ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
Guatemala, Immigration, and Transnationalism
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Program Description
This study abroad program offers students the opportunity to live in an UNESCO World Heritage site while studying Spanish and learning about the process of immigration and transnationalism from the US and Guatemalan perspectives. Students live with a Guatemalan host-family and receive one-on-one Spanish language training in the mornings and attend the immigration class two afternoons a week, leaving lots of time to explore the colonial city of Antigua (founded in the 1600s) and its many restaurants, cafes, cultural attractions, and historical sites. The program includes weekend excursions to scenic Lake AtÃtlán and Rio Dulce as well as the Mayan ruins of Copan and Iximche. Students will also visit a local coffee farm, weaving cooperative, and have the opportunity to explore a live volcano and zipline through the tropical rainforest. The immigration course includes an academic service-learning component, working with , a non-profit organization that partners with families to promote education, health, and development in Guatemala. Learn Spanish, receive academic service-learning credit, learn about the forces propelling the cycle of migration, and fall in love with one of the greatest cities in the world on this Guatemalan adventure.Ìý
APPLY NOW FACULTY-LED APPLICATION
| Program Dates and Deadlines: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Year | Application Deadline (or as space permits) |
ProgramStart Date/Check-in | Program End Date/Check-out |
|
Summer |
2026 |
February 1, 2026Ìý |
May 11, 2026 |
June 12, 2026 |
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Information Sheet |
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|---|---|
| Open to | All academic disciplines. Priority given to WHC students until December 15. After December 15, all Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵstudents will be reviewed as space permits. All interested students should apply as soon as possible regardless of major/campus. Non-WHC students will be placed on an interest list and reviewed after December 15. |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Level of Study | Undergraduate |
| Credit Offered | Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵcredits |
| Program Primary Subject | Political Science, Immigration, Transnationalism, international studies, and Spanish Language |
| Sponsoring College | Wilkes Honors College |
| Education Abroad Advisor | Brendan Richardson |
Program Course Offerings:
- IDS 3932:ÌýHonors Interdisciplinary Study Abroad: Immigration and Transnationalism (3 credits) - Required for All Participants
- SPN 2957: Spanish Conversation Abroad (3-4 credits)Ìý
- SPN 4905: Honors Spanish Language and Culture (3-4 credits)
Course Eligibility & Requirements:
Students participating on the program are required to take IDS 3932 and one of the SPN program course offerings for at least 6 credits total. Ìý
Note your courses of interest on your study abroad application in the course section.Ìý
*Important information regarding travel documentation*
Passport processing times have changed. Review up-to-date details
Routine processing times can take 6-8 weeks, and expedited applications in 2-3 weeks. Processing times begin when your application is received by a passport agency or center, and do not include mailing times. It may take up to 2 weeks for your application to be received by passport agency, and up to 2 weeks for you to receive your completed passport after agency mails it to you. Therefore, you should add an additional 4 weeks to you passport application processing time.Ìý
Program Eligibility & Requirements
- Must have a 3.0 GPA at the time of application for undergraduate students. Lower GPA's may be reviewed on a cases by case basis.Ìý
- Must be in good academic standing at the time of application
- Must be eligible to take Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵcourses during the study abroad program term
- See Policies & Procedures page for more information
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Program Faculty Leaders: |
Education Abroad Contact: Brendan Richardson, Interim Director |
| Dr. Timothy Steigenga, Wilkes Honors College | Brendan Richardson |
| Email: tsteigen@fau.eduÌý |
Email: brichardson@fau.edu |
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For questions regarding the course, itinerary, or other in-country logistics, contact the faculty leader(s) listed above.Ìý |
For questions regarding the study abroad application, program fees, funding, or other study abroad questions, schedule an appointment with the Education Abroad Contact listed aboveÌý through Success Network () to schedule study abroad advising. |
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Location
Antigua is a charming colonial city with many well-preserved artifacts and regal structures in the shadow of three volcanoes. The volcanoes can be hiked into the highlands to explore the lovely landscape as well as the city from above. The city is surrounded by tiny Mayan villages with vibrant local markets and coffee farms.Ìý
Housing
Students will live with a Guatemalan family in a home within walking distance of the school and the town center. Two or more students will be placed with each family. The homestay includes three meals a day Monday through Friday and internet access within the home. ÌýHousing assignments are communicated prior to arrival and are designed to match the needs and expectations of each program participant.
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Program Cost and Funding
Financial Aid and Scholarship InformationÌý
- Students participating on Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵFaculty-led Programs may use eligible financial aid
- Program participants may be eligible to apply for the Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵEducation Abroad Scholarship
- See additional scholarship and funding information here.
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Program Cost
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Program fee: $4,300 + tuition for the courses associated/required for the programÌý
Program fee payment deadlines:
1ST PAYMENT: $900 due by Sunday, September 14, 2025
2ND PAYMENT: Remaining balance of $1,289 due by Sunday, September 28, 2025Ìý
Accepted participants will receive detailed payment instructions from the Education Abroad team via email after application deadline.Ìý
What's Included:
- Homestay accommodations from check-in through check-out date
- International medical insurance
- Transport to and from Antigua airport
- 3 meals a day M-F with host family
- 8+ group meals
- 4 hours of one-on-one Spanish instruction M-R
- Excursions and transportation to Lake AtÃtlán and lximche, Rio Dulce and Livingston, and the Copan ruins in Honduras, and the Pacaya Volcano
- Antigua walking tour
- Local afternoon excursions to a coffee farm, weaving cooperative, Hobbitenango, and other local excursions
- Ziplining activity
- Guest lectures with Guatemalan academics
- Service learning experience with Common Hope
Activities and excursions are subject to change by faculty leader or program provider/vendor if needed due to weather or other unforseen circumstances. Replacement activity or excursion will be provided.
What's NOT included:Ìý
- $200 administrative fee paid at time of application submission
- International Airfare
- Tuition for courses/credits taken on program (Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵin-state and out-of-state rates apply)
- Personal spending money
- Travel documentation
HEALTH, SAFETY AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION
All students must attend pre-departure sessions prior to study abroad. Education Abroad and your program faculty leaders will provide you with further details pertaining to dates, times, and location in the semester before your program.Ìý
1) Mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Education Abroad office. This session will cover general international travel related topics such as health, safety, insurance, and travel tips.Ìý
2) Mandatory pre-departure meeting hosted by program faculty leader. This session will cover program and location specific information such as arrival, expectations, itinerary, and course overview.
International health and travel insurance
All Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵstudents participating on an Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵFaculty-led Program will be registered in international health and travel insurance coverage through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This mandatory insurance ensures that students have access to medical and emergency support services while abroad. This is included in the program cost.
Resources
- U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory – Country Information:
- CDC:
- CDC Travelers' Health:
- Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵSHS: Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵ- Health Advisory
- WHO:
- Access to vaccine: Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵ- COVID-19 Vaccine Information
- Benefits of being fully vaccinated prior to departure for your study abroad program:
- Reduced risk of denied entry if a country requires vaccination for entry
- Reduced risk of having to get vaccinated abroad if it becomes mandatory in the country of study
- Reduced risk of denied acceptance to one of our foreign universities
- Reduced risk of denied acceptance into campus housing or host accommodations abroad
- Reduced risk of spreading COVID-19 and its variants to other parts of the world, including the communities where we have programs
- Reduced risk of contracting COVID-19 while abroad, which could lead to missed classes and excursions, mandatory quarantine or isolation, and other disruptions to the program
- Increases student access to local events, services, and travel while abroad
- Provides more flexibility in planning study abroad extracurricular activities, including excursions
- The WHO and U.S. CDC agree that the vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious illness and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Alongside our other prevention measures, the vaccine significantly increases protection for Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵfaculty, staff, students, and international partners
Regarding increased access because of being vaccinated, please be aware that businesses and services may legally restrict access to exclude unvaccinated individuals. Local ordinances may allow the same. In such cases, Â鶹¾«Æ·ÊÓƵwon’t be able to intervene or advocate on your behalf.