California-Mexico Higher Education Field Study Experience CHLS-490: Special Topics (3 units), Spring 2015 Spring break travel-study: Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico (3/25-4/5/2015) Instructor: Armando Vazquez-Ramos, Email: armando.vazquez-ramos@csulb.edu

This travel-study course provided students with academic and field study exposure to the cultural lifestyle, educational system and social institutions of Mexico, while enhancing language skills through a 12-day full-immersion travel-study experience. The primary goal of the course was to develop a comprehensive understanding of educational policies, new California-Mexico collaboration agreements and the economic factors shaping the California-Mexico relationship. Goals of the course: The primary goal of the course will be to connect theory and practice for the student to develop a critical understanding of how historical, social, political, and economic forces affect U.S.-Mexico foreign policy, and its impact upon Latinos in the U.S.-- now the largest minority in the nation. The course will also examine contemporary issues related to the U.S. Chicano/Latino population, its interdependent relationship to their countries of origin in the Western Hemisphere, and familiarize the student with their contributions; and the important role that this population will have in the 21st century. Most importantly, the course will offer the student a 12-day study abroad experience that will include 60 hours of intensive classroom instruction (about 8 hours per day) on the above topics and a full-immersion learning experience of Spanish and Mexican Culture through the Tlahuica Center for Language and Cultural Exchange (CETLALIC) in Cuernavaca; homestay lodging and meals to enhance the “full-immersion” language skills development and living experience, and several evening and weekend excursions.