Tec de Monterrey Study Abroad/Exchange Program

The Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange, 939 N. Tyndall Ave., offers services and programs for both undergraduate and graduate students in more than 50 countries. According to data issued by the Institute for International Education in 2009, the UA ranks 15th for the number of students who participate in study abroad programs. Nearly 2,000 students studied abroad in the 2007-2008 academic year, according to the Web site.

Among the many programs offered, there are various opportunities for students to study in Mexico. The exchange program is also extremely popular among students from Mexico, said Laura Thornes, Assistant Director of the Office of Study Abroad and Student Exchange.

Laura gave me some brochures for programs in Mexico, and one that I found particularly intriguing was the Tecnologico de Monterrey "Spanish as a Second Language, Mexican Business and Culture 2010" program (AKA Tec de Monterrey). This unique exchange program offers Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language (DELE), which allows students who complete the program to have concrete evidence of their knowledge through "official credentials."

Another interesting aspect of the program is that the coursework grades a student receives while studying in Mexico, do not affect their UA grade point average. Of course there is still an emphasis on school, but this puts less pressure on the student to achieve ultimate academic success, and rather allows them to balance schoolwork with spending time exploring the foreign city, traveling around, and emerging in new cultures.

The program has 16-week spring and fall semesters, and also has a summer session, in which the students can take 1 or 2 courses over a six week period. And... one last option... if you really love the program, you have the choice of spending the entire academic year in Mexico.

The exchange program is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in all concentrations, and they offer classes in both Spanish and English.

The program has eight campuses throughout Mexico, including Monterrey, Querétaro, Cuernavaca, Estado de México, Ciudad de México, Guadalajara, Mazatlán, and Toluca (click here for a map of locations). Each location offers different housing options, like dorms or living with a host family, and some even provide internship opportunities.

I highly encourage any student interested in the program to visit the study abroad office, which is open Monday through Friday 8:00-5:00 (with a brief closing from 12:00-1:00 every day).

Call 520.626.9211 for more information!