yucatan students standing ruins
Merida, Mexico

Liberal Arts

Study Program

Dates

-

19 weeks

Costs

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Apply Now

Request Information

Tentative Dates

-

21 weeks

Credit

15 - 18 semester hours

22.5 - 27 quarter hours

Eligibility

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Your Liberal Arts program in Mérida lasts a full semester and is designed for students from all academic backgrounds who have Spanish language skills. You will enroll in CIEE courses and host institution courses delivered in Spanish and courses taught online through CIEE's global academic partner, ASU. Enhance your experience with co-curricular and extracurricular activities while immersing yourself in Mexican culture. Live and learn in Mérida!

CIEE Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellowship 

Apply to become one of 100 students to receive a fully-funded CIEE Study Abroad program in Latin America for fall '25 or spring '26!

Learn More

Unique Experiences

Study in one of Mérida's top universities

with students from all over Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Europe, and other countries of the world

Improve your Spanish language skills

while you experience Mexican culture in the classroom and at home

\

Get to know the Mayan culture

with visits and trips to ancient UNESCO world heritage archaeological sites

Experience
  • yucatan historic building
  • yucatan students swimming in cenote

Your Destination

Mérida is Mexico’s bilingual city, where Spanish and Maya intertwine, creating the perfect environment for language immersion and cultural exploration. Whether you're practicing Spanish with locals in lively markets, engaging in vibrant conversations at a traditional café, or exploring the historic streets of the Plaza Principal, every experience deepens your connection to the language and culture. With a rich blend of history, local traditions, and artistic expression, Mérida is the perfect place to study abroad.

merida-three-girls-dia-de-muertos

Program Highlights

  • Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses and host institution courses, and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
  • Optional Internship Placements: Enhance your program with an optional for-credit internship that aligns with your career aspirations.
  • Immersive Experiences: Participate in activites, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
  • Cultural Projects: Volunteer with members of the local community, join student clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
yucatan girl with a spider monkey

Excursions & Activities

CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Mérida will open doors for you to explore Mexico’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.  

Samples of past excursions and activities:

  • Explore Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
  • Visit El Corchito and enjoy a boat ride through the lagoon to get to the mangroves
  • Take a trip to Punta Laguna, a nature reserve that offers one of the most unique sightseeing attractions in all of Yucatán: spider monkeys

Please note: Activities are based on past programs and are subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.  

Program Blogs

From CIEE

Study Abroad in Mexico: The Ultimate Guide

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Ready to trade your dorm room for palm trees and panuchos? Studying abroad in Mexico is your chance to do just that! Picture this: You’re taking classes at the stunning... keep reading

From CIEE

Top 6 Mexico Study Abroad Programs

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Picture yourself trading your college campus for the vibrant streets of Mérida, where every day is a new opportunity to explore Mexico’s rich culture, history, and natural beauty. This city... keep reading

From CIEE

MY TIME IN MERIDA

By CIEE Yucatan at CIEE

By Ciara Pettit - Liberal Arts Student, 2022 August 7th was the day my life was about to change for the next couple months. I got on an airplane for... keep reading

Housing
Academics

Academics

CIEE Mérida: Study in one of the region’s most beautiful neighborhoods, Calle 47, which leads to the Gastronomical Corridor, full of cozy and amazing restaurants and bars to enjoy in the afternoons. CIEE Mérida boasts five classrooms, a student lounge, and a shared student life and academic advising office.

Universidad Anáhuac Mayab (UAM): UAM is one of Mexico’s premier private higher education institutions. Offering courses in both English and Spanish, UAM is part of the prestigious Anáhuac University Network, which includes three campuses across the country. With a student body of more than 5,000 and sprawling across 200,000 square meters, UAM stands as a hub of academic excellence. The university is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of education through a dynamic and high-quality teaching and learning process.

Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.  

GPA

Overall GPA: 2.5

Language Requirements

Language Pre-requisites: 4 semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent. 

Immigration/Entry Requirements

Visa Required: No

Additional Requirements

Please refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Requirements

Every student is required to take a Spanish language course taught by CIEE and at a level based on placement test results.  The remaining courses are selected from a range of CIEE elective course(s) and host institution courses at the local university (UAM), in Spanish and/or English.  English-language courses at UAM are few and are all upper-division courses which will likely have pre-requisites.

Online Course Options: substitute up to two ASU online area studies courses may be taken online

Program Credit

Credit: 15-18 semester / 22.5-27 quarter credits. 

Course Credit

  • CIEE content courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours.
  • CIEE language courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits; 60 contact hours.
  • UAM courses: 1.5-7.5 U.S. semester / 2.25-11.25 quarter credits; 58 – 346 notional hours. 

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Academic Culture

Classes at UAM will be scheduled Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM through 10:00 PM. Usually 100 and 200-level courses are taught in the morning and early afternoon, and 200 and 300-level courses are taught in early afternoon and evening.  Homework and assignments are established by the instructors with possible assignments to be done over the weekend.  It is very common that homework is assigned to be done in collaborative groups and interaction with fellow students and professors is expected. The semester is split up into three “units”: first unit or term, second unit or term and final exams.  UAM uses Blackboard as its learning management system (LMS) in support of class instruction. 

Classes at CIEE are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday.  Regular class attendance and participation is expected and required.  Students will play an active role in their own education; group projects and interaction with fellow students and professors are expected.  Instructors use the Canvas LMS for supporting learning and assessment. 

ASU Courses: Most ASU online courses are asynchronous. You may find yourself in classes with students from ASU, other American universities, and students from around the world. You’ll receive direct and individualized support from faculty, 100% online.

Class Format

ASU online courses meet in “sessions” that are 7.5-weeks long in the semester, and all work must be completed within the session dates regardless of when your other CIEE courses begin or end.

Grading

For UAM courses, the student must conform to the evaluation criteria established by the instructor in each course, including attendance.  Assessment is often limited to a midterm exam and a final exam, weighted at 20-30% and 40-60%, respectively. 

For CIEE courses, students are assessed via quizzes, attendance, homework assignments, essays and research papers, oral presentations, class participation, and mid-term and final exams. Attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our learning management system, Canvas. 

ASU grading follows the same format and standards as ASU courses taught in-person. “Pass/fail” or “Audit” is not allowed for CIEE students.

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Language of Instruction

Spanish and English

Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors. Your study abroad advisor and CIEE staff can help you understand your course options if you don't see a recommendation that fits your course needs.

Courses

Course Information

Academic Projects

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Languages and Cultural Studies

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Communication, Journalism, and Media

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Social Sciences

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment

Course
Language
Semester Credit

Courses are available from the University Anahuac-Mayab (UAM) in the following areas of study: 

  • Business 
  • Legal and Social Sciences 
  • Health Sciences 
  • Communication, Architecture and Design 
  • Engineering 

Students can find course lists and descriptions on the following website: https://www.anahuacmayab.mx/es/international/programas/licenciaturas/divisiones.  

The Course Descriptions button at the bottom will generate a list of course titles, credits, departments, pre-requisites, term offered, and the typical semester that a local student would qualify for the course.  Not all courses listed are available in all semesters.  As a visiting student, you will be contacted by the UAM administration about one month prior to the start of the UAM semester to review the options available in your semester and discuss your eligibility.  Courses in English are rare and typically require high-level prerequisites be met as they are directed at students in the final year of their UAM degree program.  Students should acquire prior written approval from their home school to enroll in any English-language courses or courses that are valued below 3 U.S. semester credits each.  CIEE converts UAM course credits as follows: 

 

UAM credits

Total Notional Hours

Recommended U.S. Equivalent

3

58

1.5

4

77

2

6

115

2.5

7

134

3

9

173

4

10

192

4.5

12

230

5

18

346

7.5

 

Your UAM course enrollments will be communicated about two weeks prior to the start of the UAM semester.  Please visit https://merida.anahuac.mx/en/international/programas/licenciaturas/sistema-de-clases for more information.  

CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.

CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.

Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program! 

Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO

 

Program Options
Program Options

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.

Scholarships

Scholarships & Grants

CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.

Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:

  • Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
  • Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
  • Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
  • CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
  • MSI Grant

To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.

Learn more about scholarships

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Fall 2025 19 weeks Application Due Deadline Passed Start Date End Date Fees & Housing $9,950
Program Spring 2026 21 weeks Start Date * End Date *

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Participation Confirmation $300 *
Educational Costs $3,956 **
Housing $5,500 ***
Insurance $194
Total Fees $9,950

Optional Housing

CIEE accommodation options are detailed in the Housing section. Based on availability, Select or Select Plus Housing can be chosen during the application process for an additional fee. Housing is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis; however, other factors may also be considered.

Select Plus Housing Fee $1,800

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Meals not included in program fee $1,064
International Airfare $680 ††
Local Transportation $350 †††
Books & Supplies $50
Visa Fees $0 ††††
Personal expenses $225 †††††
Total Costs $2,369

*non-refundable fee

**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.

For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner).

††round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†††Round trip based on Mayabus, UAM's private bus and public bus.

††††NA for students staying less than 180 days in the country.

†††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

What's Included

Tuition

Housing

Pre-departure Advising

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Orientation

Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city

On-site Staff

Full-time program leadership and support in your city

Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities

Excursions and/or Study Tours

Travel Protection

CIEE iNext travel protection

24/7 emergency on-site support

Meals

Staff

Our Staff

Karla Zarco

Center Director

Karla is the Center Director of CIEE in Mérida, and she brings to CIEE more than 25 years of experience working in the international education field. Karla studied abroad in...

Alan Barroso

Program & Student Life Manager

Alan joined CIEE Mérida in March 2022 as Student Life and Academics Manager. He is an experienced Psychologist focused on student coaching and tutoring. He holds a master in education.

Celia Novelo

Senior Program Coordinator

Celia is the Program Coordinator at CIEE Mérida. She is motivated by her experience abroad in France and loves to exchange intercultural experiences with students. Celia holds a Master in...

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.

Request Info