HONR 3023: Place as Text: Central Mexico

Experience Central Mexico beyond the typical tourist itinerary through the Honors signature Place as Text curriculum. This Honors study-away course combines classroom preparation with a spring break journey through three distinctly different communities: Puebla, La Preciosita and Mexico City.

Students will explore the historic streets, architecture, museums, food and cultural traditions of Puebla while staying at OSU's partner university, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP). In the rural community of La Preciosita, students will stay with host families, participate in community activities and experience daily life in a community shaped by migration and a commitment to self-sustainability. The journey concludes in Mexico City, where students will explore the history, art and contemporary culture of one of the world's great metropolitan centers, with visits to sites including the Zócalo, Tenochtitlan, Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Frida Kahlo Museum

Throughout the trip, students will learn through direct experience — exploring unfamiliar places, meeting local communities, asking questions and reflecting on what they encounter. Experiences from the journey become the foundation for class discussions, photography, reflective writing and a final research project.

No previous study of Mexico or Spanish is required, and students from all majors are welcome. The course carries both Humanities (H) and Global (G) General Education designations.