Study in Mexico

Students will enroll in SPN 394 (3 credits) during Spring 2027. The prerequisite for SPN 394 is SPN 202, 215 or permission from an instructor. Both native and non-native speakers of Spanish are encouraged to apply. 

The class will meet weekly throughout the spring semester, and then you'll take your learning beyond the classroom during spreak break in Oaxaca, Mexico! The course brings together Spanish language, Mexican culture and introductory marketing concepts through an immersive, interdisciplinary experience. You'll engage with the people and culture of Oaxaca through personal interviews, oral narratives, readings, media and reflection, all while applying what you've learned in the classroom.

This course fulfills the Explorations Beyond the Classroom component of University Studies as well as the Applied Learning requirement for the Spanish major. Classes in Mexico will take place at the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juarez Oaxaca (UABJO) in Oaxaca City. 

Location 

The home base for the trip will be the capital of Oaxaca — the city of Oaxaca. There, students will explore its many markets, gardens, zócalos and historic buildings. Students will also have the opportunity to learn how to cook traditional Oaxacan dishes, see how traditional wooden figurines are made, and visit many cultural sites. All students will stay with a local Oaxacan family, and each student will be assigned a conversation partner who is a student at the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juarez Oaxaca (UABJO). 

Additionally, students will visit sites outside the city, including Teotitlán del Valle, Hierve el Agua and Monte Albán. Teotitlán del Valle, founded in 1465 by the Zapotecs, has managed to preserve the Zapotec culture and language, and is known for its hand-woven rugs and delicious mole. Monte Albán is an archeological site dating back 10,000 years. Hierve el Agua boasts natural rock formations in the shape of waterfalls over cliffs, natural pools, and guided hiking trails.  

One day will be devoted to directly experiencing how microloans to women help support and uplift indigenous communities near Oaxaca City. We will also take a daytrip to Oaxaca's Sierra Norte for an unforgettable hike through a lush cloud forest. Along the way, we'll cross a suspension bridge, navigate rocky trails, admire sweeping mountain vistas and savor a homemade meal in a local Indigenous community.