Summer 2010

May 15 - July 17, 2010

Sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese in the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This nine-week program, organized in collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Quéretaro (UAQ), affords students the opportunity to make rapid progress in elementary and second-year Spanish in a Spanish-speaking setting.  In order to supplement and enrich the classroom experience, students will live with families in Querétaro and participate in organized field trips.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE: 
Arrival                                                   
Orientation                                           
Intensive Session I                             
Mid-program break                            
Intensive Session II                            
Departure from homestay                

Where does it take place?

Querétaro, about 3 hours north of Mexico City, is one of Mexico's most charming old cities. It is blessed with what many consider an ideal climate - sunny and warm in the afternoon but cool enough for sound sleeping at night, all year round. With just under a million inhabitants, the city is an important economic and cultural center and has been so since the 1530’s. Yet, the city has an easygoing environment, especially along the lovely andadores (pedestrian malls) in the large colonial district. Nightlife revolves around the many plazas surrounded by beautiful historic buildings and lined with small cafes and restaurants.  The states of Querétaro and nearby Guanajuato can be explored easily through daytrips for hiking, bathing in thermal springs, and visiting nearby colonial villages.  The Bajío region is a short drive from archaeological sites, like the pyramids of Teotihuacán and many notable natural and cultural attractions.

What can I study?

This program is designed to allow students to take two intensive courses at the 100 and 200 levels.  Students will be required to enroll in eight (8) semester credits from the following courses:

SPN 101	Elementary Spanish I	4 cr.
SPN 102	Elementary Spanish II	4 cr.
SPN 201	Second Year Spanish I	4 cr.
SPN 202	Second Year Spanish II	4 cr.

Each course will last four weeks, with one week between the 4-week sessions to allow for travel.  In the first session, SPN 101, 102 and 201 will be offered; in the second session, SPN 102, 201 and 202 will be offered.  There are three possible combinations of courses: 101-102, 102-201 and 201-202.

The process of learning Spanish on-site is both exciting and demanding.  Though students will have daily opportunities to put their Spanish into practice, both in the Mexican homes where they will live and in interactions with other residents of Querétaro, they must be prepared to work hard in order to get maximum benefit from this experience.

Class size is significantly smaller than Spanish courses traditionally offered on the MSU campus.  Given this, students must recognize that these courses are significantly more participatory and that they may be required to devote more hours than their counterparts if their levels of Spanish are below the group average.  Students may be asked to move up or down a level from their pre-evaluated academic placement.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

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

Where will I live?

Housing will be arranged for students by our local resident director, including a family homestay with three meals per day.  In most cases, one student will be placed per family in order for each student to have the maximum immersion experience possible.  Students will be responsible for their own laundry.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Jade Sims
Academic Advising Specialist
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
242 Old Horticulture Bldg.
Phone:  (517) 353-0769, ext. 141

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 eight to ten weeks is 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.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

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.

How much does it cost?

The program fee for 2008 was $1,819 and included the following:

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

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs were estimated at $1,785 for 2008.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, 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 tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

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.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu