SIT Study Abroad Mexico: Migration, Borders, and Transnational Communities
Discover the contemporary realities of international undocumented migration and border enforcement and their immense human impact and political and social tension in the context of Mexico, Central America, and the United States.
Program Highlights:
Start out in Tucson, a major point of entry for undocumented migrants entering the US.
Live in a Mexican state that is the point of origin for many of the migrants going to the US.
Understand the factors that lead to undocumented migration.
Get a firsthand look at two different borders.
See how migration affects Central Americans during a two-day stay in Guatemala.Please visit the SIT Study Abroad website for details on program courses (including syllabi), educational excursions, and housing.
Internship:
The internship may be completed with a local community organization, research organization, business, government agency, or international NGO. The internship will enable you to gain valuable professional experience, enhance your skills, and deepen your understanding of the social implications of migration through practical experience with people who work on these issues.
Topics and placements may vary according to the availability of each institution. Sample internships:
Working with migrants
Assisting local economies projects
Educating rural youth
Supporting women’s empowerment
Helping political art campaigns
Working with locals to create alternatives to migration
Independent Study Project:
During the final four weeks of the program, you can choose to use your new Spanish and cultural skills and the academic knowledge you have acquired to complete an Independent Study Project (ISP) on a topic of interest to you. The ISP is conducted in Oaxaca or another approved location. You will integrate different components of the program as you conduct an in-depth investigation of a social movement or organization. The ISP is an opportunity to build a solid foundation for further research for a senior thesis, Fulbright fellowship, or graduate school.
Sample topics:
Transnational identities
Border enforcement
Migrant rights
Remittance economies
Returned migration and cultural reintegration
“Right to stay” movements for viable futures
Family reunification
Gender and migration
The political role of public art
Development and displacement
Transnational social movements
Key Topics of Study:
Factors contributing to high rates of undocumented migration
Effects of large-scale migration on communities
Gender and family culture shifts as a result of women taking on new leadership roles in Mexico and the United States
Experiences of undocumented migration and changes in it over time
Strategies used to enforce borders and how these policies affect borderland communities, border crossers, and transnational communities
Policy changes that could address the causes of consequences of undocumented migration
Money Matters:
Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor.
SIT tuition and room and board fees include the following:
All educational costs, including educational excursions
All accommodations and meals for the full program duration
Transportation to and from the airport, and on all educational excursions
Health and accident insurance
Scholarships:
SIT awards nearly $1.6 million in scholarships and grants annually.
All scholarships and grants are need-based.
Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000.
The SIT Pell Grant Match provides matching grants to all students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding when it is applied to an SIT Study Abroad semester program.
Contact the financial aid and/or study abroad office(s) at your college or university to learn if your school’s scholarships and grants and federal and state aid programs can be applied to an SIT Study Abroad program.
