Courses

Choosing Your Courses 

All courses are taught in English, so no minimum amount of Spanish language is required to participate. Students who opt for an Internship do need some Spanish language experience. 

Course Enrollment Process

Completing Your Academic Preferences Form

• Log in to your Arcadia application portal and go to the Checklist Items tab. Click on Start Form Now under the Academic Preferences Form section.
• Please indicate 7-10 courses, including alternates, on your academic preferences form that you are pre-approved for and can take while abroad. In the event of scheduling changes, time conflicts, prerequisites or cancellations, this ensures that you will be prepared to finalize your courses once overseas.

Enrollment Procedures

Program Options

This program requires you to select a concentration when you apply. Students may choose from Communication and Media Studies; or from any of the four concentrations associated with the Liberal Arts semester (Migration Studies; Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies; Liberal Arts; Spanish Language). Review the course pages associated with each program option to determine which courses you’d like to take for your concentration.

Media Studies Courses - Fall Only

Liberal Arts Migration and Social Change Courses 

Add-On Options

OPTIONAL PRE-SESSION

Appropriate for students at any level of Spanish proficiency. It is an excellent opportunity for students on the cusp of pursuing a more advanced program track to increase their proficiency.

• You can take a pre-session before the semester begins by making arrangements directly with our partner language school in Cuernavaca. 
• This course takes place prior to the start of the regular semester and involves additional tuition and housing fees.
• This option is recommended for students who want to gain some basic Spanish before the program, or for students opting for an internship who wish to improve their skills. 
• Please be in touch with your Program Advisor if you are interested in this option. 

INTERNSHIP OPTION

This academically-based Internship offers a work placement experience paired with a coursework component to maximize your immersion in and understanding of your host culture’s work environment. Internships are 112 contact hours with the agency, along with 20 hours of class time. Internships comprise two blocks of study, and students applying must have at least two semesters of college-level Spanish language upon application. 

Placements comprise local non-profits in areas of children's services and education;  women’s autonomy and reproductive rights; indigenous Mexican human rights; among others. You will be matched to a placement that complements your academic and personal  interests.  Subject areas that are served by the Internship option include: American Indian Studies, Cross-Cultural Studies, Environmental Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Health Science, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Political Science, Religion, and Spanish. 

Concentrations

Communication and Media Studies 

Students take 16-19 credits, typically 4 or 5 courses.
There is a required cornerstone, EGEE COMM 329 Intercultural Communication (4 credits).

The remainder of your courses can be chosen from electives in Media, Cinema, Migration, Spanish, and other topics. 

Liberal Arts, Migration, and Social Change

There is a required cornerstone, EGEE COMM 329 Intercultural Communication (4 credits). 

There are four concentrations available to you. More information about concentrations is available here. 

You can choose a concentration in:

• Migration Studies
• Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
• Liberal Arts
• Spanish Language

Available Courses

Communication and Media Courses are described here. 

Liberal Arts Migration and Social Change courses are described here. 

Excursions

The full program of excursions designed by CGEE are also included, so that your community-based experience extends even beyond your homestay. You should plan to be out of the classroom and alongside local people for visits to local groups, museums, businesses, and more. Guest speakers round out the experience so that you will learn everything you’re curious about with regard to history, culture, and region. CGEE Mexican programs include all excursions associated with program attendance, and take students to such locations as Puebla, the Nevado de Toluca volcano, Mexico City (which is just two hours away from Cuernavaca), and more! 

Course and Internship Grading

All courses must be taken for a letter grade (A-F). The only exception is for Spanish classes, which may also be taken for a P/NC grade, with the following definitions:

• Pass: C- or higher
• Low Pass: D+, D or D-
• No Credit: F

Please make sure you have confirmed with your advisor or Registrar that a P/NC grade is permitted.

Explanation of Grades

Augsburg University uses a letter grading system using the following definitions: 

 *The letter grade equivalent of a P grade is a C- or higher.

**The letter grade equivalent of an LP grade is a D-, D, or D+.