Faculty Leaders: Karen Spira (Modern Language Studies Department) & Rachel Riskind (Psychology Department) 

Prerequisites: Instructor Permission

Number of Credits Offered: 4

Course Description:

Mexican Childhoods is a team-taught, interdisciplinary course that explores diverse experiences of childhood in Mexico through the lenses of Developmental Psychology and Latin American Cultural Studies. . The course brings into focus Mexico, a country whose culture and history have important implications for life in the U.S.. The course includes 10 days of immersion in Oaxaca, Mexico, allowing students to witness varied experiences and representations of Mexican childhoods while learning from local experts.  

Some of the topics covered in this course will include: the oral culture of Mexican childhoods (including riddles and folktales), diversity of caregiving practices, intergenerational transmission of cultural practices (indigenous, elite, religious, etc.), children’s rights discourse in school curricula, and racism/colorism in Mexico, especially as it relates to youth.).

Students will live with host families, who will provide breakfast, lunch, and most dinner! All other meals, transportation, and excursion costs are covered by the program.

This course fulfills the MLS 210 requirement for Modern Language Studies majors or counts as an elective for Psychology majors/minors. This course counts toward the Sociocultural Engagement requirement.

Estimated Cost:

Financial aid is available for all students participating in the Mexican Childhoods study abroad program, with awards ranging from $185 to full coverage of $601 for residential students (an additional $750 fee applies for commuting students). This support is designed to make the program accessible to all students, regardless of financial background

Eligibility:

Students must be enrolled full-time and in good academic and judicial standing. Successful applicants will have completed their application by the posted due date and have also completed an interview with the faculty leaders. Priority will be given to students who have a connection to Mexico, who have successfully completed Span 102, who have tested into Span 201 or above, or some combination. Completion of an application does not guarantee approval to enroll in the course.