Led by Wheaton College faculty, Wheaton in México is a 17-week spring semester program that combines language study and practice, interdisciplinary courses, cultural immersion, and academic excursions. It gives students a unique opportunity to live in and learn about the cultures, languages and peoples of 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 and the LALS (Latin American and Latina/o Studies) major or minor. Some courses may fulfill elective or major requirements from other academic departments (subject to approval). Courses are primarily taught by local professors on the university campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (UAQ) 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 and LALS major at Wheaton College.
Students will complete the following required courses :
- SPAN 338: Intensive Advanced Spanish (4 hrs)
- GPS 321: Engaging Mexican Culture (4 hrs) SI tag
- GPS 302: Exploring Mexican History (4 hrs) HP tag
Students can complete 4 - 6 hours from the following courses (availability of elective courses dependent on enrollment):
- SPAN 332: Spanish Grammar and Composition (4 hrs)
- SPAN 337: Survey of Latin American Literature (4 hrs) LE/GP tag
- SPAN 489: Topics in Mexican Literature (4 hrs)
- GPS 301: Survey of Mexican Art (2 hrs) VPAV tag
- SPAN 489: Topics in Mexican-United States Relations (2 hrs)
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 Friday, October 18, 2024 to be considered for spring 2025 and Friday, October 17, 2025 to be considered for spring 2026.
Prerequisite Requirements
Students must be in good academic and judicial standing, have a minimum 2.75 GPA, 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 GPS 231: Orientation to Study Abroad (2 hrs) offered in B quad of the semester prior to departure. This course, when taken with GPS 232: Study Abroad Re-entry Seminar (2 hrs) fulfills the CATC Global Perspectives (GP) Thematic Core.
Semester Dates
Spring 2025: January 11 - May 10, 2025
Spring 2026: January 10 - May 9, 2026
Cost
Program costs are comparable to a full-time on-campus semester at Wheaton (full semester tuition and a program fee equivalent to on-campus housing and food costs) and cover tuition, room and board, orientation fees, textbooks, land travel in México, excursions, a weekly transportation allowance, and a stipend for airfare. Passport, visa (where needed), and other personal expenses are not included.
A $500 non-refundable deposit is collected after acceptance to the program and applied toward program tuition fee. Financial aid is available for the program on the same basis as that of an on-campus semester.
Program Director
Dr. Tim Klingler, Senior Lecturer of Spanish
I am delighted to be serving as the Program Director for the Wheaton in México (WIM) program. My family and I were privileged to lead the program in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023. 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.
I am happy to talk with students as they explore the possibility of a semester in México. If you have questions or would like more information about the Wheaton in México program, please email me at timothy.klingler@wheaton.edu or schedule an appointment to connect.
How to Apply
To apply, visit GoGlobal, Wheaton College's registration system for off-campus study and international travel, research, and internships.
The application deadline for the spring 2025 semester has passed and the spring 2025 cohort is full. Check back in November 2024 for the spring 2026 Wheaton in Mexico application!