Cusco, Peru Academic Program
Rock Creek Bldg. 3, Rm. 223 | 971-722-7152 | FAX: 971-722-7170 | studyabroad@pcc.edu
General Coursework Description
Students will sign up for one or two 4-credit sociology courses and one 4-credit Spanish language course. Immersion into the Latin American setting will occur through active participation in full-immersion language classes, on-site sociology courses, and international community service opportunities with an after-school program, a youth center, or an eldercare facility.
Specific Course Offerings
Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 8 credits from among the following course options:
Spanish (4 credits)
Students are required to enroll in one of the Spanish language courses listed below. Once they arrive into Cusco, students take classes at the Don Quijote Spanish Language School, where they will experience a unique immersion program of 3 hours of daily instruction, 5 days a week. Students are placed in a class that best matches their current Spanish language proficiency. Students have the opportunity to broaden their language, while learning about various aspects of Peruvian culture. All students are required to have completed SPA 101 or the equivalent, prior their departure on the international portion of the program.
- SPA 102 - First Year Spanish-Second Term (4 credits)
- SPA 103 - First Year Spanish-Third Term (4 credits)
- SPA 201 - Second Year Spanish-First Term (4 credits)
- SPA 202 - Second Year Spanish-Second Term (4 credits)
- SPA 203 - Second Year Spanish-Third Term (4 credits)
Sociology (4 or 8 credits)
Students are required to enroll in at least one of the sociology courses listed below. Students have the option to enroll in both sociology courses, but must still enroll in 4 credits of Spanish language study. These hybrid sociology courses run for five-weeks, starting with 1 week of online interaction and assignments starting in Oregon, followed by 3-weeks of face-to-face, classroom interaction in Cusco, and then a final week of online interactions and assignments in Oregon.
- SOC 2XX - Intro to Sociology (4 credits, through COCC): Provides conceptual tools for analyzing and understanding social forces that shape our lives. The relationships among socialization and social groups, as well as economic, political, and religious systems are investigated. In this course, particular attention will be given to (1) integrating foundational sociological concepts and theories with students' experiences in Cusco and (2) comparing Peruvian society with society in the United States.
- SOC 215 - Social Issues and Social Movements (4 credits): Applies sociological analysis to contemporary issues and movements. Examples include: environmental crisises, race and ethnic relations, sexual deviancy, drug abuse, health care, and violence. In addition to these topics, the course will explore social issues and social movements particular to South America.
Please Note:
Students will register for their study abroad classes during the mandatory, program pre-departure orientation session. As such, students will NOT have to enroll in any regular PCC courses during the regularly scheduled summer course registration period that occurs during the prior spring term.
Faculty Leader Information
The faculty leader(s) of this Oregon International Education Consortium study abroad program changes each year. As such, program academic offerings (with the exception of the Spanish language course) will vary year to year.
The Summer 2013 program advisors are:
Dr. Thomas J. Barry, Central Oregon Community College, tbarry@cocc.edu
Tom Barry is an Associate Professor of Sociology and has taught at COCC since 2004. Tom has a passion for examining the interaction between people and the environments within which they live. Tom strongly believes that understanding historical, social, and cultural forces is essential to self-knowledge and active engagement in making our communities stronger and more democratic.
Dr. Kenneth F. Ruettgers, Central Oregon Community College, kruettgers@cocc.edu
Ken Ruettgers is an instructor of Sociology and has taught at COCC since 2009. As a sociologist, Ken is a lifelong student of people and their social interactions within the context of time, space, and place in history. Ken seeks out answers to social questions and passionately pursues understanding and facilitation of community living.
Oregon International Education Consortium
The Oregon International Education Consortium (OIEC) offers this unique program to enable students to study abroad while making normal progress toward their degree objectives. Typically, students earn 8-15 transferable credits in courses taught by community college faculty from Portland Community College, Central Oregon Community College, Chemeketa Community College, Clackamas Community College, Mt. Hood Community College and Rogue Community College. Credits earned will appear on the transcript of their home Oregon community college.