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The Atomic Lobster smcchrist@hotmail.com

Jun 6, 2004, 7:19 AM

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Best Mexican University for college credit

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Part of the requirement for my Spanish BA program (I'm just starting) is spending a semester or summer in a Spanish speaking country (a homestay is also required). While most students are sent to Spain, I was wondering if there are any Universities in Mexico that allow foreigners to take upper level literature and cultural courses. The University would also have to have enough cache to convince my professors I'm being made to jump through sufficiently rigorous hoops.

The University of Guadalajara seems like a possibility, although their web site would appear to indicate there's no guarantee what classes will be offered (depends on the number of students signing up). I have also really liked UNAM the couple of times I've wandered the campus, but know nothing about its reputation. Ideally, there would be a university with enough students enrolling so that one would know in advance with some certainty what courses were going to be available (advanced grammar, phonetics, literature surveys, single author courses etc.).

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

esperanza

Jun 6, 2004, 7:31 AM

Post #2 of 5 (1606 views)

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Re: [The Atomic Lobster] Best Mexican University for college credit

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You might want to have a look at ITESO (Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente) in Guadalajara or several other cities. The school is operated by the Jesuits and has an excellent reputation as one of the finest universities in Mexico.

The website is http://www.iteso.mx/index.jsp.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

PBGollaz

Jun 6, 2004, 8:09 AM

Post #3 of 5 (1599 views)

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Re: [The Atomic Lobster] Best Mexican University for college credit

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One of your hurdles would seem to be finding a university that is accredited in the U.S. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is an accreditation agency for 11 southern states and parts of Latin America, has accredited four Mexican universities that I know of:

Universidad de las Américas – Cholula, Puebla
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey – Monterrey, Nuevo León
Universidad de Monterrey – Garza Garcia, Nuevo León
Universidad de las Americas – México, D.F

There are other U.S. agencies offering university-level accreditation and probably other Mexican schools and colleges that have been accredited. A little research should show you which ones they are.
Good luck!

Patrick
Zapopan, Jalisco, México

D.G.

Jun 8, 2004, 12:09 PM

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Re: [The Atomic Lobster] Best Mexican University for college credit

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It's been awhile since I looked into this, but if my memory serves me correctly, for programs to be recognized in the U.S. of A. they have to meet federal guidelines, and appear on a list which assigns them a school number. If you were to attend such a school, then you would be elgible for federal student aid, which is sort of a bottom line, as to whether an out of country school is a "real" school or not. Not every institution will qualify for such a status.

Check with your financial aid office as to what the body is that recognizes such schools. It might be the State Department of Education, but I'm not sure at this point.

Good luck.

The Atomic Lobster smcchrist@hotmail.com

Jun 14, 2004, 12:34 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1527 views)

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Re: [The Atomic Lobster] Best Mexican University for college credit

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Thanks very much for the helpful responses. I'll update everyone if I find additional information during my research.