Learning Abroad Center
A group of students pose for a photo behind bright, giant letters that spell "ZOOGOCHO"

SIT Mexico: Migration, Borders, & Transnational Communities

Americas

Discover the current realities and human impacts of undocumented migration, border enforcement, and the related international political and social tensions. Live in Oaxaca, Mexico, a point of origin for many migrants going to the U.S., and get a firsthand look at Mexico’s northern and southern borders.

Apply to Program

Program Details

Location icon
Location
Oaxaca, Mexico
Term icon
Term
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Housing icon
Housing
Homestay
Other
Languages Taught In icon
Languages Taught In
English
Spanish
Sponsor
Sponsor
SIT Study Abroad

Program Eligibility

Student Type icon}
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year icon
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA Requirement icon
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisite icon
Language Prerequisite
3 semesters of college-level Spanish

Events & Info Sessions

There are currently no events for this program. Explore more events on our events page.

Program Structure

This is an affiliate program. You receive resident credit for the courses you take. Your grades factor into your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript with an A/F grade. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's Academic Policies for more information.

SIT Study Abroad creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Every program is framed around a critical global issue, which provides a lens through which students explore the issue through theory and its local manifestation. Student learning happens through multiple formats—lectures, field visits, language study, homestays, and day-to-day interaction with local communities—in classroom and field-based settings. During the last portion of the program, students will complete either an independent study project or field research project. 

Affiliate organizations and partner universities will not accept applications from UMTC students without the endorsement of the Learning Abroad Center. You must participate in affiliate organization and partner university programs through the standard Learning Abroad Center application process.

Visit SIT’s website for specific program features and eligibility requirements.

Coursework

Mexico: Migration, Borders, & Transnational Communities

Course descriptions and full syllabi are available on the program page of SIT’s website.

Key Topics

  • Factors contributing to high rates of undocumented migration
  • Effects of large-scale migration on communities
  • Gender and family culture shifts as women take on new leadership roles
  • Experiences of undocumented migration and changes over time
  • Border enforcement strategies and their impacts on border communities
  • Policy changes that could address the causes of undocumented migration

You will enroll in five courses for a total of 16 credits:

  • Political Economy of Migration (3 credits)
  • Migration and Borders in a Globalized World (3 credits)
  • Spanish for Social and Cultural Studies (3 credits, beginning, intermediate or advanced)
  • Research Methods and Ethics (3 credits)
  • Independent Study Project or Internship (4 credits)

Dates Details

Visit your affiliate's website for program dates and application deadlines.

SIT grants admission to programs on a rolling basis as long as space is available. Early submissions are strongly encouraged as some programs fill to capacity prior to the application deadline.

Orientation Dates & Locations

The Learning Abroad Center provides a pre-departure orientation(s) in addition to the orientation offered by your affiliate program team. It is your responsibility to know the information shared at these orientations.

Orientation consists of several sessions, all of which are created to support your preparation to go abroad:

  • Online Health & Safety Orientation: This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
  • LAC Affiliate Orientation (live Zoom session): UofM-specific information will be covered (academic planning, finances, etc.). Details on the LAC affiliate orientation will be sent to you via email.
  • Affiliate Provider Orientation: This orientation will cover program-specific information. Your affiliate provider will invite you to a pre-departure orientation leading up to your departure.

Fees

University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.

How to Calculate the Total Program Fee

Affiliate Program Fee plus APAAC plus International Health Insurance minus Affiliate Fee Reduction equals Total program fee

To calculate your total program fee

Find your Affiliate program fee

For more specific information about fees, visit the SIT website.

UofM students on SIT programs receive an automatic fee reduction of $2,700 for semester, $750 for summer sessions. UofM students can also take advantage of SIT's financial aid, in the form of scholarships, grants, and pell grant matching.

Add APAAC

Refer to the Affiliate Program Fees. Follow instructions on that page to determine your APAAC.

Add International Health Insurance

You will be billed approximately $2/day for your international health insurance.

Subtract Affiliate Fee Reduction

Visit the Affiliate Program Fees to determine the fee reduction you receive for being a University of Minnesota student.

What Is the APAAC?

Students participating on affiliated programs are charged a program fee that is inclusive of the affiliate's program fee, University of Minnesota Advising, Placement, Academic, and Administrative Costs (APAAC), and international health insurance. The APAAC covers:

  • Application processing
  • Advising services, orientation
  • Course registration
  • Grade transfer and posting for resident credit
  • Program billing and assistance with financial aid (when applicable)

Based on these additional services and benefits, the total program fee may be higher than the affiliate's published program fee.

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Each of our affiliated programs awards its own array of scholarships. While many are need-based, others are based on merit, location, academic area, or diversity criteria. Explore your options within specific affiliates' scholarship pages.

Flight & Deposit Advance

The Flight & Deposit Advance (formerly Bridging Loan) is a no-interest/no-fees program that allows you to defer payment of your flight and LAC program deposit until your financial aid is disbursed.

Cancellation Policy

Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling

Prepare

Complete pre-application advising.

Apply

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

If your program and term does not appear in the drop-down list of available programs, select ‘SIT—Other Programs Not Listed Here’ and complete the application item ‘Affiliate Program Information’ found in your application checklist.

In addition to completing the LAC application, submit to SIT Study Abroad:

SIT Study Abroad Online Application

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.

Next Steps

  1. Log in to the LAC application portal and select the program and term you plan to participate in. 
  2. Submit items in your LAC application checklist. Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by our program team. If nominated for participation, the LAC will contact the affiliate's staff to notify them of your status.
  3. Complete the affiliate program's application requirements as applicable.
  4. You will be notified of admission by the affiliate. You'll then be admitted by the LAC and this will be reflected in your LAC application checklist. 
  5. Once ready, confirm your spot on the program with both the LAC and affiliate. From here, you'll be provided guidance by the LAC and affiliate on preparing for your upcoming experience! 

P.S. Do not pay the affiliate’s confirmation deposit, only the LAC's deposit as outlined on our Billing page. The affiliate accepts the LAC’s deposit as indication of confirmation.

Program Contact

For further information or questions about this program, send an email to

Ashley Metz at [email protected], or call at 612.625.9805.

Contact Program Alum

If you’re interested in contacting a program alum, visit SIT's Contact a Former Student webpage.