Puebla

PUEBLA, MEXICO

About Social Services Exploration in Puebla

Next Session: SUMMER 2026

SWK 4170/5170: Social Services Exploration in Puebla: An introduction to Mexican communities through a social service lens (3 credit hours, Non-Western Gen-Ed Credit / Social Work Elective) Taught by Professors Carrie Jankowski and Tiffany Adamson.
- This course is open to undergraduate and graduate students! If you are interested in earning graduate credit, please contact the Faculty Leaders or Program Coordinator.
- Students must have sophomore status or above to enroll in this course

Social Services Exploration in Puebla, Mexico

Just two hours south of Mexico City, the city of Puebla is considered the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. It borders an active volcano called Popocatépetl, Nahuatl for “Smoking Mountain”. Puebla is a vibrant city and popular tourist destination know for its exquisite handicrafts, beautiful landscapes, and unique cuisine. Nearby, the ancient Mesoamericans built the Great Pyramid of Cholula, whose mysteries lie hidden beneath a great hill supporting a Spanish church. UNESCO has declared a large section of Puebla as a World Heritage site, which includes about 400 square blocks and 2,600 colonial buildings. A homebase for many universities, Puebla is also known as the “Campus of Mexico”, and The Independent proclaimed it "Mexico's coolest under-the-radar city". Puebla has won multiple awards for tourism, public safety, museums and nightlife.

Join us for 2 weeks of immersion in the local culture of this colorful Mexican city while traveling with OU professors! Grow your knowledge and understanding of the complex needs of specific populations who are vulnerable and at-risk. Engage in cultural activities including the art of talavera pottery, Mexican cooking, and dance.

SUMMER 2026

APPLY HERE

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Itinerary

PUEBLA

Visit the CAPASITS clinic which provides psychological and social work support for HIV/AIDS patients, education and prevention programs, and outreach to at-risk communities in Puebla.

LA PRECIOSITA

La Preciosita means "the precious one" in Spanish. Visit this migrant community to meet with locals and discuss issues surrounding immigration, its effects on local vulnerable populations, and possible solutions.

CHOLULA

See Cholula and the Great Pyramid, estimated to be twice as big as the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. Learn about the shifting forces of power at this site over thousands of years, and its religious and cultural significance today.