Study Abroad in Guadalajara...

Guadalajara is a city of monuments, parks, fountains and tree-lined avenues where you will feel as if you have stepped back in time. The capital of the state of Jalisco, Guadalajara is a large city with a small-town atmosphere, and is often referred to as the "Most Mexican City" in the country. Guadalajara is located in the western highlands of Mexico, some 280 miles from Mexico City. Many international students choose to study there because of its eight internationally known universities with 50 different specialties.

The second-largest city in Mexico, Guadalajara has influenced Mexican culture, economics and politics since its founding. Indigenous groups including the Chapalas and Huicholes lived in the Guadalajara area until the arrival of Spanish conquistador Nuño de Guzman, who founded the city in 1532. In 1810, the year of Mexican independence from Spain, the area was named Jalisco, or "place of jal," due to the abundance of the "jal" stone. The city celebrated its 450th anniversary in 1992, and students can explore this long history at many of the city's universities, including the Universidad Panamericana, Guadalajara.

Guadalajara contains many reminders of Mexico's past, preserved in its historic buildings and monuments. The city's historic center, which includes such notable structures as the neoclassical Degollado Theatre, the stately Plaza de Armas and the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres, will fascinate students of Mexican history and architecture. Architectural innovation continues today, with plans for a striking new home for the world's sixth Guggenheim Museum underway. The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is also a prime destination for students interested in studying architecture.

The Universidad de Guadalajara has a strong program in the arts. Since Guadalajara is considered the capital of culture in Mexico, art students will flock there to see its famous museums. One of the finest is the Museo Regional del Occidente, housed in an intriguing 18th century building located in the historic center. Students can investigate the city's development at the Museo de la Ciudad. The gothic Catedral Metropolitana, also located in the historic center and completed in 1618, is a work of art in itself, and contains B.E. Murillo's noted painting, "La Purisma Concepcion."

Guadalajara is a natural choice for students of international business, as it is known as the "Silicon Valley" of Mexico. The city is host to such international firms as IBM, Hewlett Packard and General Electric. Guadalajara's commercial sector accounts for a large percentage of Mexico's Total National Income, and FDI magazine ranked it as the North American city with the second-greatest development potential in a 2007 survey. Students interested in studying business in Guadalajara may want to attend the Technológico de Monterrey, Guadalajara.

Guadalajara, perhaps not surprisingly, is also an excellent place for students to improve their Spanish language skills. Students here will have the opportunity to master the language among native speakers. Most of the city's universities, including the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, boast comprehensive programs in Spanish language and Mexican culture.

Students interested in Mexican culture will encounter local artists, dancers and street performers in Guadalajara. No stay in the city is complete without some time spent in the Tlaquepaque area, an arts center with music, pottery and handicrafts. Mariachi, the Mexican hat dance and tequila originated in Guadalajara, and the world now considers them "typically Mexican." Guadalajara, the "City of Roses," is also famous for its month-long October Festival, which features parties and cultural events.

In their spare time, students can hang out on Chapultepec Avenue, or "Zona Rosa," a tree-lined street featuring coffee houses, bars, restaurants and shopping. Soccer is huge in the city. So is the Avenida Vallarta (the main artery from downtown to the city's west side), which is treasured for its thriving nightlife as well as its colonial mansions, which once housed the city's upper class.

To take in a traditionally Mexican spectacle, students can catch a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros Nuevo Progreso or a rodeo at the Lienzo charro de Jalisco. Guadalajara is sunny and warm year-round, so plenty of outdoor activities attract students outside the classroom. Whatever course of study or recreational activities they choose, students will feel comfortable in the city thanks to the hospitality of the "tapatíos," as Guadalajara natives call themselves.

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ONLINE RESOURCES
IIEPassport: http://www.iiepassport.org/
Tourism: http://www.allaboutguadalajara.com
U.S. Embassy, Guadalajara: http://www.us-embassy-consulate.com/guadalajara-mexico.htm
Mexican government: http://www.mexonline.com/mexagncy.htm
United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce: http://www.usmcoc.org/
Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior: http://www.cetys.mx/
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP

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