天天吃瓜

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A drone photo of Xochimilco in Mexico City. There is a waterway with land and farm plots in between.

The Environmental Policy in Mexico City program is a joint research project between 天天吃瓜 and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico City). Through interactive group projects, you will explore ways to reduce poverty and promote economic inclusion in Mexico while preserving small-scale food production and ancient cultural traditions.

Application open! Applications for Spring Break, March 2025 are open! Apply by January 1, 2025 to participate.

 

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Location

Mexico City, Mexico

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Term

Spring Break

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Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

This program is participatory research-based and seeks to better understand if small-scale food production can preserve culture and if it is economically sustainable, given the policy prioritization toward corporate food production, processing, and consumption

Participants will work in project teams with students from Universidad Panamericana and partner directly with a community of Chinamperos (farmers/gardeners) who have preserved Aztec growing methods in Mexico City.

You鈥檒l get your first taste of studying abroad via a trip to Mexico City during Spring Break, and ideally, complement that experience with a study abroad summer program to Canada in June.
 

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Sr. Education Abroad Advisor

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates & Billing

Program Dates: March 7 - March 16, 2025

Application Deadline: January 1, 2025

Withdrawal/Commitment Deadline: January 3, 2025

鈥嬧嬧婸rogram Fee Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your 天天吃瓜 State student account. The program fee deadline will be in accordance with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's Spring 2025 payment due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2025 due date.

Application Process

You will need to complete a 天天吃瓜 State Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a 天天吃瓜 State education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to 天天吃瓜 as a 鈥Guest Student鈥. Please apply as either an 鈥淯ndergraduate Guest Student鈥 or as a 鈥淕raduate Guest Student鈥, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a 天天吃瓜 student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the 鈥淎pply Now鈥 button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission). 

Eligibility
  • Open to all majors at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA
Academics

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: Environmental Policy in Mexico City

Number of Credit Hours: 3

KSU Sponsoring College: Arts & Sciences

Course Description:

This course will cover several topical areas: environmental policy and practice; urbanization and city planning; economic challenges; indigenous cultural preservation.  Themes will be discussed in the context of the Chinampa System at Lake Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico.

Through field experiences students will explore solutions-based projects in collaboration with the community.

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Faculty Contact Information

Name: Sarah Schmidt

Email: sschmi16@kent.edu

Phone: 330-244-3579

Tentative Itinerary

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence, sites, and departure city are subject to changes in availability and cost.

  • Day 1: Group flight to Mexico City.
  • Day 2: Introduction to project - Universidad Panamericana; group meal
  • Day 3: Community Introduction - Lake Xochimilco
  • Day 4: Project planning/implementation
  • Day 5: Project planning/implementation
  • Day 6: Project planning/implementation
  • Day 7: Project planning/implementation
  • Day 8: Project planning/implementation
  • Day 9: Excursion Day
  • Day 10: Group flight to Ohio.
Location & Transportation

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City, the vibrant heart of Mexico, is a sprawling metropolis teeming with history, culture, and endless energy, which serves as the political, cultural, and economic hub of the country. Located within the breathtaking Valley of Mexico, Mexico City boasts a rich tapestry of architectural marvels that reflect its diverse heritage. From ancient Aztec ruins like the Templo Mayor to colonial-era gems such as the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Palace, the city's skyline is a testament to its diverse past. Students have the opportunity to walk through the historic neighborhoods of Centro Hist贸rico and Coyoac谩n, where colorful colonial buildings line cobblestone streets, offering glimpses into Mexico's storied past. The weather in Mexico City during Spring Break usually varies between 65鈥85掳F (18-29掳C), very warm and mild weather with little rain!

Transportation

All international and in-country program travel are included in the program fee.

Students will fly from Cleveland (CLE) airport to Mexico City (MEX) in a group flight.

Housing & Meals

Students will stay in hotel accommodation in Mexico City, with two students per room.

Breakfast is included at the hotel.

A combination of group meals (included in program fee) and individual meals (not included in program fee) will be provided. You should plan on budgeting extra funds for at least one or two meals per day.

Financial Aid & Scholarships
Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

  • international travel procedures;
  • in-country resources;
  • health and safety resources and information;
  • culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we鈥檝e pulled together for you on our 鈥Before You Go鈥 page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Costs and Funding

cost affordability icon

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and reach out to Financial Aid the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program.

 

Group of 天天吃瓜 State students posing in front of the Piramides de Teotihuacan.
Martin Walschburger Hurtado
Biology

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