The Universidad Internacional, Cuernavaca

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• Program Information
• Application Information
• Financial Information
• Contact Information

Program Information

Study Site

Universidad Internacional is located in Cuernavaca, the capital of the State of Morelos, about 80 miles from Mexico City. It is a small city with approximately 600,000 inhabitants and has many advantages of a large city. Because of its mild climate year-round, it is known as “The City of Eternal Spring.” Within close reach of the city are important archaeological zones of the great Mesoamerican cultures and architecture of the Colonial period. Cuernavaca’s proximity to Mexico City and Acapulco affords you the opportunity to take full advantage of the capital and several resort areas. You may visit Mexico City’s museums, prehispanic ruins and colonial buildings, theatres, markets, nightlife, and the renown beaches of Mexico.

Curriculum

We will begin with on-campus orientation, followed by a two-week program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. You will engage in intensive Spanish language study; practice culturally appropriate client engagement and assessment strategies; attend seminars with Mexican university students as part of a core course on Mexican history, culture, and politics, education, social services, and other relevant topics; visit local social service agencies such as the human rights commission, substance abuse treatment center, orphanage, and medical facility; participate in community service projects; and live with a Mexican host family. Language classes will be limited to no more than five participants.

Fiesta in Mexico!!

Credit

BSW students may earn up to 4 hours of undergraduate elective credit or
3 hours of graduate elective credit. MSW students may earn up to 3 hours of graduate elective credit. Social work practitioners may earn 36 hours of NASW approved continuing education credit. This course may be taken for a grade or credit/no credit. Credit will be transcripted as University of Utah credit; undergraduates may take credit through the departments of Social Work, Family and Consumer Studies, or the Ethnic Studies Program. Graduate credit is currently available through the College of Social Work.

Faculty

Christina Gringeri, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the College of Social Work, teaching courses on Social Policy, Health Policy, and Qualitative Methods in Social Inquiry. Armando Solorzano is Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Studies and the Ethnic Studies Program; he is a native Spanish speaker. Drs. Gringeri and Solorzano will co-teach the core course in Cuernavaca with a colleague from the Universidad Internacional. The core course will be delivered in Spanish and English, and will be attended by Mexican university students as well.

Accommodation

Students will be housed with a Mexican family. The host family will provide a room and all meals. Room & board with the host family can be arranged by individual request directly through the Universidad Internacional for those who will be in Cuernavaca before or after the program.

Program Schedules

Friday, July 6	Depart Salt Lake City, Arrive in Mexico City, travel to Cuernavaca
Saturday, July 7	Orientation in Cuernavaca
Monday, July 9	Classes begin
Friday, July 27	Last day of classes
Saturday, June 26	Depart Mexico

The Sun Temple

Application Information

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
• Minimum age of 18
• Individuals with beginning to advanced Spanish proficiency are invited to apply.
• Enrolled BSW or MSW student, or social work professional, or by approval of the Program Directors.

Application Deadline

March 2, 2007.  Late applications will be accepted with an additional $50 fee through April 2, 2007 or until program is full.

Application Process

• Students must submit a complete application, including a personal statement, letter of reference, and a photocopy of the first page of their passport.
• The application and $500 initial program payment should be presented or mailed to the Cashier's Window, 165 Student Services Building. (Please be sure to include your U of U ID number). The cashier will issue a receipt and stamp your application "Paid." Return the application materials to the International Center. If you do not have a U of U ID number, please apply directly to the International Center. All applications will be reviewed by the program director and International Center staff to determine eligibility. Applicants will be notified by email of their acceptance into the program.
• Additional materials, including a payment schedule and orientation information, will subsequently be mailed to all participants.
• If an applicant is determined ineligible for program participation the $500 payment will be refunded in full.
• U of U students, students at other colleges or universities, alumni and qualified members of our community are welcome to apply to participate in U of U study abroad programs.
• Questions about the application process?  Contact the International Center.

A beautiful sunset

Financial Information

Program Cost

$1880

Includes:Tuition, room and board, international health insurance.

Does Not Include: Airfare, airport tax, passport, personal expenses, books, local transportation, independent travel.

Although not anticipated, the program price may change due to fluctuation of currency exchange rates and contracted agencies, or number of participants.

Refund Policy

$200 is non-refundable.  Refunds for withdrawal from the program will be determined by the International Center according to recoverability of incurred costs.

Excursions

Our host university, Universidad Internacional, offers several optional excursions you may choose to participate in on the weekend. These may take you to archaeological sites art museums, and other sites of cultural or historical significance.

Independent Travel

To maximize your stay in Mexico, you may choose to arrive prior to or stay after the dates of the program. For example, some participants may be interested in relaxing at the beach resorts of Acapulco or Puerto Vallarta, exploring the colonial towns of Taxco or Puebla, or enjoying the sites of Mexico City. There are also several attractions within Cuernavaca which you may choose to visit in the late afternoons, evenings or on the weekend.

Pre-departure Orientation

Participants must attend pre-departure orientations held to provide program and cultural information. Participants will be contacted when these are arranged.

Download this information

Pre-Departure Handbook: The International Center would like you to have a safe and healthy experience abroad.  Therefore, we are asking that you read carefully the Pre-Departure Handbook then sign and return the required documents (at the end of the handbook) to the International Center:

200 S. Central Campus Drive
Union 159
Salt Lake City UT 84112
FAX: 801-581-5914

This information is available for printout in a brochure form.  If you would like to download (pdf/Adobe Acrobat) a copy, please click here.

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