Summer STEM + Society
Unique Experiences
Celestun National Park
is home to mangroves and thousands of pink flamingos that flock there during the winter months
Visit Chichen Itza
to marvel at the centerpiece of Mayan civilization and the astronomical precision of El Castillo’s design
Visit Gran Museo Del Mundo Maya
Mérida’s most important and world-class museum, which explores Yucatán’s past from its geological origin to the present day
287
days of sunshine
429
age of Merida Cathedral
100+
cenotes to discover
Your Destination
From its hundreds of Mayan ruins and colonial architecture to its exceptional food and bustling city life, the Yucatán is a complex hub of ancient and modern culture. Its capital, Mérida, hosts one of the largest intact Mayan populations (60%) of any Latin American city. During daily life in this modern city, look for relics of Mayan culture in regional foods, music, textiles, and customs, which are all rooted in centuries of tradition. Above all, according to CEOWORLD magazine, Mérida is the second-safest city in North America (after Québec City). Mérida is also a modern city filled with friendly people and a wealth of shops, restaurants, universities, and museums.
The Yucatán peninsula is ideal for students studying natural sciences, including ecology, the environment, astronomy, cosmology, and even physics! Much of the region sits within the Chicxulub crater, formed by the impact of a giant asteroid that hit earth 66 million years ago, causing the fifth great extinction that included dinosaurs. Geologically, Yucatán’s karst topography of limestone creates caves and cenotes rich in beauty and cultural significance. Additionally, zoos, botanical gardens, the Museum of Natural History, and science institutes are all within easy reach.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
Excursions and activities may include:
- Exploring the ruins of Chichén Itzá – perhaps the most famous pre-Columbian site built by the Maya and one of the Seven Wonders of the World!
- Touring the world-class science facilities of the Scientific and Technology Park of Yucatán, home to seed banks, botanical gardens, and more.
- Visiting one of the most beautiful underground cenotes along the Chicxulub Crater's ring.
- Taking a boat ride over pink waters at Ria Celestun, a biosphere reserve where you can explore mangroves, look for crocodiles, and visit enormous concentrations of flamingos!
Projects
Volunteering. There are volunteer opportunities at local institutions, like the Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY).
Program Blogs
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Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Yucatán offers homestays that ensure an intercultural experience with Yucatán flavor. Depending on housing profiles and availability, students may be placed in a double homestay occupancy with single and/or double rooms and shared bathrooms. All housing options are located in neighborhoods with convenient access to public transportation, shops, cafés, and eateries.
Standard Housing: Includes a single or double room in a homestay, giving students an insider’s view of Mexican culture and a great opportunity to practice and enhance their Spanish skills. Homestays boast a private or shared bathroom, a desk, weekly laundry, Wi-Fi access, and a copy of the house keys. All homestays are relatively close to coffee shops, malls, commercial centers, ATMs, and restaurants, and within a 30-to-45-minute commute of CIEE Yucatán.
Select Plus Housing: Includes single accommodation in an apartment with a private kitchenette and bathroom, within a 30-minute commute of CIEE Yucatán.
Meals
Homestays: Include two meals per day. Although host families and students arrange their meal schedules, usually it is breakfast and dinner, and students are responsible for the remaining meal, either preparing them at home or eating in one of many restaurants and cafés throughout the city. Students staying for a full year are responsible for their meals during breaks between semesters.
Apartment: Meals are not included
Academics
Students take two credit-bearing courses during each block of attendance. Students can also enroll in an optional Survival Spanish course (non-credit) during a single block. In-class work is augmented with co-curricular visits to the city’s wide variety of cultural institutions and organizations relevant to the course offering.
Arizona State University: Enhance your international academic coursework with optional online courses that best align with your degree requirements and interests. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 7.5-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar, so you can study abroad with CIEE while continuing to meet all your academic goals.
Course Information
Course Notes
- Courses are listed below by block and track; course list subject to change. Courses are in English unless otherwise noted. “GI” denotes courses that are offered at multiple CIEE locations.
Language Classes
- During course selection, students interested in a non-introductory language course will be required to take a language assessment to determine their proficiency level. Enrollment will be finalized on site and is based on assessment outcomes.
- Students can also enroll in an optional Survival Spanish course (non-credit) during a single block.
Summer Block I 2025
Summer Block II 2025
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, 100% 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
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 & 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
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
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 Summer Block I 2025 6 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $5,500 | |
| Program Summer Blocks I, II 2025 12 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $11,000 | |
| Program Summer Block II 2025 6 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $5,500 |
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 = $3,500**
Housing = $1,500***
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $5,500Estimated 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 = $336†
International Airfare = $680††
Local Transportation = $100†††
Personal expenses = $150††††
Total Costs = $1,266Financial 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.
*non-refundable
**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 lunch). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $296 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Based on daily- round public transportation.
††††$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.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $7,500**
Housing = $3,000***
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $11,000Estimated 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 = $672†
International Airfare = $680††
Local Transportation = $200†††
Personal expenses = $300††††
Total Costs = $1,852Financial 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.
*non-refundable
**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 lunch). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $296 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Based on daily- round public transportation.
††††$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.
Participation Confirmation = $300*
Educational Costs = $3,500**
Housing = $1,500***
Insurance = $200
Total Fees = $5,500Estimated 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 = $336†
International Airfare = $680††
Local Transportation = $100†††
Personal expenses = $150††††
Total Costs = $1,266Financial 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.
*non-refundable
**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 lunch). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $296 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure
†††Based on daily round trip in public transportation
††††$100 emergency fund + cell phone expense + toiletries
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
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Karla Zarco
Center Director
Karla is the Center Director of CIEE in Yucatán, 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 Yucatan in March 2022 as Student Life and Academics Manager. He is an experienced Psychologist focused on student coaching and tutoring.
Get Started
1
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.
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