New Summer Study Programs Available Through A&M International

Students wishing to explore new academic frontiers while traveling abroad can take advantage of several study programs Texas A&M International University will offer in Mexico, Spain and France this summer.

The application deadline for all programs is Feb. 1 and scholarships are available on a limited basis, said Jannet García, director of the Office for International Programs.

One of the courses, "Latino Identity Development " (Psychology 4335), will take students to Guanajuato, Mexico from May 20-June 29. The course examines the sociocultural and psychological processes of Latino adolescents and young adults as they develop their ethnic and cultural identities in a multicultural society. Special emphasis will be placed on examining how Latino adolescents develop their identity as they negotiate goals, values, and expectations across cultural contexts.

Offered by Dr. Christy Teranishi, assistant professor of psychology, the course will be taught at the University of Guanajuato. The cost of this program is $1,408 for Texas residents and includes tuition and fees, an international student I.D. card, program related travel, room and board with families, medical insurance, a welcome and farewell dinner and round trip bus fare from Nuevo Laredo to Guanajuato. The course may be taken for either undergraduate or graduate credit.

Those wishing to study in Spain's Alcalá de Henares, 20 minutes east of Madrid and birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes y Saavedra, may sign up for two courses including "Spain: Civilization and Culture" (Spanish 2324) and "Spanish Civil War in Literature & Film" (Spanish 4330).

The two courses, conducted by Dr. William Nichols, assistant professor of Spanish, will take place May 30-July 4 and is co-sponsored by the Universidad de Alcalá, Spain. This program provides students an opportunity for a concentrated study of Spanish language, literature and culture.

The cost of the Spanish program is $3,300 for Texas residents, not including round-trip airfare. Program fee includes tuition and fees, international student I.D. card, program related travel, room and board with families and medical insurance. Students can earn up to six semester credit hours while studying at the Universidad de Alcalá.

A third program is geared for business students and will take place in Chambéry, France from June 15-July 15.

Co-sponsored by the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce in Chambéry, France, the program offers a course in "Special Issues: Doing Business in Europe from a French Perspective" (Business Administration/Economics/Finance/Marketing/Management 4399 or 5399). The program includes business classes, visits to firms and international organizations as well as French language instruction. Courses are open to both undergraduate and graduate students and are taught in English, other than the French language component.

The cost of the France program is $1,000, not including round-trip airfare and meals. It covers tuition and fees for three semester credit hours, an international student I.D. card, program related travel, accommodations and medical insurance.

García said study abroad opportunities give students a chance to gain first-hand knowledge of the subject they are studying while visiting a new world.

"Whether it's about learning Spanish and exploring the culture in Spain or inquiring about business practices in France, study abroad opportunities open students' minds to perspectives and realities they didn't know existed before," García said, "I highly encourage students to participate in these academic opportunities that not only enrich the mind but also the soul."

For further information, please contact Jannet García at 326-2565 or e-mail studyabroad@tamiu.edu. University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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