Faculty-led, world-focused

Penn State faculty-led programs offer students the guidance of trusted faculty, with the freedom to explore the world. Our faculty will create the ideal itinerary for you.

Dispelling cultural stereotypes through immersion in the daily life of Mexico is the thrust of the summer program in Puebla. Studying the arts, culture, and history of central Mexico creates the context for the program. Living with carefully selected Mexican families helps Penn State students develop their language skills while experiencing firsthand the cultural treasures of Mexico. This 9-credit program offers students a unique, creative environment and exposure to a variety of experiences.

Located on a high mountain plain in central Mexico, Puebla is a large city with a small-town atmosphere. A planned city established in 1532 by the Spaniards, Puebla also reflects the pre-Columbian heritage of the region. The city is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and its concentration of contemporary artists and cultural activities. Only eighty miles south of Mexico City, Puebla sits in a rich archaeological area. Day trips to sites including Cholula — the location of the largest pyramid in the world — compose part of the educational experience. As part of the SPAN 497 class contact hours, there also are longer, overnight excursions to other archaeological sites and to some of the contemporary craft villages throughout Mexico. Classes are scheduled four days a week to provide students with long weekends for independent travel as well.

Courses Offered

Students are required to take 9 credits.

The following course is mandatory for ALL students.

SPAN 497 Special Topics: Central Mexican Culture and Civilization (3 credits)
This course will provide an introduction to Mexican culture and art from pre-Columbian to contemporary. In addition, the course will provide students with experiential learning opportunities via service learning in Puebla. In this way the course will provide both a historical overview and an experiential cultural component in contemporary Mexican society. As part of the course, we will take three multiday cultural trips and visit a number of major archeological sites.

Language (select one)

SPAN 099 Foreign Studies (3 credits)
Course offered in foreign countries by individual or group instruction.
Prerequisite: None

SPAN 199 Foreign Study — Beginning Conversational Spanish (equivalent to SPAN 003) (3 credits)
Grammar review and practice in oral expression and aural comprehension.
Prerequisite: SPAN 002 or equivalent proficiency

SPAN 399 Foreign Study — Spanish (3 credits)
Intermediate or advanced grammar and language development. This course involves intensive conversation and reading.
Prerequisite: SPAN 003 or equivalent proficiency

SPAN 499 Modern Mexican Short Story (3 credits)
This course is a study of short narrative fiction produced by a selection of Mexican authors of note during roughly the middle third of the twentieth century, or what corresponds, in national terms, to a period of economic development and modernization known (not without controversy) as “el milagro mexicano” (1940–1968). Texts by authors including José Revueltas, Juan José Arreola, Juan Rulfo, Rosario Castellanos, José Emilio Pacheco, Elena Garro, Elena Poniatowska, and Carlos Fuentes will be considered from the standpoint of form, discourse, and cultural context.

Studio Arts (select one)

ART 297 Special Topics (3 credits)
Supervised instruction in the studio arts, focusing on one or more of the following areas: painting, drawing, photography, and collage/assemblage. There will be visits to the studios of artists who are working in contemporary art as well as traditional crafts.

ART 497 Special Topics (3 credits)
Supervised instruction in the studio arts for advanced and graduate students, with independent projects.
Prerequisite: 3 credits of 300-level art courses

Eligibility

The program is open to all Penn State students and students from other institutions with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average. Applicants are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to apply early, as enrollment is limited.

Faculty

Roxana Gearhart is a lecturer in the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at Penn State. She graduated with honors, as a lawyer from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and continued her studies in the field of education. She established a law firm and worked as a lawyer for the public and private sectors in Mexico City. She has taught English as a Second Language in many prestigious universities in Mexico, as well as Spanish at Penn State and at The University of Georgia. She has been an award-winning teacher of Spanish at Penn State since 2001. She has worked with a bilingual agency as a translator and interpreter. Ms. Gearhart is a member of the Centre County Association of Latino Professionals (ALPs) in State College, Pennsylvania, and she volunteers in several local organizations. 

Dr. Matthew J. Marr is an associate professor of Spanish at Penn State, where he teaches courses in Hispanic literature and culture. He holds a doctorate and a master's degree in Spanish from the University of Virginia, and, as an undergraduate at the College of William & Mary, studied abroad at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile) and the Universitat de València (Spain). Before coming to Penn State, Professor Marr held faculty positions in the Spanish programs at Middlebury College, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Northwestern University.

Expenses

The total program fee includes two components: tuition (9 credits) and a class fee (based on activities and location). All the students will pay the in-state tuition rate for 2012 Summer Abroad programs.

Expenses NOT covered are (American dollars; estimated):

• passport
• personal expenses
• optional excursions
• round-trip airfare (approximately $1,000 plus tax)
• some meals
• textbooks and supplies

For passport information, visit www.travel.state.gov/passport.

Estimated Tuition (9 credits)

Out-of-state students will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate until the first day of the program. At that time, the students’ bursar account will be adjusted to reflect the in-state tuition rate of $681 per credit.

In-state students will pay tuition according to their standing and the Penn State tuition schedule.

$6,129 in-state/out-of-state

The University reserves the right to revise the schedule of tuition and charges without further notice. For more information on tuition, visit http://tuition.psu.edu.

Published rates are effective for fall 2011 and spring 2012.

Class Fee

The class fee of $2,445 includes insurance, room and board, transportation to field sites, and administrative costs.

Estimated Total Program Fee

The estimated program fee of $8,574 ($1,000 nonrefundable deposit applies to the class fee) includes tuition as well as the class fee.

Information Technology Fee: 1 to 4.5 credits, $82; 5 to 8.5 credits, $180; 9 or more credits, $240

Financial Aid

For alternative grant, loan, and minority scholarship information, visit the Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarships web page.

Refunds

All cancellations must be received by the planner, in writing, by mail or fax. Do not use eLion; it does not remove you from the course, and you will be held responsible for all fees. Full refunds minus the nonrefundable $1,000 application fee will be made for cancellations received at least thirty days prior to the first day of the program. Refund requests made after that time will not be honored, and the participant or sponsoring organization will be responsible for the fees.

How to Apply

Students are limited to one application in the Summer Education Abroad registration database; however, if dates allow, applicants may participate in more than one program. 

If you are interested in having your application "copied" to additional programs, please email summerabroad@outreach.psu.edu. The $1,000 nonrefundable deposit must be submitted for each program in order for the applications to be complete. The deposits are later credited to the class fee or refunded if the student is not accepted. Please email summerabroad@outreach.psu.edu if you have any questions.

Submit your online application through Penn State Education Abroad.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 17, 2012

Deposit: The $1,000 nonrefundable deposit must be submitted to complete an application. If the student is not accepted, the deposit is refunded. Otherwise, the deposit is applied to the class fee.

Cancellation: The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a program is canceled or postponed, the University will refund registration fees but cannot be held responsible for any related costs, charges, or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines or travel agencies.

Access: Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing special accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the planner at 800-252-3592.

Space may be available after the application deadline. Please contact the planner to determine availability and/or to be added to the waiting list.

Contact Us

Regarding program content:
Roxana B. Gearhart 
Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
The Pennsylvania State University
250 Burrowes Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-0106
Fax: 814-863-7944
Email: rbg10@psu.edu

Matthew Marr
Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese
The Pennsylvania State University
237 Burrowes Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone:  814-863-7613
Fax: 814-863-7944
Email: mjm66@psu.edu

Regarding application process:
Carolyn Andersen, Program Planner 
The Pennsylvania State University 
128 Outreach Building 
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-5143
Fax: 814-865-3749
Email: SummerAbroad@outreach.psu.edu

Regarding financial aid:
Office of Student Aid
The Pennsylvania State University
314 Shields Building
University Park PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-6301

For alternative grant, loan, and minority scholarship information, visit the Education Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarships web page.