California State University, Sacramento
Study Abroad Program
Study in Mexico at the Universidad Iberoamericana
Founded in 1943, the Universidad Iberoamericana is a private institution of higher education in Mexico. It has a current enrollment of over 10,500 students, who are taught by approximately 1900 faculty members, assuring a high level of personal attention. UIA offers coursework in about 30 fields of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Facilities include three cafeterias, an audio visual center, laboratories and workshops for students in many fields, health services, a library containing 208,000 volumes and subscriptions to 1,500 periodicals, a bookstore, an auditorium, and recreational facilities for soccer, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. The university is located on 20 hectars in the Santa Fe area of Mexico City. This capital city offers many cultural and sightseeing opportunities, such as the National Museum of Anthropology, the Ballet Folklorico, the shopping district of La Zona Rosa, magnificent parks, the Zócalo, and the floating flower garden of Xochimilco.
COURSE OFFERINGS
Students wishing to experience Mexico’s educational system while still enrolled at this university have an excellent opportunity through this study abroad program. For students with Spanish proficiency, resident credit at this university is offered for Universidad Iberoamericana courses in the following fields of study at the undergraduate level: Accounting, Art History, Business Administration, Civil Engineering, Communication Sciences, Economics, Electronic Engineering, Graphic Design, History, Information Systems, Interactive Design, International Relations, Latin American Literature, Law, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Nutrition and Food Science, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Software Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, and Textile Design. At the graduate level, courses are offered in: Art Studies, Business Administration, Communications, History, Modern Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Anthropology, and Sociology.
For the student who wants to learn Spanish from the beginning level or improve Spanish language skills, there is an excellent program offering courses in language and various cultural elements.
SPANISH PLACEMENT EXAMINATION
At the beginning of the mandatory orientation at UIA, students will be given the Spanish placement examination (check www.uia.mx/intercambio/ingles/feeds.html for additional details). The exam lasts about three hours. Results of the test will be used in planning the students’ class schedules. Students who score at the beginning or intermediate levels must take classes in the Spanish Language and Latin American Culture Program. There are 180 classroom instruction hours in daily Spanish classes and a supplemental 24 hours of field trip time. Students in this program take two other complementary courses in areas such as art, history, literature, and political, economic, and social analysis. Students who score at the advanced level may take classes in regular departments and/or participate in the Spanish Language and Latin American Culture Program.
HOUSING
There are no dormitories on the UIA campus. Those students who are interested may apply for a host family. The UIA housing service will place students in host families two to a room with bathroom facilities. The cost of staying in a host family is about $1,600 for one semester. Meals are not included in this price. Some housemothers may be willing to provide meals; however, this will incur an additional charge. Otherwise, students may be able to arrange kitchen use or may eat their meals at the cafeterias at UIA. Those students interested in having the housemother provide meals should indicate this on the housing form when applying for a host family. Single rooms may be arranged, when available; however, there will be an additional charge for a single room. For students arriving early (prior to the orientation) or leaving later (after classes have ended), there will be an additional charge per night. Students who choose not to apply for a host family will need to make their own housing arrangements. See the UIA website for additional details (http://www.uia.mx/intercambio/pdf/packet_2006_2007.pdf).
SPECIAL SERVICES
The Cooperation & Exchange Office of UIA organizes excursions for students, mostly on Saturdays. These mostly full-day tours are led by excellent guides and go to such places as downtown Mexico City, the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Tula, Puebla, and Taxco. Students do have to pay for these excursions, if they wish to participate.Dates for the excursions are announced at the orientation at UIA.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should have upper divisionstanding with a declared major or classifiedgraduate standing at this university by the time of departure, good academic records,and a 2.75 cumulative grade point average for undergraduates and a 3.0 for graduates or better at the time of the application deadline. Applicants who want to take courses in Spanish in their field of study must have completed two years of college Spanish or the equivalent (certified by our Department of Foreign Languages). There is no Spanish language requirement for applicants who want to study Spanish through the Spanish Language and Latin American Culture Program. The applicant also should be prepared to accept the challenge of study in a country with an educational system different from our own. The Writing Proficiency Examination must have been passed at this university prior to departure and, in most cases for those students who want to take classes in the regular departments at UIA, the lower division courses of the appropriate field of study must have been completed prior to participation in this program. Applications will be accepted for onesemester or one academic year. Students are required to be full-time while studying in Mexico and, thus, take the equivalent of 15 units during the semester for undergraduates and 12 units per semester for graduates.
CALENDAR
The Universidad Iberoamericana operates on a semester system calendar similar to that of this university. The mandatory fall semester orientation takes place towards the beginning of August just before classes start. Fall semester classes end around mid-December. The mandatory spring semester orientation is held early in January right before classes begin. Spring semester classes end around mid-May.
SCHOLARSHIPS
For information on scholarships for study abroad, you should register for and attend a scholarship workshop in the Office of Global Education.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Students accepted to the program will pay the usual California State University, Sacramento fees, remaineligible for financial aid (except work/study), if otherwise qualified, and receive resident credit just as if they were attending classes at this university. (Please note that equivalency of courses falls under the jurisdiction of the academic department.) The Universidad Iberoamericana has agreed to waive non-resident tuition, making this a particularly attractive opportunity for participants. Students will pay for their travel to and from Mexico, room and board, books and incidentals. In addition, each student must have the required insurance during his or her stay in Mexico. UIA uses a host family program to house international students. Expenses for a semester at UIA are estimated at the following: usual undergraduate fees - $1,640 (graduates would pay the graduate fee), room (shared room) - $1,600, meals - $1,250, airfare - $650, insurance - $200, incidentals (including local transportation, books, clothing, entertainment) - $ 1,200. Total $6,540. This estimate is given for planning purposes only and is subject to changes from currency fluctuation, inflation, and fee changes. Keep in mind that the cost to obtain a passport and a student visa is not included in this estimate.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT THESE RESOURSES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
The Office of Global Education home page: http://www.csus.edu/oge
The Universidad Iberoamericana home page: http://www.uia.mx
UIA information for international students (English version): http://www.uia.mx/intercambio/default.html
Courses
offered within UIA regular departments: http://www.uia.mx,
access “Licenciaturas”,
the appropriate
university department, the field of study, and “Plan de estudios”
Courses offered within the Spanish Language and Latin American Culture Program: http://www.uia.mx, access “Intercambio Estudiantil” and “Summer Program for International Students”
Information on Mexico City: http://www.mexicocity.com.mx/mexcity.html
Information on Mexico: http://www.lonelyplanet.com
To obtain an application or to speak with a study abroad advisor, please call the Office of Global Education at 278-6686 or go to Lassen Hall, Room 2304. Applications, references, and transcripts should be sent to the address below. The deadline for materials to be received is March 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester. Please note that there is an interview process for this application, also.
| Monica
G. Freeman Coordinator, International Programs Office of Global Education Lassen Hall, Room 2304 or California State University, Sacramento 6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819-6012 |
Janis
Silvers |
last updated 9-06
