Reporting from the Land of Enchantment

School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Location: El Paso, TX; Magdalena, NM; Albuquerque, NM; Santa Fe, NM; Chimayo, NM; Acomo Pueblo, NM
Course: MC 4382Y: Mobile Storytelling in the Outdoors and MC 4382L: Feature Writing and Freelancing
CRN: TBD
Program Directors: Eraldo "Dino" Chiecchi, eec99@txstate.edu and Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
Course Dates: Summer II, dates TBD
Travel: July 20 - 26, 2025
Program Fee: $2,927
Course Tuition: $2,136.48
*Financial Aid eligible

Apply Now

Study in America applications for summer 2025 are open through January 24. Don't miss your chance to study beyond the classroom!

Submit Your Application

Program Itinerary

Students will embark on a cultural trip starting in El Paso, Texas, and drive north on Interstate 25 through cities such as Santa Fe, Chimayo, Albuquerque, Acomo Pueblo and other New Mexico cities. But beyond just the cultural experience, students will be writing, photographing and blogging throughout their trip on a daily basis, using their various multimedia skills to post to a web site. Additionally, their work will be used to create a magazine in the Media Design class. Students will be practicing what they learn in the classroom on the road in real time.

Date	Activities
Sunday, July 20	Travel to El Paso, TX.
Monday, July 21	El Paso, TX. Students will meet with migrants at a center where they make their first stop on their immigration journey into the United States. Students will interview them for reporting on our website. El Bosque del Apache, San Antonio, NM. Students will tour a large, man-made bird migratory sanctuary where migrating birds stop on their way to points either north or south. Students will photograph and videotape this stop to post on our website.
Tuesday, July 22	We will visit Santa Fe, NM, especially Santa Fe Plaza where many native Americans gather to sell jewelry and other wares. Students will have a cultural experience by meeting Native Americans and record their visit with multimedia.
Wednesday, July 23	Situated in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Chimayó is 40 minutes from Santa Fe along The High Road to Taos Scenic Byway. This special place, known for its National Historic Landmark church El Santuario de Chimayó, also features several weaving shops.
Thursday, July 24	Albuquerque, NM. This tour takes students to study the history of New Mexico during the Spanish colonial period, the Mexican period, and the Territorial period. Learn about the daily life of settlers and travelers on El Camino Real. They'll study into the diverse cultures and traditions of the area and get hands-on with history.
Friday, July 25	Acoma Pueblo, NM. Sky City Cultural Center and Haak'u Museum rich in cultural architecture, serves as the reception center and museum for visitors to the Pueblo of Acoma. It's part of New Mexico's cultural heritage, as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America and the 28th Historic Site designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Saturday, July 26	Travel home.

*Itinerary is subject to change.

Application Process

Follow these steps to enroll.

STEP 1

Complete SIA student application. Deadline is January 24, 2025.

STEP 2

Applications reviewed by Program Directors & OXP.

STEP 3

Pay $50 program deposit. Deadline is February 21, 2025.

STEP 4

Program FAQ

Expand FAQ List

General Information
- Who is eligible to participate in the program?
  
  All Mass Communication majors are eligible.
- Will I need to be in person at the San Marcos campus for the course?
  
  No, you do not need to be in San Marcos to participate in the program. Instruction before and after the program trip will be online.
Costs
- What is included in the program fee?
  The program fee includes:
  - Lodging
  - On-site transportation
  - Breakfasts
  - Entrance fees to program activities
- What is NOT included in the program fee?
  The program fee does not include:
  - Airfare to El Paso and from Albuquerque.
  - Lunches and dinners throughout the trip.
  - Any additional activities students participate in during program free time.
  - Course tuition.
- What is the program deposit?
  
  Students are required to pay a $50 nonrefundable program deposit to secure their spot in the program. The deposit is applied to the overall program fee.
- Is Study in America Financial Aid eligible?
  
  Yes, SIA programs are financial aid eligible; however, eligibility can vary by student award. Students should always confirm with TXST One Stop whether their financial aid will cover the course tuition and program fee.
Program Preparation
- Will I need to provide my transportation?
  
  Students are responsible for purchasing airfare.
- Is there a dress code for specific visits?
  
  There is no required dress code.
- Will there be downtime on the trip?
  
  Yes, students will have free time in the evenings.
Drop & Refund Policy
- Course Tuition Refund
  
  Refunds for a dropped extension course are given according to university policy for regular university courses on campus. Refer to the TXST One Stop for more information.
- SIA Program Fee Refund
  Students may receive a refund for the program fee if they drop/withdraw within the refund schedule. The program fee refund policy is separate from the refund deadlines associated with course tuition costs.
  The following policy applies to students that drop/withdraw from the course/program:
  - 100% of the program fee is refundable 45 days prior to the course start date.
  - 70% of the program fee is refundable 44 days prior to the course start date.
  - 50% of the program fee is refundable after the first start date of the course.
  Students that cannot complete the program and would like to appeal the refund policy, please contact extension@txstate.edu for assistance.
  Please note the course start date is not the first day of travel.