Clayton News Daily

Photo by Heather Middleton

By Mehgaan Jones

mjones@news-daily.com

Clayton State University (CSU) is offering its first-ever study abroad trip to Guadalajara, Mexico.

The trip will take place this year during CSU's upcoming "Maymester," ( a two-week break before the summer semester), according to a news release issued by John Shiffert, CSU's director of University Relations.

"Students will spend five weeks studying Spanish in Guadalajara through the Centro de Estudios para Extranjeros [or CEPE, a program for Spanish-teaching instruction] with a Clayton State faculty member," said Shiffert.

The departure date for the trip is May 21, from Atlanta, and students will return, on June 25, CSU''s media spokesman added.

"Each student will take one Spanish course [three hours] offered by CEPE," Shiffert said. "Students may earn up to six college credit hours for this study abroad experience."

Students are required to take a placement test before departure, to ensure proper placement, according to Shiffert.

"The travel requirements include a valid passport," he said. The cost of the program is $2,430, which includes travel, room and board, excursions, health insurance and CEPE tuition, he said. "Clayton State tuition is not included in the program cost," he added.

The program, he said, is open to students from any Georgia collegiate institution. "Participants must have at least 24 hours of previous college credit, with a minimum GPA [grade point average] of 2.5," he said.

According to Shiffert, students will be exposed to a metropolitan city through a host family. "The immersion into the culture will broaden their knowledge of the culture and expand on their everyday speaking of Spanish," he said. "Day tours of Guadalajara, and a weekend getaway to the Pacific Ocean beaches at Puerto Vallarta, are also included."

"Guadalajara is known for its industries in technology, Mariachi music and textiles," Shiffert said. "Consequently, students will be able to enjoy the city and gather why it is known as the cultural center of West Mexico."

For more information, call Dr. Khedija Gadhoum, a Clayton State assistant professor of Spanish, at (678) 466-4732, or visit the Guadalajara, Mexico Maymester web site at http://adminservices.clayton.edu/oip/.