JAN 410-01 - Globalized Mexico

Travel dates: Thursday, Jan. 1 - Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Instructor: Álvaro Ramírez, aramirez@stmarys-ca.edu

Course Fee: TBD
Learn about the Jan Term Travel Scholarship for additional funding.

This fee includes:
Airfare, Lodging, Excursions (e.g., museums, tours, etc.), Gratuity, Travel Insurance ($35/student - international classes only), It includes 3 meals while staying with host families. Otherwise, the fee pays for breakfasts and dinners.

Estimated cost outside of course fee:
$500

In this course, students will analyze the globalization process that has occurred in Mexico and which has put in doubt the national project initiated by the Mexican Revolution. As they do so, they will travel to famous archeological sites such as Teotihuacan, the colonial cities of Puebla and Oaxaca as well as the postmodern metropolis of Mexico City, where students will visit the Museums of Anthropology, National History, and Frida Kahlo. Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. students will have academic activities. During the first two hours, Prof. Ramírez will lead seminar-type discussions in English. We will discuss the post-revolutionary politics that helped to define the national project and its nationalism that created a Mexican identity that had its heyday in the mid-twentieth century and has lately been transformed by the forces of globalization. We will particularly focus on Mexican identity during the NAFTA years and the late cultural transformation of rural communities, in particular traditional Indigenous communities. From 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. all students will attend conversation workshops according to their level. Most excursions will take place on weekends with some outings on some afternoons. All students will be housed in hotels in Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca City, and a weekend in the beach town of Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca. Four meetings scheduled prior to leaving on the trip are considered part of the course.

ITINERARY:

Thursday, Jan. 1: Arrive in Mexico City
Friday, Jan. 2: Mexico City
Excursion: Zócalo, Basílica de la Virgen de Guadalupe
Saturday, Jan. 3: Mexico City
Excursion: Xochimilco

Week 1

Sunday, Jan. 4: Mexico City
Ballet Folklórico, Museum of National History
Monday, Jan. 5: Mexico City
Excursion: Museo Soumaya
Tuesday, Jan. 6: Mexico City
Excursion: Museum of National Anthropology, Lucha Libre
Wednesday, Jan. 7: Mexico City
Free day
Thursday, Jan. 8: Mexico City
Museo Frida Kahlo
Friday, Jan. 9: Depart from Mexico City, arrive in Puebla
Teotihuacán
Saturday, Jan. 10: Puebla
Puebla Centro, Los Fuertes

Week 2

Sunday, Jan. 11: Puebla
Cholula
Monday, Jan. 12: Arrive in Oaxaca
Tuesday, Jan. 13: Oaxaca
Excursion: Oaxaca Centro
Wednesday, Jan. 14: Oaxaca
Excursion: Santo Domingo
Thursday, Jan. 15: Oaxaca
Excursion: Monte Albán
Friday, Jan. 16: Oaxaca
Cultural Encounter Universidad Vanconcelos
Saturday, Jan. 17: Oaxaca
Excursion: Mitla

Week 3

Sunday, Jan. 18: Oaxaca
Free day
Monday, Jan. 19: Oaxaca
Excursion: Casa Benito Juárez
Tuesday, Jan. 20: Arrive at Puerto Escondido
Wednesday, Jan. 21: Puerto Escondido
Spend time at the beach
Thursday, Jan. 22: Puerto Escondido
Spend time at the beach
Friday, Jan. 23: Depart from Puerto Escondido, Arrive in Puebla
Saturday, Jan. 24: Depart from Puebla, Arrive at SFO

Prerequisites & Notes

Attend at least 1 information session
Permission of the instructor

General Travel Requirements

Attend at least 1 Health & Safety Orientation (October)
Submit a valid passport (November)
Apply or renew no later than September for on-time delivery
Submit completed & signed health forms + proof of vaccination(s) (November)

Note: Failure to complete one or more of the above requirements will result in an immediate drop from the course. Once registered, all course fees are non-refundable.

Please check the Jan Term Travel website for information session, registration, and deposit information.

FAQs

Credits: 1-CU