SPN 314G - Border Cultures: Mexico and the United States

(Global course) The course explores the important relation of the USA and Mexico through theoretical essays, literary writings, urban chronicles, newspapers online, films, music, political caricatures, blogs, and Internet sites produced by Mexican and Chicano authors on the subject. Also, the course includes a hands-on experience with the migrant workers community in the area. This is a service-learning course. In spite of the heated debates in the US Congress about the necessity to keep off1 the southernmost neighbors, Mexico remains as one of the most important commercial partners of the USA; furthermore, a good percentage of the USA agribusiness depends entirely on the migrant workers labor that comes from Mexico 150which is the case for the state of New York. The materials studied in the course and the interaction with the migrant workers community, will allow students to think on the controversial debate about la frontera1 (the border) from a scholarly point of view without losing sight of its concret impact on the local community. The course strives to generate a better understanding of the relation between the USA and Mexico, helping students to immerse knowledgeably in current discussions about immigration policy and economics. In addition, the course will foster an interest in students about the history shared by Latin American countries and the USA.

Prerequisites & Notes
This course has a service learning project component.

Credits: 3