Mexico City: Past and Present
Examine the history of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Paying particular attention to space and place, you will uncover the historical processes (political, intellectual, ecological, social, and cultural) that have factored into Mexico City’s urban development. As you travel through neighbourhoods that encompass the pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern periods, you will develop an understanding of how these diverse physical spaces reflect Latin American politics, economics, and society. Other topics that will be covered include the complexity of Mexico’s Indigenous identity, the manifestation of class hierarchies, and the origins of public & private spaces in this megacity.
Receive 2 course credits while exploring museums, archaeological sites, and famous neighbourhoods, all in the span of just ten days!
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Nicole Flemming (Past Participant)
Have questions?
For program information, please contact Dr. Amelia Kiddle at akiddle@ucalgary.ca or Dr. Pablo Policzer at policzer@ucalgary.ca
For application and registration support, please contact the Group Study Team at group.study@ucalgary.ca
Other useful links:
Program details
Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.
Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.
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Courses offered
Students on this program are required to enroll in two courses:
HTST 410.02: Great Cities of the World: Mexico City (3 units)
LAST 301: Field Study in Latin America (3 units)
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Prerequisites
The prerequisite for registration in all of the courses offered on this program is by consent of the instructor.
Travel can be unpredictable! GSP travel itineraries are tentative and subject to change, including while in field.
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Pre-departure
February or March (date TBD), Calgary: Mandatory Group Travel Clinic
March TBD, Calgary: Mandatory Pre-departure Orientation facilitated by the Global Learning office
May 2, 1-4pm: Academic seminar - Introduction to Mexican History
May 5, 1-4pm: Academic seminar - Comparative Colonialism
May 6, 1-4pm: Academic seminar - Viewing of Roma and discussion
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In-field
May 8, Calgary/Mexico City: Depart Calgary for Mexico City. Note: There may be a layover in the United States (TBD)
May 9, Mexico City - Chapultepec: Visit Chapultepec Park (one of the largest city parks in the Americas!), Chapultepec Castle, and the Museo Nacional de Historia
May 10, Mexico City - Zócalo: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon visit to Templo Mayor
May 11, Mexico City - Tlatelolco: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon visit to the archaeological sites at Tlatelolco
May 12, Mexico City - Roma: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon walking tour of the Roma neighbourhood
May 13, Mexico City - Xochimilco: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon group exploration of Xochimilco
May 14, Mexico City - Tepito: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon walking tour of the Tepito neighbourhood & market
May 15, Mexico City - Teotihuacan: Guided tour of the Teotichuacan ruins
May 16, Mexico City - Coyoacán: Academic seminar in the morning; afternoon guided tour of Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum)
May 17, Mexico City: Wrap-up seminar, with free time in the afternoon
May 18, Mexico City/Calgary: Depart for return flight to Calgary (or continue on independent travel)
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Post-field
June 6: Deadline for research essay, submitted online
June (TBD): Group meeting in Calgary. Critical reflection, trip debrief, and oral presentation of Streetwise History assignments
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Costs
The estimated cost of the Mexico City: Past and Present Group Study Program is $4,909. This includes tuition, airfare, field trips, local transportation, accommodations and meals.
For the full cost breakdown and payment deadlines, please see the program Student Cost Summary.
Important information regarding deposit payments: Deposits are non-refundable. Deposits secure your space in the program and allows payment for logistical arrangements to be made in advance.
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Funding
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Learning Award. The funding page (click here) is a great resource for faculty-specific awards and other funding opportunities.
Student loans: If you qualify for student loans, your program should qualify. Please note that eligibility for student loans is determined by your loans provider.
The group will be staying at Hotel Casa González. Rooms are shared (estimated 2 students per room - to be confirmed later) with an attached private bathroom.
This program is open to undergraduate students in good academic standing from all faculties.
Applications will be considered after your online application and supplementary documents have been received in full.
Please read the sections below for information about what your application will include. The application is completed online. Because the online application will time out after 1 hour, we recommend writing out your answers to the application questions in a Word document and preparing any of the supplementary documents you may need in advance.
Once you are ready, click here to access the application system.
Announcements on whether you have been selected to the program will not be distributed until after the November 11 deadline.
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Written application questions
All Group Study Programs have general questions about how the program will meet your goals (academic reasons, personal interest, career prospects, etc.), how you plan to finance your program, and coping skills for travelling abroad. These questions are designed to help narrow down your motivation for applying and why you should be selected.
Note: Because the online application will time out after one hour, we recommend that you "save" your application, copy the questions into a Word document to compose your answers, check for spelling, grammar and word count, and then paste it into the online application.
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Unofficial transcript
Download an unofficial transcript from your Student Centre. Click here for a step-by-step guide to access your unofficial transcript.
You will be asked to upload your transcript as a PDF in the online application.
Please ensure that you have read the Group Study Program General FAQs thoroughly before applying.
Learning about the student protests that reverberated throughout Mexico in 1968 was fascinating, and as a student I found it very motivating [...] Travelling to a foreign country with a diverse group of peers was an amazing experience.
Joseph Van Lierop (BSc Computer Science)
2023 Program Participant
The advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
Getting started
Program-Specific Info Sessions
Info sessions are scheduled for every Group Study Program. Attending an info session is not required to apply, but strongly recommended as it will give you an opportunity to meet the instructor and learn more about the travel experience.
We also recommend watching Global Learning 101 for general information.
Global Learning Advising
If you have questions about this program, you can meet with one of our Global Learning Advisors by emailing group.study@ucalgary.ca or booking an appointment through the link below.
1. Select "Advising"
2. Select “Study Abroad”
3. Select “Book by Appointment Type”
4. Select your program advisor to view available times.
Academic Advising
Before applying to study abroad, you should ask your academic advisor how a Group Study Program might align with your degree.
After you are accepted, you should ask your academic advisor more specific questions about courses/credits. It’s also recommended to follow up with your advisor again once you return to Calgary.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.