Mexico: Health Studies

In cooperation with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA), this program provides language intensive academic and experiential learning through a rigorous curriculum comprised of university courses and program-specific courses, with an additional focus on public health.

The IFSA program offers students the opportunity to take classes at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán (a major public research university) as well as a mandatory Community and Culture course and Spanish language courses for those at the intermediate level (determined by a written and oral language evaluation completed upon arrival).

Students also take part in a specialized academic concentration focused on Public Health. This opportunity offers students in-depth exploration of the subject by completing coursework on Public Health and life sciences at the university, and working with local health professionals in rural and urban settings to examine traditional and non-traditional approaches to health care.

In addition to the academic coursework, students can choose to include a semester-long not-for-credit volunteer experience ( in local schools, community organizations, NGOs, local cooperatives, museums, etc.) as part of their weekly schedule.

Program Location: In Mérida, Yucatán, students explore how Mexico balances 21st century realities with the enduring influence of the pre-Hispanic Mayan empire. Through the Mérida Universities Program, which includes multi-day excursions to Mexico City and San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, students interact with complexities of the local culture and learn how the Mayan influence is threaded differently throughout Mexico.

Onsite Staff: The Resident Director of IFSA Mérida is Rodrigo Diego Rivera Hernandez. Rodrigo holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and a postgraduate program in cultural affairs from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. The Student Experience Coordinator is Valeria Guemez Graniel. Valeria earned her master’s degree in public policy and administration at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE), building upon her bachelor’s degree in social anthropology at the Autonomous University of Yucatán.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits.

Major / Minor Requirements - This program also provides credit toward the Health Studies minor. (The exact amount depends on courses taken).

This program also fulfills the overseas study requirements for the Hispanic Studies major, the World Languages Major with Spanish as the primary language, the Hispanic Studies minor, and the Latin American Studies minor.

(Please note: Hispanic Studies majors are still required to take at least 8 credits directly applicable to that major; consultation with a Hispanic Studies advisor is strongly recommended). (Please note: Students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers are not able to retroactively declare a Hispanic Studies major or minor after program completion).

(Please note that students who have Spanish 321 waived because they are native Spanish speakers may still be required to take a language placement exam in order to place them in appropriate courses on site).

Credits: Credit earned varies based on courses completed, but students may earn up to 19 credits. Overloads are not permitted.

Curriculum: Students take courses (3 credits each), all taught exclusively in Spanish, comprised of the following:

• IFSA Contemporary Issues in Public Health in the Yucatan (3 U.S. semester credit hours): As part of the course, students will participate in all Hoy En Tu Comunidad (UADY student organization with public health focus) field projects or do a service project at UADY’s Unidad de Inserción Social. Students will also visit a Mayan community to meet a midwife, a bonesetter, and an herbal doctor, among other related activities.
• 1-2 Health-related courses at the UADY (3 U.S. semester credit hours) which may include:
• • Sports medicine
  • Clinical psychology
  • Tropical diseases
  • Nutrition
  • Medical anthropology
  • Nursing
• IFSA Advanced Spanish course (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
• IFSA’s Exploring Community and Culture program (3 U.S. semester credit hours)
• 1-2 additional courses at the UADY (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Excursions: The excursions are all designed to include a rigorous academic dimension, in tandem with the Community and Culture course. The program includes 2 day-trip excursions to nearby archaeological sites, Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. The program also includes 3 multi-day excursions. The first is to a small Mayan community 2 hours east of Mérida, Yaxunah. During the excursion, students stay with local families and engage in various workshops with local families and in particular local youth (14-25 years old) around issues of higher education and local sustainability efforts. The second excursion is a trip to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, where students visit nearby indigenous communities and learn extensively about the cultural history of the region. The final excursion is to Mexico City, where students visit many museums, cultural sites, and gain an understanding of the diversity and complexity of Mexico as it is embodied and represented in the capital city.

Housing: Students stay with local families in the Járdines de Mérida neighborhood where the IFSA office is located. Only one student stays with each family, and all meals are provided. Given the local customs around extended family, students regularly interact not only with those family members they live with (often including adult children), but also extended family during regular family gatherings. The vast majority of the families have been hosting IFSA students regularly for at least 5 years.

Extracurricular Activities: In Merida, Students participate in Cultural events and excursions, including a multi-day excursion to archaeological sites, Mexico City and San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas

Students enjoy free evening concerts and a thriving nightlife in a student-friendly atmosphere

“It’s not so bad to take courses as the only exchange student in a local class – you can do it! It is definitely worth it.”

“Be open-minded about everything including food, music, and the people.”

“It is hot, and you have very limited access to AC, so bring a water bottle with you and clothes that are appropriate for 100 degrees+.”

“Try to connect with the local students; they will know you are an international student from day one and want to talk to you. I took away more from befriending the local students than from befriending the American students. They will help you adjust and answer your questions if you need help. Put yourself out there!”

“People are excited to share their culture if you are willing to listen. Talk to people, take notes, and listen. Enjoy and take away as much as possible because it goes by quickly. Bring a journal and write things down!”

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, cobbled, or unpaved terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities
• Heightened consideration for food and water safety
• Certain vaccinations are highly recommended. Please consult with a travel health clinic

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: This program has a dual application process. Student must first submit a Lewis & Clark Application. Once admitted by Lewis & Clark, the students will receive instructions for submitting their secondary application to IFSA and will receive a separate notification letter of admittance. Please keep a digital copy of your essays and other application materials as you will need to submit these similar materials to IFSA. Please note that this secondary application process can be as late as the semester preceding your scheduled participation.

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into the Mérida International Airport (MID), where they are met by IFSA staff and transported to orientation.

Visa: More information will be provided upon admission to the program.  

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Mexico.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Mexico page.