Exploring Peace, Justice, and Community Engagement

CGEE programs offer a unique model of experiential programs, rooted in social justice, and focused on direct community engagement. The Central America semester program provides an engaging look at three countries within the region.

Students will learn about issues related to conflict, U.S. foreign policy, gender, and economic and social justice.

All courses are taught in English, only one semester of previous Spanish language is required. Students will be able to practice their Spanish in an immersive environment with host families and the local community.

Students are provided with unique opportunities in this region, which is shaped by a legacy of colonization, U.S. intervention, dictatorships, revolutions, and grassroots movements dedicated to social change. Students’ experiences in the region will challenge them to analyze, reflect, and deepen understanding of our world.

The CGEE Central America semester program includes an in-depth look at three different countries, with included excursions and travel within each.

While on excursions, students will also gain a first-hand knowledge from speakers such as government officials, former guerrilla leaders, liberation theologians and practitioners, Indigenous leaders, women’s collectives and representatives of feminist movements, political party representatives, a Mayan priestess, and youth groups.

The first portion of the program is in Quetzaltenango (also known as "Xela") Guatemala, where students receive personal, one-on-one Spanish language instruction. This can aid students in kick-starting their Spanish skills to prepare them for host family stays during the remainder of the semester.

English, Spanish