Mobility, Society, and Governance in North America

Puebla, Mexico

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

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Location

The Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) is located in Cholula, a suburb of the colonial city of Puebla. Two hours southeast of Mexico City, with a population of about three million, Puebla has played a central role in Mexican history since the invasion of Cortes in the 16th century. Founded in 1531, the Spanish conquerors built a Cathedral and many churches in and around Puebla, which dominate Puebla's charming colonial center. Puebla is also famous as the site of the Mexican victory over the occupying French army on the Cinco de Mayo, 1862. Cholula is a city of 500,000 people located just five minutes west of Puebla. A center for local religious activity since the third century B.C., it is most famous for its pyramid, where several different indigenous civilizations have left their mark. It is the largest pyramid in the world, only partially excavated, and topped by a church, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios.

The Universidad de Las Americas was founded in 1940 as Mexico City College and in 1970 it moved to Puebla where it became the "Universidad de las Americas- Puebla." It covers 175 acres at the foot of the pyramid of Cholula. UDLA is divided into the Schools of Social Sciences, Humanities, Business Administration, Science and Engineering, and the Office of International Affairs. Current enrollment is approximately 7,500 students, 95% of whom are Mexican. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits UDLA, which means its bachelor's and master's degrees are recognized by the educational system in the U.S. UDLA is a modern campus with the same facilities that one finds at Notre Dame — dormitories, cafeterias, one of the largest libraries in Mexico with 400,000 volumes, computer labs, a bank, an infirmary and a travel agency.

Program of Study

A select number of Notre Dame students can participate for one semester in the program Mobility, Society, and Governance in North America, a consortium of six colleges and universities.  The fall semester begins in early August and runs through mid-December; the spring semester from the beginning of January until May 15.  The program is open to students from all colleges at Notre Dame at the intermediate level or better in Spanish language. Spanish language classes are offered in this program.

The main objective of the MSG-NA is to create a group of young professionals and researchers endowed with a comparative and transnational vision of the processes that characterize the NAFTA region, in the hope that this vision will allow them to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing the three countries of North America.  Students in the MSG-NA Puebla program will benefit from the strengths at the Universidad de Las Américas (Puebla) in Migration Phenomenon, Multicultural Relations and “Latino” Studies, Amerindian Cultures, and Regions and Regionalism.

The MSG-NA program focuses on four sub-topics: Border and Environmental Management, Democratic Process and Institutional Reform, Immigration, Cultural Identities, North America after NAFTA (paying particular attention to economic and social welfare).  A major part of the academic work in the MSG-NA program consists of taking 4 courses related to the four sub-topics.  Students must choose 3 out of their 5 courses from the approved course bank or must have alternative courses approved by the Project Director.  Additionally, each student will be assigned a faculty advisor that will strive to include the student in research activities and professional internships.  Students in the MSG-NA program will become a part of a virtual community with the other students participating at each of the partner institutions.  Finally, students in the program will have the opportunity to participate in an all expenses-paid summer workshop in Mexico. 

Participants are chosen by members of the Kellogg Institute and the Office of International Studies, and acceptance into the MSG-NA program is highly selective. 

Eligibility for the Program

Students from any discipline may apply.  Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA with a “B” or better in Spanish language courses.  The application deadline is November 15th for the fall or spring semesters. 

Financials

Click here for information on program costs.

Additional Information

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community...about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.