Program Courses

What program courses does IFSA-Butler offer?
The following courses are specially designed for IFSA-Butler students on the Medical Spanish and Public Health in the Yucatán program and are mandatory. Please note that courses are subject to availability and enrollment minimums.

If you have had three or more semesters of Spanish, please consider our six-week Language and Cultural Studies in the Yucatán program. You can take Medical Terminology on that program.

Introduction to Medical Spanish (3 U.S. credits-45 contact hours)
Medical Terminology is the term used to communicate information about illnesses and medical conditions in the health care system. It is a universal language based on Latin, Greek roots and etymologies utilized daily in the medical field.  While this course will study the vocabulary used in the medical field, its emphasis is on applied Spanish language not only from a linguistic competence but also to learn how to interpret meanings of medical terminology according to the local cultural context. This is a theoretical course taught in Spanish.

Contemporary Issues in Public Health in the Yucatán (3 U.S. credits-45 contact hours)
Increasing diversity in the socioeconomic, ethnic and racial composition of our communities has presented health care providers with many new challenges when responding effectively to patients’ health care and well-being. This course will expand on these challenges, while providing the knowledge of the basics about health care in the Yucatan, examining the public and private health care systems of Mexico, mainstream and traditional care in the urban and rural setting, as well as a study of local prevailing health issues such as cervix cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease, from a cross-cultural competency to understanding the patients' expectations from their own cultural context. This is a theoretical/practical course taught in English. A series of visits to local rural communities are arranged, as well as visits to a medical facility where students will be in direct contact with real patients.

Please note that participants may not cross-enroll in classes offered on the Language and Cultural Studies in the Yucatán program, which runs concurrently with this program.

University Info

What is the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán like?
The UADY is one of the top universities in Mexico. It is especially renowned for archaeology and anthropology, thanks to its location among many of Mexico’s most fascinating archaeological sites.

University Courses

Students on this program do not directly enroll at the Universidad Autónoma del Yucatán. All program classes are specially designed for IFSA-Butler students only. Program classes meet on the UADY campus and are taught by UADY faculty.

Registration

How will I register for courses?
All students enroll in the Introduction to Medical Spanish and Contemporary Issues in Public Health in the Yucatán.

What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full course load, which is 6 U.S. semester credit hours for the summer. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. summer course load. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.

All courses are graded on an A–F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. Students are not allowed to register for on-line, distance education or hybrid courses. See the “Academics” and “Program Fees and Financial Aid” sections in Preparing to Study Abroad for more information.

Exams

What do I need to know about exams?
You are not permitted to reschedule exams, request alternate assessment or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler will not be able to assist you in conducting an academic record query on the class in which you made this arrangement. Additionally, all academic obligations, including final exams, must be complete before leaving Mexico.

Transcripts

How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?
After you return to the U.S., IFSA-Butler will send a Butler University transcript to your home university. The transcript reflects the courses taken, credits attempted and grades earned at the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán during your summer abroad. We will also send an official transcript to your permanent home address.

Academic Tutors

What if I need academic help during the semester?
In addition to the formal Spanish class, our program organizes tutoring sessions for students throughout the summer. These may be scheduled at various times during the week, when students meet with the tutor on an individual basis. Please meet with the IFSA-Butler resident staff if you would like the assistance of a tutor.