Experiential Learning for Health Professionals in Cusco, Peru 🦙

🗓️ Time and Location

Summer A 2027 | May 27 -June 29 | Cusco, Peru | Flyer ⬅️

🩺 Description

UF in Cusco: Experiential Learning for the Health Professions is a study abroad program from the Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies that was designed for students in majors related to the Health and Sciences. (That is; Science/Chemistry/Pre-med/Health & Human Performance/Public Health & Health Professions/(Micro) Biology etc.) This 6-credit program, which will run during Summer A, sees students earn clinical hours in health clinics and veterinary offices in Cusco, and explore the Sacred Valley of Peru, the Andes Mountains, the Incan empire, and of course- Machu Picchu.

📓 What are the prerequisites for this program?

A. The Spanish pre-req for the program is at least one SPN course at the 2000-level. As this is “Experiential Learning for the Health Professions,” a fundamental component of the program is the internship students will work within a health related field. In order to be conversational and/or proficient it is important that each student has enough of a linguistic foundation to be successful in Peru.

B. If you have not taken one 2000 level class, but can communicate in Spanish at an intermediate level due to your academic or personal background please conference with Dr. Antonio Sajid López Méndez and Dr. José Miguel Ponciano. We will be happy to evaluate your language skills and determine if you are a good fit for the program.

C. The Biology prerequisite is BSC 2011 and BSC2011-L.  Although  2010 and 2011 bear some resemblance in terms of content, the most important difference is that it isn’t until 2011 where Ecology is given a more extensive treatment. That subject is key to understanding the material in ZOO 4956.  Unless a student has had an Ecology class besides BSC2010, this requirement is non-negotiable.

🏫 Courses

SPN3573 Immersion in a Hispanic Community

ZOO4956 Infectious Disease in the Americas

It is comprised of 2 components; significant hours of community service (approximately 6 hours a week) in a Cusco, plus classwork/group discussions in one weekly class (3 hours per week). As reflecting on learning is an important course component, class time will serve as a support mechanism for students’ experiences at their internship placements. This 3 credit course will be taught by in Spanish.

The goal of this course is to complement your service learning experiences in Cusco with a theoretical and empirical grounding in emerging infectious disease, particularly the ecology and evolution of emerging infectious disease. This course provides an overview of human infectious diseases. After an initial look at how epidemics grow, each week will focus on a different mode of transmission (e.g. air borne, food and water, sexual interactions) and associated diseases.

💻 How to apply?

For more information on the application process, academic requirements, and scholarship availability, contact Dr. Antonio Sajid López Méndez (antoniosajid@ufl.edu), Dr. José Miguel Ponciano (josemi@ufl.edu), or visit the UF International Center portal. Deadline for 2027 is TBA.