Description

The CIEE Liberal Arts study abroad program in Lima, Peru is designed for students with five or more semesters of college-level Spanish and a wide variety of majors. Participants directly enroll in regular university courses in a wide variety of subjects alongside Peruvian students and learn first-hand about contemporary culture in bustling Lima.

Academic Program
Established in 2007, the Liberal Arts program is ideal for intermediate or advanced students who have had at least five semesters of college-level Spanish or the equivalent and wish to continue their language study by enrolling directly at PUCP alongside Peruvian students. In addition to direct enrollment courses, students explore Peruvian history, mestizaje, ethnic identities, globalization, poverty, and Peru's modern culture through the CIEE Peruvian Social Reality course and CIEE cultural activities. All courses are taught in Spanish.

For academic year students, it is possible to obtain a Peruvian Studies Certificate issued by Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú by studying and passing several courses in the fields of humanities and social sciences that focus on Peru.

Academic Culture
Emphasis is placed on memorization and note taking in most classes. It can take a while to learn how to study effectively in the Peruvian system, especially in terms of acquiring reading material and knowing what professors expect. The relationship between professor and student is more formal than in the U.S. Class size ranges from 20 to 100 students, with classes averaging 20 to 30 students.

Peruvian students begin their academic studies at PUCP by fulfilling their general education requirements, which takes approximately two years. They then enroll in more focused academic courses in their specialized field of study for three years. Courses outside of the general education requirements are equivalent to upper-level courses in the United States.

An academic year program of study in Lima can begin either during the North American fall or spring semester. Academic year students who begin during the North American fall semester have a two and one half-month break between semesters and are encouraged to participate in the CIEE Study Center in Guanajuato, Mexico. There is a break of about two weeks between the spring and fall semesters. Note that the intensive, two-week language course is not required of academic year students during their second semester.

The first semester of the academic year in Lima begins in late February and ends in early July, and the second semester begins in late July and ends in early December.