Summer Term: July 2nd to August 18th, 2010

Lima & Ayacucho: Understanding Contemporary Peru offers seven weeks of instruction in two strikingly diverse Peruvian cities. It provides a combination of experiences both on the coast and in the highlands and a fascinating introduction to the historical and contemporary realities of this nation.

In Peru’s capital, Lima, students enroll in an intensive Spanish-language course or a course on contemporary Peruvian literature. Students then travel to the Andean city of Ayacucho to take a course on Peruvian political history.

The program is hosted in Lima at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, the country’s leading academic institution, and in Ayacucho, at the Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga, the second oldest university in Peru. While in Ayacucho, a colonial city with a significant indigenous presence, students will also have a community placement affiliation with local government agencies or non-governmental organizations. This affiliation offers students the opportunity to gain a fuller understanding of the local population’s needs and concerns. Students live with Peruvian families in both cities and enjoy excursions to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn 10 Boston University credits.

Download a program one-sheet.