A Brief History of Mexico by The World Factbook
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation had been making an impressive recovery until the global financial crisis hit in late 2008. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. The elections held in 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that an opposition candidate - Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) - defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON. In January 2009, Mexico assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2009-10 term. Read
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About the University
 Founded in 1935, the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is the oldest and largest private university in México. The UAG is coeducational, nondenominational, and nonprofit; it is independent and self-contained-autonomous and neither has, nor is dependent upon, government, church or political affiliation.
While over 80% of the UAG's students are Mexican, students from countries all over the world are enrolled in a variety of degree and specialization programs. The University offers numerous semiprofessional and specialization courses, and grants 52 undergraduate, 12 masters, 26 specialties and 2 doctoral degrees. The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara is accredited by the Mexican Federal Secretary of Public Education (SEP).
The UAG's deep commitment to education is evident in both the variety and the number of programs offered. The University comprises over twenty schools including the schools of Accounting, Agriculture, Architecture, Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Chemical Sciences, Dentistry, Economics, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, International Careers, Law, Linguistics, Communications, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, etc. In addition, the UAG maintains educational exchanges and affiliations with universities worldwide. Making maximum use of its resources, the University operates an elementary school, two middle schools, and three high schools, as well as postgraduate studies, continuing-education and a Community College (UNICO) the first in México.
Various support facilities have helped UAG become increasingly self-sufficient in achieving its educational goals. Among these facilities are two teaching hospitals, a dental clinic, the Medicine in the Community Program (PMC), three convention centers, four libraries, Ocho Columnas newspaper, sports facilities, and a great number of services for the UAG community, distributed in five campi.
International Program
 Mission
Founded in 1935, the School of Medicine is an institution engaged in the training and formation of physicians, whose main goal is to improve community health through the following:
- Providing good medical education.
- Discovering and adapting medical knowledge.
- Providing health care services in the clinical fields of learning.
- Developing a positive attitude towards the protection and preservation of the environment.
- Educating future physicians in an integral way according to the UAG principles, beliefs, and values.
Professional Profile of the UAG Medical Graduate
Our graduate is a professional capable of practicing medicine as a scientific discipline, with a humanitarian attitude, and capable of protecting human life through actions that promote, preserve, and restore individual or group health, in their physical, ecological, and social environment.
Their skills are summarized in the following competences:
- Maintaining a permanent attitude of self-criticism combined with a sense of personal improvement in all professional activities.
- Applying clinical skills for a keen and opportune diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
- Applying criteria for the opportune referral of patients that require specialized diagnosis and treatment.
- Managing epidemiological techniques for the diagnosis of the health-disease process, participating in the epidemiological surveillance system.
- Emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention.
- Applying rehabilitation procedures to limit damage.
- Contributing to the education of new health professionals and the community.
- Participating in health care teams.
- Analyzing and using information generated from the professional field.
- Acting ethically throughout the professional practice. In addition, seeking continuous improvement in general culture.
- Performing successfully in their community health care system.
- Practicing general medicine or to be able to continue in a residence program.
- Using when necessary the advantage of the bilingual/bicultural skills.
The School
The UAG School of Medicine's international prestige is derived from more than 70 years of constant effort to reach excellence through curricular innovations destined to improve the teaching-learning process. This is in addition to the acknowledgement presented to the University by the President of United States in 1991 in recognition of the outstanding education provided to its more than 8000 medical graduate residing in the U.S.
The UAG School of Medicine strives to produce physicians who are compassionate as well as capable of treating illness. The faculty recognizes that performance as a physician requires not only intellectual skills but also certain personal characteristics and behavior that reflect sensitivity to human needs. The curriculum and instructional methods are designed to develop and enhance these qualities in each student.
 The curriculum is comprehensive, helping the student develop the skills of problem-solving and the discipline of self-education, both of which must continue throughout his or her career. The curriculum is diversified enough for the student to make knowledgeable decisions on which specialty area or areas each wishes to pursue after graduation. It is sufficiently varied so that the student learns to adapt to the different environments in which each will have to practice medicine. Yet, it is structured in such a way that the student obtains sufficient depth in each basic science and clinical area of study.
In our system of education, the student is taught one clinical or basic science subject intensively for a period of several weeks. This approach is extremely effective since the students can bring all of their concentration to bear on one subject at a time. The typical class day of 5-6 hours consists of lectures with audio-visual presentations in one of the lecture halls. These are followed by laboratory studies, discussions of specific clinical problems, highly personalized small-group seminars and question-and-answer sessions guided by supervising professors and teaching assistants.
Two additional carefully constructed programs have become of tremendous help to the student's progress within the curriculum of the School of Medicine. One is the Program of Medicine in the Community. The second program is the on-campus CICB (Integrated Course in the Basic Sciences), a basic-sciences review for students that will complete their preparation to face the USMLE step I. This review course is thoroughly comprehensive in the material it covers, plus it presents the very latest information and techniques in test-analysis and self-improvement. The course will help the student see where each needs further study and will at the same time help in systematically reviewing the various basic sciences previously studied.
The First Four Years
Undergraduate medical training includes study of the basic sciences, laboratory work, and intensive clinical instruction. This program differs substantially from many U.S. medical-school curricula in that actual clinical exposure begins immediately, rather than after basic-sciences instruction. At the successful conclusion of the first four years of medical education and training and after passing the step I of the USMLE, the student receives the authorization to begin the rotatory internship (final year of medical training).
Internship
The fifth year, or Internado, is spent in an undergraduate rotating internship, where the student gains further supervised clinical experience and competence at a university hospital or affiliated institution in Mexico, US or Puerto Rico. During this year the student must pass the step II of the USMLE in order to accredit the rotatory internship.
The Professional Examination
The Examen Profesional (professional examination) for students of the International Program,corresponds to the USMLE step I and step II, that must be approved in order to obtain the titulo de Médico cirujano.
Social Service
As the name implies, Social Service (Servicio Social) is a full one-year, mandatory, federally supported activity. All UAG medical graduates that have aspirations to practice medicine professionally in México must participate in this year of social service in Mëxico. At the end of this year, the medical graduate has the opportunity to apply for a Cédula Profesional; after fulfilling the government requirements. This year is done primarily in very small, economically disadvantaged towns devoid of health-care facilities.
The Medical Degree
Upon completion of the first five years and upon successfully passing the Professional Examination, the UAG graduate physician is awarded his or her medical degree: the Título de Médico-Cirujano (Degree of Physician-Surgeon).
ECFMG Certification
In addition to earning his or her degree (Título), and after passing the USMLE step I and II, the US student must submit the required documentation by the ECFMG in order to get the ECFMG Certificate. This certification in turn, allows the doctor to enter accredited postgraduate residency training programs in the United States.
Teaching Facilities
The UAG School of Medicine offers the coursework leading to a medical degree. To support the medical education program, the UAG has two separate medical campi plus numerous supporting clinical facilities in the Guadalajara area and elsewhere.
ICB Campus
The Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB) is located in a pleasant residential section of Guadalajara, approximately one mile east of the main campus. The tree-lined avenues leading to the ICB campus add to the atmosphere conducive to study both within the campus proper and on the surrounding grounds.
This Institute contains amphitheaters, lecture halls, classrooms, laboratories, equipment, and facilities necessary for a complete basic-sciences education and it´s proper vinculation with the basic training for the development of clinical and surgical techniques.
In addition to quality instruction by our distinguished faculty, the ICB contains well-equipped laboratories, a library and audiovisual-resource center, through the use of cadavers and animals for pre-clinical surgical practice, and with other instructional facilities including a computer learning center.
All materials, including microscopes and other learning aids, are provided for students' use by the University. In addition, student services such as a bookstore, cafeteria, and copy center are all conveniently located on campus.
 Tesist�n Campus
Is where students in their third and fourth years complete their instruction in the clinical practice of medicine. This campus contains clinical laboratories, a pathology laboratory, lecture halls, large classrooms, and small classrooms for personalized clinical work with patients.
In addition to the more than 100 hospitals associated with UAG medical school, an innovative Ambulatory Medical Clinic (HAMA) gives added clinical depth. Patients in need of medical treatment are brought into this program and are provided with free medical attention in exchange for the added clinical exposure it affords the students. The patients in this program stay for periods that are long enough to assure adequate follow-up on the clinical course of their illnesses.
Besides a large library housing both Spanish and English books, journals, and other publications, this campus contains an audiovisual laboratory with computer stations for clinical learning and problem-solving,
The Dr. Angel Leaño University Hospital (HAL) is located on this campus. Included in its facilities are: outpatient service with various specialty clinics, emergency rooms, and surgical and radiological services.
About Spanish
Exams, handbooks and textbooks are in English for the first two years. Except for the clinical practices, 70% of classes are in English (however, the seven basic sciences courses are taught in english). A gradual transition takes place over the next four semesters so that by the fifth semester, all classes are in Spanish. Students will build on, their basic foundations in Spanish as they progress through the basic sciences years, acquiring the proficiency and technical knowledge in Spanish that they need to be truly fluent.
The University offers excellent intensive Spanish courses that provide students the opportunity to adjust to the Mexican culture and to get to know Guadalajara while at the same time improving in their new language. More than 1000 students from different countries come every year to learn spanish through our excellent courses.
One of the many advantages in studying at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine is that you will graduate as a bilingual physician.
Student Behavior and Discipline
Students enrolling in the University assume an obligation to maintain their conduct, moral character, and ethics above reproach, and to in no way bring the University into dispute through their language or actions. Rules concerning student conduct, student organizations, use of University facilities, and related matters, are set forth in both University policies and campus regulations. Special attention is called to the pamphlet "Reglamento de Disciplina para Alumnos de la UAG" (Rules of Conduct for Students at the UAG), which is distributed to all incoming U.S. students during Orientation Week and is available to any student upon request at the International Students' Affairs Office.
Routes to Licensure
For U.S. U.A.G. Students
Financial Aid
 Welcome to the Financial Aid Department.
Our Mission is to provide you the tools you need to make an informed decision about financing your education at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara.
For more information, contact us.
International Students Affairs Office
San Antonio, Texas
Albany, New York
San Juan, Puerto Rico
 General Objectives
UAG offices in the U.S. and Puerto Rico liaise with applicants and prospective students along with university authorities and advisors, in addition to the New York State Board of Education and U.S. government offices. Staff provides information and counsels students contemplating applying for admission to UAG.
Additionally, these offices:
- Conduct interviews and carry out admission procedures
- Serve as liaison between the UAG and the north American medical establishment
- Maintain and improves university relations
- Offer a full range of services to students and graduates
- Provide administrative support to the UAG Alumni Association
Initial inquiries should be directed to the San Antonio, Albany or Puerto Rico offices. Application packets can be obtained through these offices.
The Puerto Rico office arranges admissions and interviews for applicants from Puerto Rico only.
All three offices conduct interviews as well as schedule interviews and visits to the Guadalajara campus.
International Student Affairs Office (ISAO)
in Guadalajara
 General Objectives
Provide the international community with services related to registration, immigration, academic documentation, and financial information.
Public Relations Services
Provide information to newly admitted students, on the various departments they need to comunicate with in order to fullfill requirements.
Assist students with housing and acommodation.
Registration Services
Assist students with
Registration process.
Conduct Interviews and tours in Guadalajara.
Translate documents
Provide documentation for student
Withdrawals and leave of absence permits.
Immigration Services
FM3 visa registration.
Assistance with visa permits, renewals and cancellations.
Legal Advise.
Academic Services
Provide the necessary documents to graduates and students.
Financial Services
Financial aid/ financial obligation information.
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