This program provides you the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country for an entire semester, while at the same time enjoying a cultural immersion experience: living with a Mexican family and interacting with Mexican students through programs and activities organized by the Universidad Veracruzana.

The Universidad Veracruzana, one of the leading universities in Mexico, and the city of Xalapa, an ancient Indian city that blends its pre-conquest and colonial heritage with twentieth-century technology, are ideal sites for improving your Spanish and knowledge about Mexican and Latin American culture. The university and the city of Xalapa both offer an atmosphere of intellectual, social, and cultural richness.

While in Xalapa, you will have the opportunity to attend concerts, scholarly conferences, film festivals, and participate in intramural athletics at the Universities. All of your teachers will be certified to teach Spanish as a second language.

During the program, you will be placed with a Mexican host family. This allows you the opportunity to live the daily life of a Mexican, while having a safe place to stay. Your host family will provide three meals a day and take care of cleaning your room. If you have special dietary needs, arrangements can be made to accommodate them at a slightly higher cost.

Xalapa, Mexico

Fall 2008

September 3 - December 18, 2008*
*Please note-beginning and ending dates vary depending on courses

Beginning, intermediate, and advanced Spanish classes.

For a complete list of courses, please see the course list. You must take a placement test to ensure that you are at the appropriate level to take the courses you choose.

In addition to selected coursework at the appropriate level, all students are required to register for SPA 5990. This one-credit course allows students to get credit for participating in the Cultural Immersion Program. The Cultural Immersion Program pairs each student with a Mexican student partner. They will spend a minimum of 3 hours a week together. Activities range from completing homework together to visiting museums, galleries, concerts, restaurants, and family celebrations.

You will register for a special section of the courses you plan to take directly through Pipeline. You may not register for these sections until after you have been accepted to the program. These section numbers will be provided by this office to student participants in the program.
Any course changes in Mexico must be updated with Pipeline accordingly so as grades can be properly assigned.

Additionally, you are required to pay tuition (billed at the standard rate).

Travel: You are required to secure your own travel to and from Mexico City or Veracruz. We will provide participants with specific travel days.

Room and Board, Program Fee, and Tuition: Within two weeks of acceptance, you will be required to submit a $150 non-refundable program fee to The Office of Study Abroad and Global Programs to secure your place. The remainder of your Room and Board, Program Fee, and Tuition will be assessed to your student account, and you will pay the University Cashier's Office according to the published schedule.

Insurance: $1.50 per day- made payable to Wayne State University, dropped off at The Office of Study Abroad and Global Programs.

Tuition: Please note that you are required to pay tuition at your appropriate rate, payable through the normal tuition payment process. For more information, click here.

Margaret Ogg
The Office of Study Abroad and Global Programs
5155 Gullen Mall
1600 Undergraduate Library
Detroit, MI 48202
studyabroad@wayne.edu

Participants are responsible for all program fees until notification is received by Study Abroad and Global Programs. Refunds are subject to the refund policy as listed below.

The $150 Program Fee, payable upon acceptance to the program, is non-refundable.

Insurance payments may be refunded if written cancellation is given within two weeks of program departure.

All fees assessed to your student account are subject to University Tuition and Fee Policies, which can be located here.

You must also have a current passport. For more information, click here.

The program also offers the following extracurricular activities and field trips. If you are interested, you may sign up and pay when you get there. credit cards and checks are not accepted, so make sure that you cash, traveler's checks, and/or your ATM card.

Mexican Guitar ($50)
Mexican Folk Dancing ($50)
Mexican Cooking ($85)
Mexican Painting Techniques ($85)

You will also need:

-An online placement exam administered by the University of Veracruzana, located here.

-A a tourist visa if you are staying for less than two months and a student visa if you are staying for more than two months

-A Certificate of Good Health from a doctor to take with you to Mexico

-Three passport photos so that you can get a student ID card, which will give you access to health services, the library, computer labs, and discounts throughout the city

-Latest transcript from your University

-Homestay and cultural immersion program (where applicable)

-Proof of funding

It is highly recommended that you have had at least two semesters of Spanish and that you have at least a "B" average. If you do not meet these criteria, please attach a letter to your Wayne State Study Abroad application explaining why an exception should be made.

TBA - however, qualified students will be accepted as they submit the applications and once the places are filled, students will no longer be accepted.

1. Fill out the Wayne State Study Abroad application, located here.

2. Submit the application along with the $25 application fee and a copy of your most recent transcript to:

The Office of Study Abroad and Global Programs
5155 Gullen Mall
1600 Undergraduate Library
Detroit, MI 48202
Tel: 313-577-3207
studyabroad@wayne.edu

3. Within two to three weeks, you should be notified by letter indicating whether you have been accepted.

4. If you are accepted, please complete the following items as quickly as possible:

• Obtain a passport and visa
• Take the required placement exam, located here.
• Submit the following to the Wayne State Study Abroad Office:
• $150 non-refundable program fee
• Universidad Veracruzana Application
• Homestay Program Application
• Cultural Immersion Application
• Waiver and Release Agreement
• Travel Insurance Form and fee (check made payable to Wayne State)
• Travel Itinerary (so pick-up arrangements can be made)
• Register for the appropriate courses on Pipeline and pay the fees to the Cashier’s Office
• Obtain a Certificate of Good Health and three passport photos
• Proof of Funding
  

Program Application

Brochure

University of Xalapa Guide for International Students

Course List and Course Equivalencies

Margaret Ogg : 577-1991 or studyabroad@wayne.edu

Amberly Chirolla: 577-8208 or amberly@wayne.edu

After you have been accepted to the program, you will need to submit the following documents to our office. Those of which are available electronically have been linked below:

Decision Form

Insurance Form and Payment

WSU Waiver

Copy of Passport (picture page only)

3 Passport Photos (real passport photo, not a copy that you have cropped, signed on the back)

University of Veracruzana Application

Cultural Immersion Application

Course Registration Form

Homestay Application

Certificate of Good Health (available from your doctor)

Latest copy of your WSU transcript

Proof of Funding (Bank Statement showing that you have at least $1200)

Diagnostic exam (See acceptance letter for online insturctions or click here)

Flight Itinerary, if you are going to be picked up by the school, or general itinerary (when you plan to arrive in Xalapa) if you are going to make your own way there

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