Culture, Community, and Health
Tentative Summer 2027 Dates: May 10-29, 2027
Program Locations
Cusco and Andean Sacred Valley region in Peru.
Program Highlights
- Community Health in Peru
- Examine how culture, environment, and economic conditions shape health access, wellness, and healing practices..
- Indigenous Knowledge & Healing Traditions
- Learn directly from community members and traditional healers within an Andean cultural context.
- Experiential Study of Culture & Medicine
- Apply public health and anthropological concepts through field observation, dialogue, and reflection.
- Health, Environment & Society in the Andes
- Explore how geography, sustainability, and social structures influence community health outcomes.
- Intercultural Communication in Practice
- Develop cultural humility and cross-cultural engagement skills in multilingual environments.
- Landmark Learning Sites: Machu Picchu and Manu National Park
- Connect historical, environmental, and cultural context to health and community well-being.
- Applied Reflection & Research
- Document experiences through structured journaling and a culminating analytical paper.
- Transformative Global Health Perspective
- Build professional insight into community-centered health and culturally grounded care.
Faculty Leaders
Course Information
ANTH 395 (Special Topics) or HEAL 395 (Special Topics)
No required prerequisites
Course Description
In this course, students will be introduced to the concept of community health, an aspect of public health that focuses on efforts to provide care and improve physical, mental, and social health outcomes for individuals living within a specific community. Students will ask how the health needs of a community are met in a region with limited access to formal health care systems and will work with local health care workers and community members to understand the challenges to health care and the resilient strategies used to meet health needs. This course will serve as an elective credit for health studies and anthropology. Students will reflect upon their experiences through the critical reading of texts, discussions with peers and faculty leaders, daily reflective journal entries, and a final paper.
Additional Information
- Accommodations
- Ground transportation
- International health insurance
- Group activities
- Airfare
- Students are responsible for purchasing their international airfare to and from the program destination(s). Students should not purchase their flight until receiving specific instructions from the faculty leaders after December 1.
- Tuition (3 credits)
- In-state: $1,440
- Out-of-State: $3,171
- Travel insurance
- Most meals
- Personal expenses
Deadline: December 1, 2026
Student with a valid passport:
Students who have a current passport will need to upload an image of their passport by December 1, 2026, to their enrollment forms.
Student without a Valid Passport
Apply for or renew your passport immediately. After November 1, students must pay to expedite the application process. Do not delay beginning this process.
Passport Application and Renewal
The routine processing time is currently up to 6 weeks and expedited services is up to 3 weeks. These processing times are subject to change and can lengthen significantly. We highly recommend applying for or renewing your passport as soon as possible. Most countries require at least 6 months remaining time on your passport expiration from your intended date of departure. Example: If your passport expires on December 1, 2027, you would need to renew your passport to travel in the summer of 2027.
Each country has established entry requirements and travel restrictions set for foreign visitors and their citizens. Any country can change their regulations at any time. We encourage all students and their families to review details about the country or countries you plan to travel to and to continue monitoring the information leading up to your departure.
Travel & Entry Requirements from the U.S. State DepartmentApplication & Enrollment Forms Deadline
October 31*
*Program may fill prior to deadline due to a rolling admission process.