Location and Dates
- Location: Yucatan, Mexico
- Program Dates: May 12 - 25, 2024
- Term(s) Offered: Summer 2024
- Applicable Major(s): All engineering majors, arts and sciences majors, agriculture and life sciences majors, and business majors
Application deadline: Feb. 1, 2024
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Overview
The Introduction to Research Abroad Program (IRAP) is a multidisciplinary experience for freshmen and sophomore students to learn about research and to develop their global competencies. The highlight of the experience is a two-week research field trip to Yucatán, Mexico.
IRAP starts during the Spring 2024 semester with an orientation and training workshop about Yucatán. During the 2-week trip to Yucatán, students will take an introduction to research course, have daily hands-on research experiences, and visit several research sites from host universities and research centers. Cultural activities are also included, students will visit various cultural sites in Yucatán such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal archeological zones, cenotes, and other beauties from the Mayan World.
After returning to Texas, students will join an online learning community, form a team of Texas A&M and Yucatán students, and develop a research proposal on a research problem identified while in Yucatán.
The last activity of the program is the poster presentation session where the teams will present their research proposals to peers, faculty, and administrators. The overall goal of IRAP is to expose students to research and global programs early in their academic careers.
This program is open to:
- Freshman and sophomore students from the Texas A&M University College of Engineering
- Engineering Regents' scholars
In an effort to provide a true multidisciplinary experience to students, this program is also open to freshman and sophomore students from:
Program Information
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Requirements
- Applicant must be in good academic standing with a 2.0 or better by the application deadline.
- Applicant must be a freshman or sophomore student in one of the following colleges: Engineering, Geosciences, Agriculture, or Mays Business School.
College of Engineering Regents' Scholars
- Applicant must have participated/be participating in the college’s fall Engineering Success Program (ESP) and Peer Mentor Program.
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
- Applicant must be in good academic standing with a grade point average of 2.0 or better by the application deadline.
- Applicant must be a freshman or sophomore.
- Applicant must meet Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant requirements. Should qualify as an Under-Represented Minority (URM). URM includes only those who identify as: Black/African American, Alaska Native, American Indian/Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Pacific Islander.
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Estimated Costs
Please note that all costs are subject to change.
Estimated program fees*
- Unsponsored student: $2,300
- Airfare not included
- Sponsored student: $500
- Sponsor pays $1,800 + Airfare
*Estimated program fee covers administration fee, lodging (homestays), breakfast and dinner with host families, some group meals, transportation in Mexico to program activities, and program activities (cultural and technical visits).
All students will be responsible for their own passport fees, some meals, and personal expenses. Unsponsored students are responsible for their own airfare to and from Merida, Yucatan. Sponsored students have their airfare covered by their sponsor. Students may qualify for a program sponsorship if they are an Engineering Regents’ Scholar that qualifies for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant.
- Unsponsored student: $2,300
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Contact Information
For more information about the IRAP program, contact Halliburton Engineering Global Programs at irap@tamu.edu