Learn how to design, conduct and write-up your own independent research project while on the shores of a crystal lake framed by volcanoes! During the seven week program time, live and work with an indigenous Guatemalan family in the Lake Atitlán area of the Western Highlands.

Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, training as an ethnographer can prove to be beneficial for a variety of majors, such as anthropology, sociology, international affairs, history, education, textiles, natural resource management, business and management, political science, psychology, and public health.  All students are encouraged to apply, especially students interested in topics concerning the environment, globalization, social justice, tourism, conservation, language, development, poverty and health. Not sure how your interests may fit into the topics listed?  Contact the program Director to discuss potential opportunities for your areas of interest. Service learning opportunities are also possible.

Visit the Guatemala Program website for more information and photos from previous years.

Location

Lake Atitlán is one of the most majestic and scenic spots in all of Latin America. Ringed by dormant volcanoes and about a mile in elevation, Lake Atitlán was formed out of an ancient volcanic basin. Dotting the shores of the lake are a dozen small villages inhabited by the contemporary descendants of the ancient Maya. Panajachel is the largest town with a population of 8,000 and is the headquarters for the program. The view of the lake from Panajachel is magnificent and attracts many tourists, which in turn has transformed the town into a tourist mecca with small hotels, delightful restaurants and plentiful souvenir stores. Yet, the town and the other communities in the region have retained much of their traditional Mayan heritage, which is what we want to understand in our research, namely, how tourism is affecting traditional culture as well as the lake ecology. Lake Atitlán is one of the best places in the country to learn about this amazingly durable and vibrant Mayan culture. 

Courses

Each student is free to choose any topic for his or her independent ethnographic research project. Students will be given the option to participate in an applied, tourism development project in one of the Indian communities around Lake Atitlán.

Within the supportive framework of the NC State Guatemala Program students learn the fundamentals of ethnographic fieldwork, including project design and management, data collection and report writing.

English is the language of instruction, but some Spanish background will be necessary to communicate while in the field.

Students earn 6 credit hours (graduate or undergraduate) from the following courses: 

ANT 419   Ethnographic Field Methods (3 Cr)
This is a field methods course that emphasizes practical training in ethographic fieldwork.

ANT 431 or ANT 531   Tourism, Change, & Anthropology (3 Cr)

This course focuses on tourism and the role of culture as it affects the interactions between hosts and guests at Lake Atitlán.

Students are strongly encouraged to bring a laptop word processor to the field.

Accommodations

During the seven weeks of the program each student will be housed with a Guatemalan family in one of several communities around Lake Atitlán. Students will receive room, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and laundry services. Families help students learn Spanish and establish networks in the community.

During excursions students will lodge in hotels two to a room and a meal allowance will be provided.

Excursions & Events

The group will travel to Antigua, the beautifully restored, main colonial capital, and to Maya ruins of Iximché near Tecpán, the ancient capital of the Kaqchiquel Maya and first capital of colonial Guatemala and to Queztaltenango, the 2nd largest city of contemporary Guatemala. There will also be group excursions to the Indian market of Chichicastenango, and to the hot springs of Las Georginas near Xela. And all students will visit by boat all the main destinations around Lake Atitlán.

For program cost information, see the above Summer Budget Sheet. Early application is advisable for all NC State Summer Programs.

Scholarships & Financial Aid 

Financial aid is generally available to help qualified NC State students meet the expenses of NC State study abroad programs. Students from other institutions should contact their home institution study abroad and financial aid offices for information.

Resident Faculty

The Guatemala program is led by NC State faculty Tim Wallace from the Department of Sociology & Anthropology.

Contact Information

For further information contact:

Dr. Tim Wallace
Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology
Campus Box 8107
1911 Building
NC State University Raleigh NC 27695
Phone: (919) 515-9025
Cell: (919) 815-6388
Fax: (919) 515-2610
http://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/wallace/

The University reserves the right to alter the program format and/or costs in case of conditions beyond its control. If the program is canceled or a student withdraws, a refund of program costs may not be available in all cases. Please refer to the Study Abroad Office Refund Policy for details. Contact us at: study_abroad@ncsu.edu