Mexico
Morelia & Mexico City, Mexico
May 11 – May 31, 2010
Program Itinerary
Total Program Fee: $2,745
Academics and Courses Application Cost of the Program Important Details
| IMPORTANT NOTE: It is possible that not all TnCIS programs or all TnCIS courses are available at your institution. A complete listing of courses offered at each member institution is available at www.tncis.org/members. Please contact your TnCIS campus representative for instructions on registering and paying fees. |
Program Location:
The session will begin in Mexico City but will be primarily hosted in the city of Morelia, where an infrastructure is in place to provide all services to the students. Morelia is a city of over one million and is an extremely important colonial city, with most of the city center and cathedral originating in the 17th century. Morelia is not an international tourist destination and therefore retains its original character and charm.
Program Description:
The ability to communicate in Spanish is becoming increasingly important due to the rapidly growing Hispanic community in the United States. This program is designed to provide students intensive language instruction while they experience Mexican culture first hand. It is an immersion program with English being spoken only as absolutely needed and during some excursions so as not to exclude the beginners. Trips to various cultural sites will also convey important information about both contemporary and historical Mexico.
Please note: Prospective students should be aware that study abroad programs require a great deal of walking. You should be prepared to walk at least a mile or two each day. You may also walk over uneven, possibly slippery or rocky terrain even in cities.
Excursions: The program begins with a three day stay in Mexico City. Two full day excursions to cultural sites in the vicinity of Morelia, Mexico are also planned. Several afternoons each week, students will visit various sites of importance in Morelia. Some excursions to institutes or agencies related to the students major can also be arranged.
Classes: Classes will be held four hours per day, five days a week.
Accommodations: Students will live and eat three meals per day with a local family.
All TnCIS programs are academic in nature and course work that takes advantage of the program location will be the central focus. TnCIS program courses are for credit only. In Mexico, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses:
SPANISH: SPAN 1010: Beginning Spanish I (No prerequisites)
This course is an introduction to Spanish conversation, grammar, composition, vocabulary building, and reading. See course syllabus
SPANISH: SPAN 1020: Beginning Spanish II (Prerequisites: Spanish 1010)
This course is a continuation of Beginning Spanish I. The focus will be on Spanish conversation, grammar, composition, vocabulary building, and reading. See course syllabus
SPANISH: SPAN 2010: Intermediate Spanish I (Prerequisites: Spanish 1020)
This course will concentrate on conversation, writing, listening and reading in Spanish. The emphasis will be on communicative proficiency. See course syllabus
SPANISH: SPAN 2020: Intermediate Spanish II (Prerequisites: Spanish 2010)
This course is a continuation of Intermediate Spanish I. It will concentrate on conversation, writing, listening and reading in Spanish. The emphasis will be on communicative proficiency. See course syllabus
SPANISH: Spanish Conversation (Prerequisites: Spanish 2020)
Spanish conversation and composition: Focus is on functional aspects of speaking and writing to increase proficiency through sustained, topic-related conversation and written compositions, with grammar review. See course syllabus
Applications will be available online beginning October 15, 2009 and are due on February 11, 2010. APPLY NOW. Late applications will be considered on a space available basis. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and have completed a minimum of 12 college credit hours. Eligible students currently enrolled or accepted and in good standing (this includes academic and disciplinary matters) at a TnCIS Member Institution may apply to any TnCIS study abroad program. A complete application consists of:
1. The completed online application
2. The nonrefundable $100 application fee (paid at your home institution)
3. An official transcript sent to TnCIS by the registrar at your institution
4. A letter of recommendation
Please click here to download the letter of recommendation form. This letter should be filled out by a professor who can make a statement regarding your preparedness for the program and how you would benefit from the program.
Other important forms you need to review prior to submitting your application include the program contract, agreement, medical surrogacy and medical history forms. These forms will be filled out by the applicant after being accepted into the program and turned into the TnCIS office. Details will be sent out in the acceptance letter. These forms are updated every year as needed. DO NOT complete these forms before being accepted. Any updated forms will be sent to you via email. Click here to view the forms.
Students will be notified of acceptance by email and a letter. Once accepted, please consult the TnCIS website and the email address used on your application on a regular basis for deadlines and other important information. In international travel frequent changes are to be expected. Email is the primary channel of communication for the office and you will be responsible for information sent to you via email. This information is intended to keep you updated on all activities necessary in your preparation to participate in the program.
The total cost of the program is made up of the application fee, program fee**, tuition and airfare. All fees are paid at your home institution.
Application Fee: All students are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 by the February 11, 2010 application deadline.
Total Program Fee: The total program fee for Mexico is $2,745. It covers roundtrip international travel from Nashville, program lodging, group excursions, required ground transportation, all meals with host family and limited health insurance. Expenses not covered in the total program fee are: passport, textbooks, and personal spending money.
Tuition: All member institutions provide a tuition scholarship. Therefore, tuition is charged to the student account, but then covered by the institution.
Airfare: The group roundtrip international airfare from Nashville is included in the Total Program Fee.
**TnCIS estimates fees based on the current global financial environment and all attempts are made to keep costs down whenever possible. However, due to the constant fluctuation in the value of the American Dollar and currencies in program countries, it is possible that costs may increase. Therefore, TnCIS reserves the right to notify students regarding an increase in fees due to exchange rates by March 18, 2010.
Payment Deadlines: February 11th - $100 Nonrefundable Application Fee
March 18th - Full payment due (Program fee and airfare)
Cancellation Policy: Through March 18th – Full refund less $100 application fee
Between March 19th and April 15th - $1500 cancellation fee
After April 15th – No Refund
Financial Aid: Applications for financial aid (scholarships, grants and student loans) must be made through your home institution. Please consult your TnCIS campus representative (see member list) for information and instructions. Scholarships are available at many member institutions. To see FAQ’s on study abroad financial aid click here.
Mandatory Orientation: A thorough pre-departure orientation is an essential part of your preparation to study abroad. The mandatory TnCIS orientation for all programs will be held Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM in Central Tennessee. According to Tennessee Board of Regents policy, all students must attend. Exact time and place will be announced at the beginning of March on the TnCIS website and in your acceptance notification. Please reserve the date.
Passports: It is critical that you obtain a passport if you do not already have one, or renew yours if it has expired. If you already have a passport, it must be valid for at least six months after your return date. For an application and details on obtaining a passport or renewing one, please refer to the US Department of State passport website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
Non-US Citizen Participants: If you are an international student or non-US citizen (i.e. do not hold or are unable to obtain a US passport), you must provide a copy of your current passport and a visa to enter the country of your study abroad program. If a visa is not required, a statement from the program country embassy which indicates that you have appropriate documentation for entry to that country is required. Necessary documentation is the responsibility of the participant. Please contact TnCIS for assistance.
TnCIS Contact Information:
TnCIS Office TnCIS
PO Box 22990
10915 Hardin Valley Road
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
Theresa Castillo
Program Coordinator, TnCIS
tcastillo@pstcc.edu
865-539-7279