Castle Chapultepec - German Rojas

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

Language

English

Semester

Spring 2025

Program type

Group Study

Application information

Application status

Closed

Application deadline

November 11, 2024

Additional requirements

Undergraduate students in good standing from all faculties are welcome to apply.

Info session

Wednesday October 16, 11am-12pm in SS 623 and hybrid on Zoom

If you missed the info session, please see the video recording - visible on the side of this webpage.

Student experience

A group of 9 people of varying height & gender pose for a photo in the sunlight. They are standing on flat rocks in a wide open field. Rows of stone steps, ruins, and a pyramid rise in the distance, as well as the gren edges of a forest.

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:

Info Session

Recorded October 16, 2024

Program details

Questions about these courses should be directed to the program instructor.

Please note: course descriptions are tentative and subject to change.

  1. 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)

  2. 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.

  1. Pre-departure

    February or March (date TBD), Calgary: Mandatory Group Travel Medical 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

  2. 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)

  3. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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 (2 students per room) with an attached private bathroom. This is a comfortable, family-run hotel which the group has stayed at in past years; the hotel booking includes a traditional Mexican breakfast, or you can buy your own food if you prefer.

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

Watch Global Learning 101

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.

Book an appointment

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.

Find your academic advisor

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.

APPLY NOW

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.