Education Abroad

The semester education abroad experience forms an integral part of the major as students gain linguistic and cultural fluency while living and studying in Latin America.

Several of our majors have gone abroad on Davidson's own semester abroad program in Peru (see more information below). However, students may choose to study anywhere in Latin America. Our majors have completed study abroad programs in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, and Ecuador in addition to Peru. Programs must be approved by Davidson College and the Chair of Latin American Studies.

Davidson in Peru

Experience Peru from the Amazon to the Andes, Lima, Bolivia, Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and more. Based in Arequipa, a city known for its whitewashed colonial buildings at the foot of an inactive volcano roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, students live with Peruvian families while taking classes at the Universidad de San Pablo. You have the freedom to choose from a selection of program-designed courses:

• Taught by San Pablo professors
• A course taught by the Davidson professor and program director
• Full (and extensive) complement of regular university courses

Many students also participate in volunteer activities. Two lengthy journeys bookend the 14 weeks in Arequipa and expose students to varied Peruvian landscapes from coastal desert to mountainous highlands to Amazonian jungle.

Professor John Wertheimer, History Department, is resident director for fall 2018.  In fall 2014, Professor Matt Samson, Anthropology Department, will lead the program. Davidson in Peru first ran in 2007 after being created by two Latin American Studies professors, Russell Crandall, Political Science Department, and Jane Mangan, History Department.

Latin American Studies majors may petition to have courses transferred as UNS 199 count toward the major by asking the chair to review the syllabus and other course materials.