Dickinson students are encouraged to consider additional
opportunities to study in Latin America including
The Dickinson Mendoza Center, IES-Quito, Ecuador, CIEE - São Paulo, Brazil, and IES - Buenos
Aires, Argentina. Please visit http://dickinson.studioabroad.com for
information on these and other Dickinson and Dickinson partner
programs or contact the Center for Global Study and Engagement at global@dickinson.edu.
Querétaro, Mexico
Querétaro, Mexico, located about 120 miles northwest of Mexico City, is
expanding, thanks to the growth of industry, but the heart of the city
is still distinctively Mexican/Latin American. Its neighborhoods are
crisscrossed by cobblestone streets, making it an inviting location in
which to hear and speak Spanish. Students live with home-stay families
while taking classes at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ).
Field trips to cities such as Guanajuato, Zihuatanejo, Oaxaca and Mexico
City are typically scheduled, along with academic excursions to
pre-Columbian archaeological sites like Tula and Teotihuacan.
Querétaro, a city of 600,000 residents located 120 miles
northwest of Mexico City, is a Mexican "state capital," serving as
the center of government for the state of Querétaro. Querétaro is
expanding outward thanks to thte growth of industry, but the heart
of the city is still distinctively Mexican/Latin American. Its
neighborhoods are crisscrossed by cobblestone streets, making it an
inviting location in which to hear and speak Spanish.
One of the most interesting spots in the city center of Querétaro,
a UNESCO world heritage site, is the Plaza de la Independencia.
However, the square is better known to locals as Plaza de los
Perros, a nod to four stone dogs that flank the central
fountain.
For many Americans, knowledge of Mexico begins and ends at popular
tourist resorts. However, by placing program participants directly
into a Mexican university and housing them with local families,
Dickinson's Querétaro program offers students the opportunity to
get intimately acquainted with this nation, its history and its
people.
Universidad Autonóma de Querétaro
The Dickinson program is based at the Universidad Autónoma de
Querétaro (UAQ), a university of more than 15,000 students on two
campuses - one in the city center dating back to the 17th century,
the other a spacious, more modern campus just on the edge of
town.
The university is known for its academic strength in a variety of
subject areas and recently has experienced a great deal of growth
in its College of Business as well as in public/private initiatives
researching water-resource issues.
Academics
Upon arrival, students take a language-proficiency test that
determines their placement in a Spanish language class. They also
enroll in a Latin American studies course taught specifically for
the Dickinson program, for which they receive credit for Latin
American Studies 202. Students also receive one credit for each
course successfully completed at UAQ, up to a maximum of four
course credits.
Students may choose from a wide range of offerings at the
university, in areas such as anthropology, economics, business,
philosophy, literature, sociology and fine arts. All courses are
taught in Spanish.
Internships
Students with a strong command of the Spanish language may elect
to find and complete an internship while in Querétaro. Students
complete the requirements for an internship notation on their
transcript in accordance with the Dickinson College Career Center's
guidelines.
Excursions
Field trips to cities such as Guanajuato, Zihuatanejo, Oaxaca
and Mexico City are typically scheduled, as well as academic
excursions to pre-Columbian archaeological sites like Tula and
Teotihuacan.
On-Site Administration
Students are supported on site by the director of the faculty of
languages and literature at UAQ, who oversees the logistics of the
Dickinson Querétaro program. An additional administrator who is
familiar with UAQ serves as Dickinson's program representative and
helps students with course selection or with other challenges they
may face while studying and living in Mexico.
Housing
Students live and take their meals with carefully selected
Mexican families, giving participants even greater opportunities to
speak Spanish and explore daily life in Mexico. Students commute to
the UAQ campus by walking or using the local bus system.
Quick Facts
Dates Program
Fee* Application
Deadline
Spring
early Jan. to
mid-June $25,800 Sept.
15
* This is the program fee for spring 2011; the program fee for
spring 2012 will correspond to on-campus tuition and fees and will
be determined during spring 2011.
Program Fee Includes
• tuition and fees
• room and board
• pre-departure and on-site orientations
• academic excursions
The program fee does not include primary health insurance, airfare,
passport, visa, immunizations, optional travel, personal expenses,
meals and housing during vacations, books or supplies.
Special Requirements
2.8 GPA
Students must complete Spanish 231 before studying abroad.
Links
Universidad de
Autonoma de Querétaro
Past Dickinson in
Mexico Blog
For more information, contact:
Prof. Kjell Enge, On-Campus Coordinator
Department of Anthropology
P.O. Box 1773
Carlisle, PA 17013-2896
Phone: (717) 245-1207
E-mail: enge@dickinson.edu