficiency levels and transcripts. The results of the interview, with the courses chosen, are sent to UNINTER, where you are registered and your schedule is set for the semester.

For non-ISU students who live out of Ames or cannot travel to ISU to interview in person, the coordinator will interview by phone.

Courses

You can expect to earn 12 to 16 hours of ISU credit in Spanish, depending on the courses taken.

Intensive language study in the classroom: Spanish grammar, conversation, and composition classes meet three hours per day, Monday through Friday. Each language course lasts four weeks (60 hours). Classes can have five to ten students and are always taught in Spanish by native speaking faculty.

You are grouped by your knowledge of Spanish, ability to communicate, and fluidity of conversation. If for whatever reason students are not satisfied with their group, the UNINTER will help them switch to a different group with a different instructor.

Spanish language courses:

  • Span 101: Elementary Spanish I (four credits)
  • Span 102: Elementary Spanish II (four credits)
  • Span 201:Intermediate Spanish I (four credits)
  • Span 202: Intermediate Spanish II (four credits)
  • Span 301: Spanish Composition and Grammar (three credits)
  • Span 303: Spanish Conversation (three credits)
  • Span 401: Advanced Spanish Composition and Grammar (three credits)

Prerequisites and course requirements, as well as goals and number of credits for a course, do not differ from the one set for courses taken on the ISU campus. The evaluation of these courses is based on: partial written exams (taken each Friday), final written exam (the last Friday of each course), vocabulary exams, auditory quizzes and oral exams, compositions, presentations in class, attendance and participation, and homework. See a sample class schedule (toward the bottom of the page.).

Cultural courses (focus on Hispano-American history, art, literature, and music): Cultural courses meet two hours, Monday through Thursday, for six weeks (48 hours).

Available courses:

  • Span 304: Spanish for Business (three credits)
  • Span 314: Introduction to Reading Hispanic Texts (three credits)
  • Span 321: Spanish Civilization (three credits)
  • Span 322: Spanish American Civilization (three credits)
  • Span 326: Introduction to Mexican Art (three credits)
  • Span 332: Survey of Spanish American Literature (three credits)
  • Span 332X: 20th Century Spanish American Literature (three credits)
  • Span 352: Introduction to Spanish Phonology
  • Span 395: Study Abroad Credit

These courses also do not differ from the prerequisites and course requirements set for courses taken on the ISU campus. The evaluation of these courses is based on: final exam, final essay, midterm, weekly essays (four in the course), participation, and attendance.

Other courses are available for transfer credit. Some are taught in English. Advanced Spanish is required for regular courses in Spanish with Mexican students at UNITER.

Grades are determined by the coordinator in consultation with teachers and the Academic Director at the UNINTER. One person from UNINTER will be assigned to the ISU group if you have immediate questions or concerns. Students may also contact the coordinator directly.

Housing

Immersion into modern Mexican culture through housing with Mexican families provides opportunities for learning outside the classroom. This is a great way to practice Spanish and learn about Mexican life and culture. Students live in middle-class Mexican homes. Families are carefully interviewed and selected for the program through UNINTER, and students always have the opportunity of changing families if they are not comfortable with the one assigned in the first term. ISU requires that students live with a Mexican family in Cuernavaca. Included in the students' housing are three meals:

  • Full breakfast
  • Full dinner or box lunch when the student is on an excursion or at optional classes
  • Light supper

Sight-Seeing

Excursions for all students enrolled in the program (included in program fee):

Pyramids of Teotihuacán: The most important, complete, and popular archaeological zone of Central Mexico due to the pyramids (Sun and Moon Pyramids) and the city around them. The pyramids date back to 500 A.D. and represent the religious, cultural, and architectural importance of the region.

Mexico City: Murals of the University, Zócalo, Murals of the National Palace, Cathedral, Plaza of the Three Cultures, walk through Coyoacan. The field trip to Mexico City introduces you to the Mexican Murals Movement, such as the magnificent murals of Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros, Tamayo, and other painters that form a part of the artistic movement originally inspired by the Mexican Revolution, the first social revolution of this century. Coyoacan is a suburb of Mexico City whose colonial style of buildings and present-day intellectuals give this area a special bohemian, artistic flair. You will have opportunity to walk through the art market.

Folklore Ballet and Museum of Anthropology: Attend the Ballet Folklórico de Mexico, which presents a grand and beautiful mosaic of Mexico’s folkloric tradition! Through music and dance, acquaint yourself with the native costumes from various regions of Mexico. The National Museum of Anthropology and History houses an ample collection of works from the apex to the fall of the Mesoamerican cultures.

Taxco: Taxco is a beautiful colonial city famous for silver.

Program Costs:

Not included in the program fee are:

  • 10% of net ISU tuition (students are eligible for 90% Study Abroad Tuition Aid) plus designated fees
  • Airfare, incidentals, individual travel

Students make their own travel arrangements and meet the group at the Mexico City airport. Cost is about $600 for roundtrip airfare from Des Moines to Mexico City.

A pre-departure orientation program is required for participation in the program. All students selected receive a packet of information from UNINTER with host family name and address and contact information.

Application

The application deadline for spring semester is October 1 and before spring break for fall semester.

Please submit application to:

Study Abroad Center
3224 Memorial Union
Ames, IA 50011-1133
(515) 294-6792
studyabroad@iastate.edu

For more information

For more information, see the handbook (.pdf) or contact:

Nancy T. Guthrie
Study Abroad Advisor
23224 Memorial Union
Ames, IA 50011-1130
(515) 294-6792 or 294-8036
nguthrie@iastate.edu