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Program Overview


The WMU Study Abroad program at the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ) offers WMU graduate students and other qualified applicants an opportunity to improve their fluency and knowledge of the Spanish language, as well as to deepend their understanding of Hispanic culture.  This program should be of particular interest to secondary Spanish teachers who are working toward a graduate degree or who need to satisfy certification requirements. During the four-week program, students can take two intensive graduate courses, one taught by faculty from the UAQ and the other by faculty from the Department of Spanish of WMU.

Students applying for this program may be eligible for the Haenicke Institute for the Global Education Study Abroad Scholarship.

**Applicants will be notified by the Faculty Director via phone or wmich email address when interviews are being scheduled. Students are responsible for checking their wmich email regularly to receive important information from Faculty Director and/or WMU Study Abroad office.



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Location

Queretaro, capital of the state of the same name, is a medium-sized city located 135 miles north of Mexico City.  Its altitude of 6,000 feet above sea level is the main factor for moderate daytime temperatures of 75-85 degrees F and cool nights.  Founded in 1531, the city possesses magnificent baroque churches, beautiful public buildings, harmonious and spacious plazas and parks, excellent museums and theaters.  Queretaro is the site of numerous colleges and universities, the largest of which is the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro.  WMU students will attend classes on the main campus of this comprehensive public institution, which is located within walking distance of the city center and is well served by public transportation.

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Academics

Academic Eligibility
Graduate standing in Spanish, or completed BA in Spanish with minimum 3.0 GPA in Spanish classes; secondary education teachers are encouraged to apply.

Academic Program
During this program, students may take one or two intensive graduate courses, each conducted Monday through Thursday for 140 minutes (two hours and twenty minutes per day).  One course will be taught by a faculty member from the UAQ and the other by a faculty member from the Department of Spanish at WMU, who will also serve as resident director of the program.  Students will earn 3 or 6 hours of graduate credit during Summer II at WMU. (Note: the WMU program fee will remain the same whether the student takes one course for 3 credit hours or both courses for 6 credit hours.)

Academic Credit
Participants earn a total of six (6) academic semester credits for completing both courses.

SPAN 6300: Poesía hispanoamericana y española, siglos XX-XXI (3 credit hours)
Prof. Patricia Montilla of Western Michigan University (WMU)

SPAN 6770: Panorama de varios subcampos lingüísticos (3 credit hours)
This class will be conducted at the UAQ campus. .

WMU credit will be awarded for courses successfully completed on this program with prior approval of the student's academic advisor, academic advisors in departments outside of the student's major department (if the student plans to take classes outside of his/her major), and the Haenicke Institute for Global Education. This approval is obtained by completing the Course Pre-approval Form available from WMU Study Abroad.  Students are urged to work closely with academic advisors and WMU Study Abroad staff to plan a course of study allowing for steady progress toward their degree.

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Cost & Financial Aid

Cost
The program fee includes tuition, administrative fees, on-site orientation, housing, meals, health and emergency assistance insurance, and program-related excursions. Students are responsible for the following expenses: airfare, personal transportation, passport, visa fees, and personal expenses. Students should plan for extra expenses, such as weekend travel, personal spending money, etc.

Scholarship
Students applying for this program may be eligible for the Haenicke Institute for the Global Education Study Abroad Scholarship.

Financial Aid
Students eligible for federal or state financial aid may use their awards for studying abroad. After a student has been accepted to the program, he/she must complete required paperwork with WMU Financial Aid to apply financial aid to the program costs. It is the student's responsibility to complete the paperwork prior to departure and to maintain compliance with financial aid regulations while studying abroad (i.e., remain enrolled full-time). *Non-WMU students must apply for financial aid through their home university.

Note: Program fees are subject to adjustment due to changes in actual exchange rates or other factors. In addition, programs may be modified or cancelled in the event of insufficient enrollment. Program dates are subject to slight adjustment by the home/host university.

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Housing

Students who opt to live with families in Queretaro will have a private room. Each family will host only one American student.  The office of the Facultad de Lenguas y Letras at the UAQ selects homes and families.  Housing includes three meals per day and laundry facilities.  Students need to be sensitive to cultural differences and the particular family situation.  They need to comply with family rules and respect customs and norms.  It is expected that a flexible and caring attitude on the part of all concerned will contribute to a comfortable, relaxed living environment.

Students who decide not to live with families are responsible for their own housing. They might wish to visit the city of Queretaro websites for information on hotels and/or apartments.

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Itinerary

June 17 - 27:  On campus course meets at WMU
June 28: Travel to Querétaro
June 28 - July 27:  Program at Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro
July 27:   Retun to U.S. or personal travel

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Additional Resources

Contacts:
Dr. Patricia Montilla, faculty director
Department of Spanish
511 Sprau Tower
Email: patricia.montilla@wmich.edu
Telephone: (269)387-3040

Ann Ganz, study abroad specialist, sr.
WMU Study Abroad office
2425 Ellsworth Hall
Email: ann.ganz@wmich.edu
Telephone: (269) 387-5890
www.wmich.edu/studyabroad

Host Institution Information (external links)
Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro Homepage

Demographic Information (external links)
Host Country Information - Lonely Planet
Host City Information - Lonely Planet

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