Location

Notre Dame opened a new Mexico program at the Universidad de las Americas in 1999. The Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) is located in Cholula, a suburb of the colonial city of Puebla. Two hours southeast of Mexico City, with a population of about three million, Puebla has played a central role in Mexican history since the invasion of Cortes in the 16th century. Founded in 1531, the Spanish conquerors built a Cathedral and many churches in and around Puebla, which dominate Puebla's charming colonial center. Puebla is also famous as the site of the Mexican victory over the occupying French army on the Cinco de Mayo, 1862. Cholula is a city of 500,000 people located just five minutes west of Puebla. A center for local religious activity since the third century B.C., it is most famous for its pyramid, where several different indigenous civilizations have left their mark. It is the largest pyramid in the world, only partially excavated, and topped by a church, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios.

The Universidad de Las Americas was founded in 1940 as Mexico City College and in 1970 it moved to Puebla where it became the "Universidad de las Americas- Puebla." It covers 175 acres at the foot of the pyramid of Cholula. UDLA is divided into the Schools of Social Sciences, Humanities, Business Administration, Science and Engineering, and the Office of International Affairs. Current enrollment is approximately 7,500 students, 95% of whom are Mexican. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits UDLA, which means its bachelor's and master's degrees are recognized by the educational system in the U.S. UDLA is a modern campus with the same facilities that one finds at Notre Dame — dormitories, cafeterias, one of the largest libraries in Mexico with 400,000 volumes, computer labs, a bank, an infirmary and a travel agency.

Notre Dame's on-site coordinator in Cholula, Sra. Lisette Monterroso, is a resource for students in the program, helps organize homestays, and provides two program field trips per semester as well as service and cultural opportunities. 

Program of Study

Students may participate in the program for a year or a semester. The fall semester begins in early August and runs through mid-December; the spring semester from the beginning of January until May 15. The program is open to students from all colleges at Notre Dame with the equivalent of four semesters or better in Spanish language.

In the fall semester Notre Dame offers a pre-medical program which includes the first semester of General Physics, with laboratory.  Thus pre-professional students do not fall behind in their basic science requirements.  In addition, students have the opportunity to do internships with physicians in hospitals and clinics in Puebla and Cholula.  They learn first hand about the practice of medicine in Mexico, a country which sends so many immigrants to the United States.  The medical internship carries 3 elective credits and is graded S/U.

Students with high levels of proficiency in Spanish may enroll in courses in the regular departments of the University, with Mexican students. Students are encouraged to explore courses in their majors, especially those which may not be available on campus at Notre Dame. UDLA is a complete university offering the same range of majors available at Notre Dame, in Arts and Letters, Business, Science and Engineering. Students will take 15 credit hours per semester, and all courses completed are entered onto the student's transcript at Notre Dame and grades computed into the ND GPA. For-credit  internships are available in a wide variety of settings. Click here for web links to Puebla course information.

Eligibility for the Program

Students should plan to attend the program during their sophomore or junior year. Pre-professional students generally attend the program in their junior year, and must have completed at least four semesters of Spanish at Notre Dame or the equivalent.   Seniors may be considered under special circumstances with the permission of their Dean.  Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA with a "B" or better in Spanish language courses.  The application deadline is November 15th for the fall, spring, or academic year.

Additional Information                                                                                                                                                                           

There is much more we can tell you — about this location, vibrant religious, cultural and recreational life of this community ... about the student housing, transportation, health care and much, much more. It is, after all, the details that make this program so appealing. Interested? Just click here for additional information.