GL/SP 4706 6.0: Hispanic Geopoetics (Santa Marta, Colombia)

This course studies the relationships between geography and writing, the ecologies of belonging and homeland, the ways in which literary works can be understood as a product of a territory and its struggles, or in a complex web of spatial and environmental relationships. Students explore a particular author, and further their investigation through a field trip to a place relevant to the examined literature.

Open to all York students, this year’s edition of the course Hispanic Geopoetics will focus on the work of Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez and will take us to the Colombian Caribbean for an 8-day field trip during the Reading Week (Feb 19-26). Students obtain a total of 6.0 credits for this Winter term course (January – April, 2023) + one week of field study.

While in Colombia, we will explore the geography and the oral narrative heritage of the region that populated the imagination of the author, shaping the language of his iconic magical realism.

Organized in collaboration with our host institution, the University of Magdelena at Santa Marta, the experience abroad will give us the opportunity to interact with local students and faculty through different activities and visits, while engaging in collaborative projects and workshops with local communities and artist collectives.

The course is open to all York students with an intermediate level of Spanish (the languages of instruction are Spanish and English) and qualifies for ‘outside of major’ credits in any BA program, as well as for ‘major’ credits in the Spanish programs at Glendon and Keele.

• Deadline: TBA
• Application Form

Program fee: TBA*

• Includes:
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Excursions/Field activities
• Not Included
  • Airfare to and from Santa Marta
  • Tuition fee (payable to York University)
  • Any personal expenses
  • guard.me® Health Insurance
  • Travel insurance

*Subject to change, program fees will depend on the final number of participants.

To secure a spot in this course, you'll need to submit a non-refundable deposit of $200 to York International. Contact Renee Marks (renmarks@yorku.ca) for payment procedures.

• Deposit ($200): TBA
• Outstanding program fee: TBA

PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to come to York International Office. All payments will be conducted online. We only accept Visa and Mastercard. No cash or cheques.

All participants of this course will receive the York International Mobility Award (YIMA) upon completion of the Pre-Departure Training and Travel Risk Requirements.

Attending a Pre-Departure Session is mandatory for all YorkU students participating in the course GL/SP 4706 Hispanic Geopoetics. York International provides pre-departure training to York students who are scheduled to participate in global learning programs (exchange, internships and other short-term programs).
Content covered at Pre-Departure Sessions include:

1. Travel preparations (research about destination, flight, accommodation arrangements)
2. Risk Management (waiver, emergency contact card, Registration of Canadians abroad)
3. guard.me® Insurance
4. Funding and Finances
5. Inter-cultural awareness

York Students traveling abroad for international programs are required to purchase guard.me® insurance. To ensure safety and well-being of York students traveling abroad, York University has developed a partnership with guard.me® Insurance. It provides comprehensive insurance coverage and benefits that are in the best interest of the students and the university at-large. Guard.me®covers medical, emergency, evacuation, and 3 party liability, among others. Please read the guard.me® benefit summary for more information. Students must register directly with guard.me®.
More information on registration will be outlined here.

For further information, please contact yuabroad@yorku.ca