Dates: June 13- August 9, 2013 (8 weeks)
Location: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Coordinated by: Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Sociales y Desarrollo / Universidad de Zacatecas
Endorsed by: Guatemalan Ministry of Education
Program fee: $3,200
About the study abroad program:
Immerse yourself in Guatemalan culture and engage with the area’s vibrant indigenous communities while studying the migration phenomenon facing Central America and the United States and its correlation with socio-economic development.
The study abroad is coordinated by the Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Sociales y Desarrollo in Guatemala, and students will receive transferable academic credit through the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. They will also receive a “Certificate in Migration and Development” endorsed by the Guatemalan Ministry of Education. The program’s 2 courses include:
- “Migration and Development” (3 credits) addresses the root causes of contemporary Central American migrations. It explores their social, economic, territorial, and political impacts while situating these concepts within a theoretical and historical context. The course concludes by examining the challenges of establishing the “right not to migrate” in a region marked by forced migration.
- “Advanced Spanish for the Social Sciences” (3 credits) focuses on elevating students’ written and spoken Spanish abilities to professional proficiency and reinforcing vocabulary and topics related to migration and development.
Program highlights:
- Quetzaltenango is a prime location for studying migration and development– it is a modern city surrounded by rural, indigenous communities that boast some of Guatemala’s highest migration and poverty rates.
- Weekly field excursions to surrounding communities marked by emigration and development challenges
- Live with a Guatemalan host family (housing and most meals included in program fees)
- Opportunities to visit Mayan ruins, relax in hot springs, hike volcanoes, explore coffee fincas, and visit one of Central America’s largest markets
** Advanced Spanish is a primary requirement for acceptance into the program. The “Migration and Development” course is conducted entirely in Spanish and writing assignments and exams must be completed in Spanish. The Advanced Spanish course is designed to refine composition and advanced grammar skills for those with a strong language background.
The program has a minimum enrollment requirement of 8 students and will be canceled if this minimum requirement is not met. To guarantee small class size and greater personalized attention, the program also has a cap of 20 students.
For more information on how to apply click here.
Study "Migration and Development" in Guatemala summer 2013 