Location:

Cuernavaca, Mexico

Program Type:

Intern Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Break, Spring Semester, Summer, Winter Semester

Work Types:

Social Sciences

Program Overview

Program Description:

We invite you to experience the semester of a lifetime in beautiful Cuernavaca Mexico to examine what a peaceful and just Mexican society could look like. You will study Mexican history, social issues and Spanish language all alongside Mexican students. You will be hosted at the Quest Mexico organization’s house while taking university accredited courses at the beautiful UAEM (Universidad Autonoma Del Estado de Morelos) and participating in service learning projects.

Program Courses include but are not limited to: The History of Mexico – pre and post revolution with Dr. Ross Gandy Social Psychology in Mexico -- with a Service Learning Component in addition with Dr. Jaime Brito. Spanish Courses – All levels through CELE. ***Pre-requisite for the program is Intro Spanish

Quest Mexico is where students can go to learn and earn university credits through the Universidad Autonomo del Estado de Morelos. These programs can be just two weeks, over the summer, or the fall and winter semesters. The university will credit students who do a semester abroad with Quest Mexico. Some courses can be taken at the university, and learning Spanish as you go is a key element. Quest Mexico arranges for participants to meet people and hear their stories. People connected to the program are social justice and environmental activists, educators, refugees, who who have experienced poverty, racism, sexism, and oppression, students, labor, and community leaders, and community workers. Program themes focus on social justice and peace, and may include matters of gender, race, class, sexuality, economics, and ecology. The safety of participants as well as respect for the people are primary concerns. Most programs take place in Cuernavaca, but can also be done in the city of Puebla.

Setting Description:

The Quest Mexico house is up in the hills overlooking the city core of Cuernavaca, "La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera" or "City of the Eternal Spring". The people settling in the valleys of modern Morelos around 1220 developed a highly productive agricultural society based at Cuauhnáhuac, the original name of Cuernavaca meaning Place at the Edge of the Forest. When the Spanish arrived, the Tlahuica were fiercely loyal to the Aztec empire, savagely resisting the advance of the conquistadors. In April 1521, they were finally overcome, and Cortés torched the city. Destroying the city pyramid, Cortés used the stones to build a fortress-palace on the pyramid's base. He also built from the rubble the Catedral de la Asunción, another fortress-like structure in a walled compound.

Cost:

The full semester cost will be roughly $4500.00 dollars including tuition, room and board, food, travel, internship placement and pretty well everything except personal spending and airfare.