Government in Mexico

**Updated February 28, 2008

470.714.55 Policymaking in the U.S. and Latin America: Perceptions and Misconceptions

Summer Session II with In-Country Component August 9-16, 2008

Course Description

The Government Program at JHU will offer an opportunity for intensive international study this summer as part of a course, “Policymaking in the U.S. and Latin America: Perceptions and Misconceptions," that will begin at our DC campus and include a week-long, in-country component in Mexico City, Mexico. Professor Andrew Selee, who teaches “Governing in Mexico and America: Trade, Migration and Security” in the Government Program and is the Director of the Mexico Center at the Woodrow Wilson Center will teach this course and will be joined in Mexico by leading Latin American scholars at CIDE University. There are NO prerequisites for the course and all class sessions will be taught in English.

government assembly session The course will introduce students to major political trends in Latin America and the state of U.S. relationships with countries in the region. The design is for 4 class sessions to be held in Washington before a week-long seminar at CIDE University in Mexico City. CIDE University (www.cide.edu) is a world class research and teaching institution in Mexico and is home to a MA degree program similar to our MA in Government Program in its emphasis on combining the study of theory with a focus on the development of practical professional skills. In addition to guest lectures by CIDE professors, public figures based in Mexico City will address the class, and there will be visits to the Mexican Congress and government agencies, Latin American embassies, and major cultural and historical sites. After returning to DC, students will complete a final paper to fulfill course requirements for the class.

The DC class sessions will introduce students to Latin America and US-Latin American relations (highlighting Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Guatemala). The course will cover both the history of the countries and the U.S. relationship with each. Classes in Mexico will focus on Latin American integration, security, politics, and US-Latin American relations. There may be other lectures by a Guatemalan scholar on migration and Uruguayan and Argentinean scholars on hemispheric issues.

Field trips will include visits to embassies, trips to meet with Mexican Congressional staff and with key government agency staff (e.g., at the transparency institute, electoral institute, foreign ministry, presidential staff). If possible, we will have one trip outside Mexico City for a class discussing center/regional issues (possibly Michoacan). Cultural trips will include going to "Bellas Artes" (Mexico's Kennedy Center), the pyramids, and the historical downtown of Mexico City.

Cost

Tuition for the course is will be the same as any other Government course. However, there will be a $500 NON-REFUNDABLE tuition deposit required to reserve your spot. The $500 will be applied toward your tuition.

A rough estimate of the total cost of the course is course tuition and an additional $1500 (includes airfare, on-ground transportation, lodging and food in Mexico). Students will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

Registration

The Castle of Chichén-Itzá The first day to reserve your spot will be at 9:00AM on Monday, February 4th, 2008. The last day for your registration deposit to be received will be at 5:00PM on Monday, March 17, 2008. Your deposit must be accompanied by a registration form and a waiver form.

Do not follow normal registration procedures for this class. The forms and deposit should be dropped off or mailed (no fax or online) to 1717 Mass. Avenue, Suite 104, Attn: Government in Mexico. You may not email or fax your forms. Deposit must be present to hold you space.

Registration Form and Waiver Form

Full and total NON-REFUNDABLE payment for the balance of tuition is due on Monday, March 31st by 5:00PM. Students should make their balance payments (not deposit) directly to their student account by visiting: https://isis.jhu.edu.

There are 15 slots available in the class. Registration will be taken on a first come first serve basis. We need a minimum of 10 students for this class and will close it after 15.

Important Dates

February 4, 2008	Registration forms available-Begin taking non-refundable deposits
*March 17, 2008*	Last day for deposit to be received to hold spot
March 31, 2008	Last day to receive final balance payment for tuition (Students pay balance directly at https://isis.jhu.edu)
March 31, 2008	Last day to reserve hotel space at Hotel Emporio Reforma
Weds., July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 2008, 8:05pm	Course dates in DC (Summer Session II - Four sessions)
August 9-16, 2008	In-county course component in Mexico

Hotel Accommodations

Students will make their own hotel arrangements. A special CIDE rate is available for students at the Hotel Emporio Reforma (http://www.hotelesemporio.com/eng/idt/31/mexico-city//)

Single rooms (sencilla)are Mex$935 (about US$85) and Double rooms (doble) are Mex$1,130 (about US$103). Please note that the exchange rate may fluctuate.

Students must contact the hotel to reserve and ask for the CIDE rate. Students cannot get the CIDE rate through the online hotel reservation service.

Students must contact the hotel via mail, fax, or telephone with a credit card number by March 31, 2008 to reserve a room and must mention JHU and the CIDE rate. The hotel charges a cancellation fee of one night’s stay for cancellations received less than 48 hours prior to arrival.

The University is not responsible for any hotel charges assessed to students for cancellations.

To make the reservation, you may call, fax, or mail the hotel (faxing or mailing is preferred by the hotel).

Include your name, type of room (single or double) credit card number, expiration date, and security code on back of the card.

Hotel Emporio Reforma
Av. Paseo de la Reforma 124, Col. Juárez,
C.P. 06600, Mexico City, Mexico
Tel.: 52 (55) 5566 7766, Fax: 52 (55) 5703 1424.
Toll-free from U.S.A and Canada: 01 866 936 7674

Travel

Plaza de la Liberación Students will make their own airfare arrangements to Mexico City.

There is a not stop flight on United (#823) that leaves Dulles airport around 5:30 p.m. and arrives in Mexico City around 9:00 p.m. A return flight on United (#822) leaves Mexico City around 10:00 a.m. and arrives in Dulles around 3:15 p.m. Times may vary and flight numbers may change. AAP does not endorse one carrier over another.

DO NOT buy your plane tickets or make other non-refundable investments in the trip until you receive word from JHU that the course has enough enrollments to run.

The university is not responsible for refunds, penalties, or other fees that may be incurred or lost for changes or cancellations of air fare.

Visa Information

Visas are not required for US citizens; however it will be necessary to have a passport or certain other forms of official identification at the point of entry. For more information see the website of the consulate of Mexico:
http://www.consulmexny.org/eng/visas_fmt_us_canada.htm

Health and Travel Insurance

Well before departure check with your doctor to see if you need any immunizations before traveling. Immunization information can also be found at the sites for the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization International Travel and Health.

Participants should make sure their health and accident insurance covers them while traveling abroad. Additional coverage can be purchased through a variety of travel insurance options. To compare policies and for further information, visit the travel insurance comparison site at www.insuremytrip.com.

In addition, Johns Hopkins is a member of SOS, which covers JHU students and offers medical assistance and emergency assistance.

24-Hour Worldwide Assistance and Emergency Evaluation Services available for Johns Hopkins University students:

International SOS is the world's leading provider of medical assistance, international healthcare, security services and outsourced customer care.
Member # 11BSGC000019

For more information on SOS, or to print out a member card, visit: www.jhu.edu/~purchasing/travel/intl_sos.pdf

Cards will also be available at the introduction meeting or can be picked up at the AAP office, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 104 . For details, contact Denise O'Sullivan at dosullivan@jhu.edu or 202-452-0983.

Please notify Dr. Alexander Rosenthal (arosent8@jhu.edu) if you have any questions about the course. For questions about registration or travel arrangements, please contact Denise O’Sullivan at dosullivan@jhu.edu

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