This study abroad program in Mexico is offered by the Honors College as part of the Integrated Minor in Human Rights and Resources and includes four weeks of experiential learning and Spanish language instruction in Mexico City and Oaxaca during the summer of 2025. Honors students can apply for this program without being part of the Integrated Minor in Human Rights and Resources.
The Integrated Minor in Human Rights and Resources focuses on how the unequal distribution of natural and cultural resources shapes human experience, both within and beyond the traditional language of human rights. Topics include the management of limited natural resources, protection of minority languages, public transport in the megacity, the life of indigenous peoples in modern-day Mexico, all in the context of an ongoing education in the history of Mexico.
The training and experiences gained by students who complete this program will help prepare them to make unique contributions in their chosen professional fields. For students pursuing careers in the sciences, the minor will allow them to place their disciplinary expertise in a larger humanistic framework. For students whose career paths lie outside of the sciences, the minor offers an opportunity to think about pressing global issues such as climate change in the context of specific forms of disciplinary knowledge, including those drawn from the STEM-affiliated fields.
Interested students can learn more here (official site) and here (student Instagram account). This program is accepting new students on a rolling basis—applications will be reviewed as they are submitted.
**Please note that tuition for the Integrated Minor is separate from Learning Abroad program costs. Costs listed on this page include the Summer 2025 portion of the Integrated Minor.**
Faculty Director: Dr. Christopher Mead, Associate Professor, Honors College.
Administrative Support: Dominic Pecoraro, Associate Director of Special Programs, Honors College.
“Studying abroad is an amazing experience but specifically going to Mexico and seeing all they have to offer (truly underrated) is honestly the best time. Human Rights and Resources is an education I think anyone in absolutely any career pathway could benefit from and just makes you such a more well-rounded person.”
– Sydney Gillman
Global: Mexico
The global track in Mexico includes a Spanish language component. The Mexico cohort is comprised of up to 15 Honors students from any major.
Coursework Schedule:
- Fall 2024: HONOR 3601 – Intellectual Traditions of Latin America (3 credits)
- Spring 2025: HONOR 2285 – Energy and Society (3 credits)
- Summer 2025: HONOR 2117 – Intellectual Traditions, Mexico-Focused (3 credits) + HONOR 2900 – Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion (2 credits) + SPAN 2600 – Spanish Conversation (1 credit)
- +1 pre-approved minor elective – Human Rights & Resources-focused, completed in any semester prior to graduation (3 credits)
- +1 pre-approved minor elective – Latin America or Spanish language and culture-focused, completed in any semester prior to graduation (3 credits)
Summer fieldwork: 4-week summer intensive in Oaxaca and Mexico City
Cost: ~$5500 (including tuition, fees, room/board, etc.) plus airfare (~$1000) for the summer intensive; scholarships are available.
Applications for the 2024-25 cohort submitted after May 3 will be reviewed on a rolling basis through the summer.
“Having class throughout the year with a group of motivated students who were all looking forward to experiencing our time Mexico helped me create so many wonderful connections. The U can feel like such a big school and even the Honors College can feel intimidating and it was amazing to have a smaller community to rely on while I navigated the transition to college. I have made friendships that will last for the rest of my time at the U and feel much more integrated into the Honors College community. Additionally, the content of this minor allowed me to explore career options and helped me expand upon my academic passions. ”
– Maddie Sussman