Urban Public Policy in Mexico City, Mexico

Summer 2009
2 weeks (late May to early June)

NOTE: This program runs in odd-numbered years only

Sponsored by the Global Urban Studies Program in the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The program will focus on challenges posed by increasing globalization and rapid population growth in urban areas.  The Mexico City trip will focus on the intersection of public transportation, housing markets, and environmental issues in Mexico City.  These public policy areas will be explored from the perspective of a variety of disciplines including urban planning, political science, demography, geography, history, and sociology. 

Students will attend lectures—both public and specifically designed for the class—given by graduate faculty at El Colegio de Mexico.  In addition they will meet with public officials responsible for air and water quality and housing as well as with graduate students in the masters program in Urban Studies at el Colegio. 

Tours of Mexico City will be included focusing on pollution monitoring, housing and historical and cultural sites.  A trip to Veracruz will also be included to provide a comparative perspective on environmental challenges (air quality in Mexico City and water quality in Veracruz) within the Mexican context. A tour of Coatepec will focus on new efforts to create a “green” city.

To read one student’s experience on this program, visit: http://www.gusp.msu.edu/userdocs/Trip_report.pdf

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll for a minimum of three (3) credits, maximum of six (6), in the following course:

Students participating in the Mexico City experience will:

• be exposed to the history and culture of Mexico City
• gain knowledge of comparative/global urban solutions to mass transportation, housing and environmental issues
• identify alternative policy options that could be applied in US urban areas
• understand Mexican housing markets
• be exposed to ideas, pedagogies, and knowledge of Latin American graduate faculty
• learn from Mexican student-colleagues; college experiences, fields of study, career plans
• understand public policy challenges in large, capital cities
• prepare a report covering substantive issues; transportation, housing, environment.

Specific lectures conducted by El Colegio de Mexico faculty include:

• Patterns of economic change in Mexico City
• Urbanization and the environment
• Public transportation policy
• Housing markets and public housing policy
• Gender and public policy in Latin America

What are the requirements?

This program is available to graduate students only who are in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 3.00 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in hotels.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Laura Reese, Director
Global Urban Studies Program
MSU College of Social Science
447 Berkey Hall
Phone:  (517) 353-5942
E-mail: reesela@msu.edu

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

Please note: a visa is not required for travel to Mexico.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee is not yet available but is expected to include the following (a fee will be posted once the budget has been finalized):

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*For current MSU tuition, fees, and taxes, check http://ctlr.msu.edu/COStudentAccounts/Tuition_Fees.aspx.  MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you in your acceptance packet.  You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.