Freshman Seminar in Mexico

Summer 2009 cancelled

On-campus orientation: July 13 - July 14, 2009
On site in Mexico: July 15 - July 25, 2009

On-campus follow-up meetings throughout fall semester 2009

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office of Study Abroad

What's this seminar about?

The seminar features immersion in and interactive exploration of Mexican social diversity and cultural heritage in the unique setting of Oaxaca. Classroom experiences before, during and after travel to Mexico will be enhanced with excursions to museums, community organizations, and culturally and historically important sites. Academic work will consist of written assignments on course topics and readings in the course pack. Round-trip group transportation from East Lansing to Oaxaca is included.

Where does it take place?

Most activities will take place in the beautiful city of Oaxaca. The program includes at least one day trip to nearby cultural sites.

What can I study?

Students earn two credits for UGS 102 and receive a numeric (4.0-scale) grade for their work. Credit earned in UGS 102 counts as elective credit, regardless of students' major or area of interest (although some majors may allow the course to fulfill a requirement). UGS 102 is designed to provide students with an introduction to scholarship and inquiry in international contexts. Special disciplinary-based topics are focused to develop intercultural abilities and deepen international understandings.

Students will enroll for one of the two thematic tracks. Enrollment in these tracks will be on a first-come, first-served basis with every effort being made to give students their first preference. The specific topics covered in each seminar depend on the faculty members teaching them.

Track 1: Cultura de la resistencia | Culture of Resistance: Art & Social Justice in Oaxaca

The history of Mexico is one of cultural exchange. Oaxaca, known in the US as the home of los Días de los Muertos (Days of the Dead), remains a region abundant in Indigenous history and culture. As such, this course will investigate the relationship between disparate cultural, linguistic, and political traditions in Oaxaca. We will explore the following questions, amongst others: After nearly 500 years of globalization and colonization, do Indigenous people continue to live their lives in 'traditional' ways? What function do art and culture play in the daily lives of the Mexican and Oaxacan people? How can the arts be used as a tool to create a more just society? Is there a difference between 'popular culture,' 'mass culture,' 'folk art,' and 'fine art'? Living in a society where nearly everything is mass-produced, what is the importance of preserving handmade artistic and cultural traditions?

By looking at the cultural history of Mexico, in particular the state of Oaxaca, students will investigate the complex realities of a globalized society. Students will experience the distinctly Oaxacan way of life by visiting Pre-Columbian sites, meeting with local artists and activists, and producing their own artwork. This track will use cultural and artistic practices as the matrix to study contemporary Mexico.

Track 2: Learning in Oaxaca: A Case-study into the Mexican Education System

Oaxaca is known as a beautiful tourist destination rich with Indigenous culture, crafts, language, and history. However there is also a part of Oaxaca hidden from tourists' eyes. Oaxaca is also home to one of the most progressive teacher movements in the world. Beginning the early 1980s, Indigenous teachers and administrators have publicly protested against low wages, poor school facilities, and the marginalization of rural education. No longer focusing solely on their schools' needs, the teachers have become the voice for Indigenous communities in the state. For nearly a decade, teachers have continued to demand better education for themselves, their communities, and their students.

This course will examine the past twenty-five years of Oaxacan education. We will discuss educational activism and investigate how teachers have protested against institutions that continually negate rural Oaxacan educational and community needs. Through dialogue with local activists, visiting school sites, and speaking with local unions and organizations, students will gain insight as to how a group of rural Indigenous teachers have made a global wave and garnered solidarity with educators around the world.

What are the requirements?

To be eligible, applicants must have first-year freshman status at Michigan State University beginning in fall 2009 AND have paid their Advanced Enrollment Deposit (AED). That is, a student must be admitted to and attending MSU for the first time as a full-time college student during the 2009-10 academic year.

It is strongly recommended that students apply early as acceptance into the program is on a rolling basis and the program may fill to capacity (24 students) before the priority application deadline.

Applicants' participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for seminar participation.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please email Mr. Jim Lucas.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in modest hotels.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Mark Davis
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-1315

Mark Davis coordinates study abroad programs in Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain at MSU's Office of Study Abroad. His academic background (Universidad de los Andes, Venezuela, and the University of Chicago) is in the social sciences, most particularly in socio-cultural anthropology. He served as director of a study abroad program in Venezuela for five years where he also taught Cross-Cultural Communication and Spanish-American Culture and Civilization.

Dylan Miner
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Phone: (517) 884-1323

Dylan Miner is an Assistant Professor in the innovative Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at MSU. He also holds appointments in Chicano/Latino Studies, American Indian Studies, and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Dylan is an artist and historian concerned with contemporary Latina/o and Indigenous cultural expressions throughout North and Latin America. Dylan has published numerous articles in Latina/o and Indigenous community publications, as well as academic journals and encyclopedias in North America and Europe.

Dylan has spent extensive time in Mexico City, la frontera (the US-Mexico borderlands), and Aztlán (the US Southwest). He is currently producing a comic book on Roberto Acuña and Jesusita Novarro. Dylan's artwork has been exhibited at the Institute for American Indian Arts (Santa Fe), La Galería de la Raza (San Francisco), the Cherokee Heritage Center (Oklahoma), and Art Museum of Southwestern Manitoba (Canada). He may be contacted at dylanminer.com.

Estrella Torrez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Phone: (517) 884-1327

Estrella Torrez is an Assistant Professor in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at MSU, where she is affiliated with the Center for Gender in Global Context, Chicano/Latino Studies, and Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Estrella works with migrant farmworker communities, many of who migrate to the US from Mexico and Central America. Her research examines how migrant and immigrant parents use language and culture as a form of resistance to dominant society. Additionally, she works with public schools to create curricula, which encourages academic success for Latino children.

Estrella's academic background includes a PhD (New Mexico) in Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies, an MA (New Mexico) in Bilingual Education and Multicultural Education, and a BS in Elementary Education (Western Michigan). Her academic interests focus on heritage language acquisition, identity formation, critical pedagogies, and creating an equitable learning environment for students of color. She has worked in multiple educational settings with students of diverse backgrounds, including work in Mexico.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of twelve weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program's itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $1,459 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• overnight stay, meals and orientation program at MSU
• transportation (Roundtrip travel from MSU campus to Detroit Metro Airport; round-trip airfare Detroit-Mexico-Detroit)
• lodging while in Mexico
• breakfast while in Mexico
• welcome and farewell dinners in Mexico
• coursepack of class materials
• excursions and field trips
• accident and sickness insurance

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• additional meals
• academic supplies
• local transportation during free time
• passport application fee ($100)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for two credits. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU's Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Freshman Seminar Abroad (FSA) Scholarships

Students participating on an FSA program may be eligible for up to three awards created just for these programs. General information about the awards is available below.

Freshman Seminar Abroad Study Abroad Scholarships: The Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE) and the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) offer a limited number of scholarships specifically for eligible FSA participants. In all cases, to be eligible for the award a student must be (1) admitted to MSU with their deposit paid, (2) have submitted their application to an FSA program, and (3) have on file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at the MSU Financial Aid Office. Students must submit a scholarship application form.

Awards funded through the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education (APUE) and Office of Financial Aid are for up to $2,000 toward the program fee (note: if the program fee is less than $2,000, then students will only be given an amount equal to the cost of the program fee). These scholarships are designated for Pell grant eligible students who have demonstrated high academic merit. The priority deadline for APUE awards is June 9, 2009.

Awards funded through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) are for $250, and require applicants to have a 2.5 GPA or above and demonstrate financial need. The deadline for OSA awards is June 9, 2009.

Please note that it may take several weeks after the deadlines to process and select the recipients of these awards.

Freshman Seminar Abroad Honors College Scholarship: MSU's Honors College offers a limited number of awards specifically for FSA participants who are also incoming Honors College students. Scholarships will be awarded by the Honors College to the first eligible students who register for each program, so apply early!

How do I apply?

The application is available online.

Once admitted into Michigan State University , you may submit your application to the MSU Office of Study in person, by fax, or by mail. A complete application requires your signature on the application form (and a parent's/guardian's signature, if you are under age 18 at the time of application). A $100 application fee is required. You will receive an electronic bill (e-bill) from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the application fee, which is applied to the cost of the seminar and is non-refundable once you accept admission into the seminar. If you are denied admission into the seminar, you will receive a full refund of the $100 application fee.

Deadlines for application depend on seminar departure dates and logistical planning, and applications are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. The following Priority Deadlines should be taken into consideration when applying for a 2008 seminar:

The Office of Study Abroad suggests you apply well before the priority deadline date. Faculty will accept students into seminars until they are full or logistical factors make it impossible to add additional participants. To increase your chances of being accepted into your desired seminar, you should apply as early as possible.

Admission into these seminars minimally requires you maintain your status as an MSU freshman and be in good academic and disciplinary standing.

You will be notified of your acceptance status by an official letter from the Office of Study Abroad. Participation is contingent on maintaining your status as admitted student for fall 2008. Your participation may be denied or your participation approval may be revoked if your conduct before departure raises doubts as to your suitability for seminar participation.

If admitted into a seminar, you will receive an official acceptance packet in the mail that includes a Decision Form, Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization, Statement of Responsibility, and a Travel Permission for Minors (required for participants under age 18 at the time of the seminar's departure). To confirm your admission into a seminar, you must sign and return the forms included in this packet to the Office of Study Abroad within two weeks of the date of your acceptance letter or you may lose your space in the seminar. Students admitted into a seminar less than six (6) weeks prior to the seminar's departure date must sign and return the forms upon receipt.

Once you return the forms indicating your acceptance of admission you will be billed a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit. This deposit will be posted and due on your student account and must be paid by the due date indicated on the e-bill. It will be applied to the program fee. If you do not pay the application fee and/or deposit by the due date indicated on the e-bill, the fees will accrue monthly late charges until paid in full.

Students who are wait-listed because a seminar is filled to capacity will not be billed the $200 deposit until formally accepted. The application fee will be refunded to wait-listed students who are unable to participate due to seminar space limitations.

Billing notification will be sent to your MSU e-mail account, so you must check it regularly! To activate your MSU e-mail account visit New Students: Activating your MSU NetID. This site will provide you with instructions on how to activate your account. You will then be able to view your bill and determine when payment is due.

Further details can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook available on line (including information about withdrawing from a seminar).

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

What's next?

Visit the OSA Web site

Check out the following Additional Resources:

Office of Financial Aid
252 Student Services

MSU Travel Clinic
East Circle Drive

Academic Advisers
Located in each individual college/department

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
120 Bessey Hall

Area Studies Centers
International Center

MSU Global Access
Information about the world - its regions and peoples and important international issues