CGEE: Cuernavaca - Social Work in a Latin American Context

The Social Work in a Latin American Context program was jointly created in 2003 by a collaboration of CSWE-accredited social work programs in the Minnesota/South Dakota area.  The program satisfies the curriculum requirements for the BSW degree and is in accord with CSWE accreditation standards.  When space is available, it is open to social work majors from other CSWE-accredited institutions who meet the pre-requisites for the program.The mission of the program is to develop cross-culturally competent, ethical social work professionals with a global perspective by providing a semester of transformative, experiential learning focused on social and economic justice.  You will learn from local social workers and community leaders.  The program also includes an exchange with Mexican students of social work.  Please see our website for a list of consortium members.

Students from non-consortium schools are welcome to apply and will be accepted on a space-available basis.  In recent years, we have been able to accommodate such students with regularity.

Location: Cuernavaca, the capital of the state of Morelos, is about 50 miles south of Mexico City. Both the city and the state are important in Mexican history: the palace of the conqueror Hernan Cortez borders the central plaza in Cuernavaca and Morelos is known as “the cradle of the Mexican revolution” of 1910 led by Emiliano Zapata, who was born in a small town near Cuernavaca. A city of more than one million, Cuernavaca is also known for its innovative grass-roots education programs, economic cooperatives, and base Christian communities inspired by liberation theology.

Student Life in Mexico: The CGE campus in Mexico is a 15-minute walk from downtown Cuernavaca and the main city plaza.  CGE is well established in the San Antón neighborhood and has many friends and close connections in the neighborhood, including some of the homestay families. CGE is located at the top of one of the large ravines that runs through the city, offering a dramatic view from the nearby bridge that leads to downtown. Because of the ravine, there is a 100 foot waterfall right in the neighborhood, a local eco-tourist attraction. Right across the bridge, students will find a large public garden/park, an independent movie theater, the Cathedral, and several popular cafés. CGE-Mexico’s campus includes two houses across the street from each other with ample living and study space for students, a library, computer labs and wireless internet, kitchen and dining areas, and outdoor patios and gardens. The Universal language school, where students take Spanish courses, conveniently is located right up the street and has a swimming pool and racquetball court.

Courses: Most students choose four courses from the below.  

Housing and Homestays: The CGE study center serves as homebase, but the program does include a four-week homestay.