Overview
Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 2.75 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
- All participants will be required to enroll in 3 credit of STS 115: Pre-departure Intercultural Learning prior to departure, during Spring semester.
Program Description
Students from a variety of colleges and majors are welcome to participate in this Penn State faculty-led, interdisciplinary, four-week program, to Peru. The content is focused on issues in a global society and future implications, especially as they relate to climate change solutions and sustainable development. Participants will become acquainted with technical, ecological, and social strategies for reversing global warming (Drawdown) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in a Latin American context. Earn six credits as you learn how science and global engineering connect with other disciplines in a mixed cohort of Peruvian and Penn State students while being immersed in and experiencing Peru’s rich culture. Students will participate in weekly half-day field trips to important archaeological, historical, and technological sites around Lima (Huaycán, Pachacamac, Central Lima, Barranco), culminating in a trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Students should expect readings and weekly class discussions, but also experiential learning outside of the classroom, to reflect upon the accessibility of historical and cultural resources and infrastructures to Peruvians today.
This program is designed to be the perfect blend of cultural immersion, history, and interdisciplinary learning. By the end, students should expect to move beyond seeing problems, to identifying practical, interdisciplinary solutions to some of global society’s most pressing issues. There aren’t any pre-requisite requirements for this program. Students from any major who strive to make a difference in the world are encouraged to apply.
The College of Engineering heavily subsidizes this program and has removed the program fee entirely to increase access and inclusion for Engineering students studying abroad.
Dates
Summer: May 6 - June 3, 2023
Course Description
All students will be enrolled in 6 credits, with an additional 3 credits being taken before the start of the program.
STS 399: Sustainable Global Society in Peru (3 credits)
The content is focused on issues in a global society and future implications, especially as they relate to climate change solutions and sustainable development. Participants will become acquainted with technical, ecological, and social strategies for reversing global warming (Drawdown) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in a Latin American context. Learn how science and global engineering connect with other disciplines in a mixed cohort of Peruvian and Penn State students. Students will approach challenges and leadership from an interdisciplinary perspective, analyzing the role of scientific knowledge in sustainable international development. Students will be engaged in this team-taught course through an immersive global experience, utilizing local resources as an integral component of the academic experience. This course will provide a baseline to understand STEM challenges and opportunities in Latin America. Case studies of site-specific experiences for engaged scholarship and intellectual development will be emphasized.
*Students in the College of Engineering can use this course to fulfill a GN/GS interdomain or for an elective via their major department. A petition must be submitted.
STS 399: Building Peru: The History and Culture of Survival in the Andes (3 credits)
This course on the history and culture of Peru focuses on how human beings have transformed their environment, knowledge, and beliefs to survive and thrive in a precarious and changing world. Its four weeks will focus on:
- The Indigenous engineering of Andean and coastal Peruvian environment, water systems, and technologies to support complex agriculture and stratified societies that could withstand climactic precarity, from 16,000 BCE (Before the Common Era) through the Incas.
- The colonial adaptation of Andean, African, and European knowledge to support industries of extraction (from crops to mineral wealth) that made Spain an empire, connected the world and exploited Peruvian labor.
- The republican innovation of crops and technologies after Independence from Spain in the 1820s generated both wealth and precarity for Peruvian citizens and communities.
- The recent recovery and celebration of Indigenous Andean knowledge and their application to address the hazards and opportunities of development, climate change, and tourism.
This course will take students on weekly half-day field trips to important archaeological, historical, and technological sites around Lima (Huaycán, Pachacamac, Central Lima, Barranco), culminating in a trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Students should expect readings and weekly class discussions, but also experiential learning outside of the classroom, to reflect upon the accessibility of historical and cultural resources and infrastructures to Peruvians today.
*Students in the College of Engineering can use this course to fulfill a GH. A petition must be submitted.
You will receive credit for all academic courses taken at this institution, and all of your grades from abroad will count toward your Penn State cumulative GPA.
You may not take any courses overseas on a Pass/Fail basis.
STS 115: Required Pre-Departure Intercultural Learning Course (prior to departure; 3 credits)
This course will be taken online during the last few weeks of the Spring semester earning students in the College of Engineering a GS.
Course Selection
Students are required to take the prescribed courses listed above as participants on the program. The Education Abroad Office will register you for these courses. To determine how these courses will fit into your degree requirements, you will need to work with your academic adviser. Suggested tips:
- Research courses offered on your program.
- Meet with your academic adviser to discuss potential courses abroad and your degree requirements.
- Complete your Course Selection Questionnaire in the ‘Post-Decision’ section of your application to choose the courses you want from the (cross-listed) program options.
- Keep in mind that courses abroad may change or may be unavailable for your selected term, so you will need to discuss possible back-up course options
Academic Policies
- You must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits.
- You cannot take any courses abroad on a Pass/Fail basis
- If you are studying abroad in your final semester at Penn State, please note that Penn State may not receive your grades in time for graduation
Program Costs
Summer Costs
For more information on program costs, please be sure to review the budget sheet. These budget sheets include information on costs that are billable to the bursar bill, as well as estimated additional costs. Costs vary by program, so it is important to review this information carefully.
Please note that tuition rates may vary depending on major and class standing.
Scholarships
The Education Abroad Office awards a number of grants and scholarships to students who participate in an education abroad program through Global Programs. The application for the scholarships awarded through the Education Abroad Office is included with your program application. Eligibility is based on academic merit and/or financial need. You must have a current FAFSA on file to be awarded. There are additional scholarship opportunities through our partner universities, Penn State Academic Departments, and other sources. To view a full list of scholarships, eligibility requirements, and deadlines visit Funding Study Abroad.
Student Aid
Penn State students who plan to study on a Penn State approved program can use most forms of financial aid towards the cost of the program. Exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships. If you have specific questions regarding your aid awards, contact the Penn State Office of Student Aid.
Withdrawal & Refund Policy
Withdrawal and refund details are dependent on the timing and reason for your withdrawal from a Penn State Education Abroad Program. For specific details and steps on how to withdraw, read the Education Abroad Policies.
After Commitment
Once a student has committed to a Penn State Education Abroad program, they are financially responsible for any fees incurred on their behalf. Therefore, if a student plans to withdraw from a program it is their responsibility to immediately notify the Education Abroad office, in writing; email is preferred.
Regardless of the timing or reason for the withdrawal, the student will be responsible for paying the Education Abroad Administrative Fees. For faculty-led freestanding programs, there is a specific withdrawal penalty schedule.
Education Abroad makes every attempt at keeping the program and administrative costs to a minimum. However, when you commit to participating in a program, Education Abroad begins to make financial commitments on your behalf. In case of withdrawal, the following fees will be charged to your Bursar account
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Upon Commitment - 90 Days Prior to Departure: 25% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
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30 - 89 Days Prior to Departure: 50% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
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29 Days - Departure Date: 100% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
Following the start of the summer semester, any adjustment of tuition charges will be made according to the Tuition Adjustment Schedule as determined by the Office of the Bursar. More information can be found on the University Senate Policy on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
After the Start of the Program
If a student withdraws after the start of a program, any adjustment of Penn State tuition charges will be made according to the Tuition Adjustment Schedule as determined by the Office of the Bursar. Students may be responsible for up to 100% of program costs. In most cases, partial credit cannot be awarded for leaving a program before its successful completion.
For additional information on withdrawal policies, separate and apart from financial consequences, please consult the University Senate Policy on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
