Program Overview
The program “Liberal Arts, Migration and Social Change” is a unique study abroad opportunity for students to learn from a diverse set of Mexicans about contemporary issues facing Mexico. The program aims to help you understand the connections between migration and trasnationality by learning directly from diverse communities that are organizing for positive social change around issues of race and colorism, ethnicity, socio-economic class, gender, sexuality, religion, and the environment.

Learn more and apply to this program

Highlights

• Learn about communities that are responding to the forces of globalization and migration and fomenting positive social change around issues of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, sexuality, economics, politics, and the environment.
• Frequent guest speakers, excursions, and hands-on active learning to immerse you in the community and culture.
• Complete a for-credit internship at a local nonprofit that serves the community in which you are studying
• Participate on a program run by an organization dedicated to social justice, which uplifts the voices of underrepresented and marginalized peoples in all programs.
• Homestays with welcoming and friendly folks in Cuernavaca. Housing requests for gay and lesbian-friendly, sober/dry homestays, and vegetarian-friendly are all available!

Courses & Internships
Your coursework is in English, all levels of Spanish speakers are welcome, from beginner to bilingual! (The exception is for students that would like to complete an internship with a local organization. Internships require intermediate to advanced Spanish language for placement.). Students will choose 4-5 courses:

One Required Course, Choose from:

• Introduction to Cultural Studies (Cross Cultural Studies 100)
• Intercultural Communication (Communication 329)
• Topics in Intercultural Development: Mexico (Interdisciplinary Studies 492; prerequsitie CCS 100 or COM 329)

Additional course choices by concentration
Please note that you can mix and match if you are not in one particular concentration. Choose up to three additional courses after your required intercultural course: 

Migration Studies Concentration

• Independent Study or Internship (for students with advanced Spanish)
• (Im)Migration, Gender & Social Change (POL 357/WST 352)
• Undocumented, Ecofeminist & Queer: Contemporary Latin American Liberation Theologies (RLN 344/WST 324)

Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Concentration

• Contemporary Latin American Women: Texts and Voices (SPA/WST 335; only in Spanish)
• (Im)Migration, Gender & Social Change (POL 357/WST 352)
• Undocumented, Ecofeminist & Queer: Contemporary Latin American Liberation Theologies (RLN 344/WST 324)
• Queer History in Latin American (HIS/WST 388)

Liberal Arts Concentration

• Environmental Biology (BIO 118)
• (Im)Migration, Gender & Social Change (POL 357/WST 352)
• Independent Study (various disciplines)
• Internship (various disciplines; intermediate to advanced Spanish proficiency required)  
• Latin Dance (WEL 119; 1 credit)
• Pre-Columbian, Colonial, and Contemporary Mexican Art (ART 231)
• Spanish: Beginning to Advanced Spanish (See the list under the Spanish Concentration)
• Undocumented, Ecofeminist & Queer: Contemporary Latin American Liberation Theologies (RLN 344/WST 324)

Spanish Language Concentration

• Beginning Spanish I & II (SPA 111, SPA 112)
• Intermediate Spanish I & II (SPA 211, SPA 212)
• Spanish for Health Care Professionals (SPA 218)
• Business Spanish (SPA 220)
• Spanish for Heritage Speakers I & II (SPA 225, SPA 335)
• Intermediate Conversation & Composition (SPA 311)
• Conversations in Cultural Context (SPA 316)
• Contemporary Mexican Literature (SPA 334)
• Contemporary Latin American Women: Texts & Voices (SPA 335)
• Mexican Civilizations & Cultures (SPA 337)
• Latin American Literature (SPA 356)
• Internship (SPA 399)
• Advanced Conversation & Composition (SPA 411)

Student Life
The Augsburg CGEE Study Center in Mexico, nicknamed "Casa Augsburg," is a 15-minute walk from downtown Cuernavaca and the main city plaza, in the neighborhood of San Antón. CGEE is well established in San Antón and has many friends and close connections in the neighborhood, including many of the homestay families. Casa Augsburg is located at the top of one of the large ravines that runs through the city, offering a dramatic view from the nearby bridge that leads to downtown. Because of the ravine, there is a 100-foot waterfall right in the neighborhood, a local eco-tourist attraction. Right across the bridge, students will find a large public garden/park, an independent movie theater, the Cathedral, and several popular cafés.

This program includes regional travel (included in the program fee). Weekend excursions includes locations such as: Puebla, Teotihuacan, Toluca, a volcano, and a natural water park. Seminars and homestays in rural Indigenous communities, and a short seminar in Mexico City are also included.

Student Life
This program is ideal for anyone whose career goals include working with immigrant populations in the U.S. and/or as grassroots activists or working internationally.  Learning from direct contact with grassroots groups working for social change, especially indigenous, feminist, and LGBTQ+ leaders will be an invaluable asset for anyone interested in graduate studies in related fields. The program is also perfect for anyone interested in completing general education requirements in Fine Arts, Lab Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, & Religion, as well as Spanish majors, activists, or anyone interested in migration and social change. 
 
For More Information

• Request Information from us
• Email globaled@augsburg.edu or call +1-612-330-1159
• Learn more and apply to this program