Wheaton in México

Location

The program is based in Querétaro, a beautiful colonial city in central México, three hours by bus from México City. Founded in 1531, the city’s historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. It is one of México’s most prosperous cities, a site for major international companies, and home to over twenty universities and seven research centers. With a population of over one million people, Querétaro has a vibrant intellectual and artistic community, and excellent medical services. Located at 5,970 feet above sea level, the city has a sunny, semi-arid climate with daily temperatures averaging 66° Fahrenheit from January to May. A city with a rich religious heritage, Querétaro has a strong Catholic and an active Protestant presence.

Living Arrangements

Students live with Mexican host families for the duration of the semester. Students can walk to classes or utilize the efficient public transportation system.

Courses

Students may earn up to 18 credit hours, with up to 14 credit hours meeting CATC requirements; all courses can be applied toward a Spanish major or minor. Some courses may fulfill Legacy general education, elective, or major requirements from other academic departments (subject to approval).  Courses are primarily taught by local professors on the university campus of the Instituto Tecnológicol de Querétaro (ITQ) and at the Centro Intercultural de Querétaro.  All students take a four-hour interdisciplinary course with the Wheaton College professor in residence, focusing on developing intercultural competency, navigating daily life, and exploring Mexican cultures. 

This program fulfills the study abroad requirement for the Spanish major at Wheaton College.

Students will complete the following required courses :

• SPAN 338 (4 hrs) Intensive Advanced Spanish
• GEL 321 (4 hrs) Engaging Mexican Culture (SI)
• GEL 302 (4 hrs) Exploring Mexican History (HP)

Students can complete 4 - 6 hours from the following courses (availability of elective courses dependent on enrollment):

• SPAN 332 (4 hrs) Spanish Grammar and Composition 
• SPAN 337 (4 hrs) Survey of Latin American Literature (LE/GP, Diversity credit in Legacy Gen Ed)
• SPAN 489 (4 hrs) Topics in Mexican Literature
• GEL 301 (2 hrs) Survey of Mexican Art (VPAV)
• SPAN 489 (2 hrs) Topics in Mexican-United States Relations

Practicums and internships, especially for Education and Pre-health students, may be available. These must be arranged in collaboration with faculty in students’ major department. Requests must be made in writing to the program director by October 26, 2018, to be considered for Spring 2019 and by October 25, 2019, to be considered for Spring 2020.

Pre-Requisite Requirements

Students must be in good academic and judicial standing and complete Spanish 201 (or equivalent) to participate; students are strongly encouraged to take Spanish 331 or Spanish 332 prior to the program. 

All program participants are required to enroll in the Wheaton in México section of GEL 231: Orientation to Study Abroad (2 hrs) offered in B quad of the semester prior to departure. This course, when taken with GEL 232: Study Abroad Re-entry Seminar (2 hrs) fulfills the CATC Global Perspectives (GP) Thematic Core.

Semester Dates  

Spring 2020: January 11 - May 9

Cost

Program costs are equivalent to an on-campus semester at Wheaton and cover tuition, room and board, orientation fees, textbooks, land travel in México, excursions, a weekly transportation allowance, and a stipend for airfare equivalent to airfare from Chicago.  This does not cover passport fees and other personal expenses. Financial aid is available for the program on the same basis as that of an on-campus semester.

Program Director

Dr. Tim Klingler, Assistant Professor of Spanish

I am delighted to be serving as the Program Director for the Wheaton in Mexico (WIM) program. My family and I were privileged to lead the program in 2014, 2016, and 2018. A Political Science and Spanish double major at Wheaton, I studied in Costa Rica the spring of my sophomore year. My semester abroad enriched my Wheaton education and transformed my faith and Christian worldview, my personal interests, and my vocational journey.

After graduating from Wheaton, I worked for nine years with non-profit agencies engaged in community development in Central America and social work with immigrants - refugees from around the world and Mexican farm worker families - in Chicago and Central California. Interested in exploring the church's role in social transformation as well as theology and faith in Latin America, I completed a MA in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. During later graduate studies in Spanish and Latin American Literatures at the University of California, Santa Barbara, I had the opportunity to research many Mexican writers, including the 17th century Mexican nun, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and contemporary authors such as José Emilio Pacheco and Carlos Monsivaís. I enjoy exploring Mexican literature, history and culture, as well as diverse expressions of Mexican Christianity. In the years I lead the program, I am thrilled to accompany Wheaton students as they grow in their faith, in their understanding of who they are, and in their linguistic and intercultural competence as they build lasting relationships with Mexicans and experience Mexico's rich cultures.