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Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation

Peru Field School 2025

FBCS peru web photo

Description

The rich cuisine and culture of Lima, the stunning vistas of the rugged Andes, lush coffee groves, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu: all this and credit for two courses. That's what you'll get when you sign up for the Peru Field School in 2025. This is a joint Communication Studies and Bissett Business School international travel opportunity made up of 10 to 12 applicants from each school but open to all MRU students. Participants will study intercultural communication, social enterprise, Spanish, sustainable development and Indigenous culture, resilience, and reconciliation in a high-impact setting away from campus and the classroom. Field schools are often described by participants as transformative, and as one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives. That's the aspiration for Peru 2025.

Check out this short video from the 2023 Peru Field School.

 

Courses

There are two course streams available with this particular field school. Interested students should choose the stream that best fits their academic program needs.

Interested students should confirm their ability to use both courses in the chosen stream for credits with their academic advisor prior to joining the field school.

 

Communication Studies Stream Courses

COMM 3799: International Communication Projects (GenEd Tier 3, Cluster 4) - 3 credits

This course focuses on creating media content in an international setting. Students will research, plan, and execute on a portfolio of multimedia stories reflecting their time on the ground in Peru. Participants will collaborate on stories, art, graphics, and images to be potentially published in our human rights magazine, Article 1, and its website. (No Prerequisites.)

COMM 3501: Intercultural Communication (GenEd Tier 3, Cluster 4) - 3 credits

Intercultural Communication examines communication among individuals of different cultural backgrounds, including the study of similarities and differences across cultures. The course will introduce students to key intercultural communication topics: communication and culture, linguistic differences, ecological influences on culture, the dimensions of cultural difference, stereotyping, intercultural encounters, culture shock, and adaptation. As students engage with community partners over the course of the field school, they will consider Peruvian life and culture more broadly. (No prerequisites.) 

 

Business Stream Courses

Note: Choose only two courses from the list below

INBU 3350: Field School in Business I (GedEd Tier 3, Cluster3) - 3 credits

Students examine doing business abroad from a cultural context. While abroad, students will participate in a broad array of activities that align with specific field school objectives and may include attending business lectures at universities, touring local companies, meetings with business leaders, engaging in real-world projects, and generally enveloping themselves within the culture of the host countries. Students will develop intercultural competencies through these experiences, and by participating in mandatory pre-departure classes at MRU before traveling abroad.


INBU 3399: Directed Readings (3 credits) - 3 credits

Directed Readings are intended to provide a more flexible approach for students who want to pursue and receive credit in areas of study which are of particular interest to them. Two Directed Reading courses can be used for graduation purposes but they must be in different disciplines. A Directed Reading cannot replicate an existing course. The objectives of the Directed Reading course(s) must be filed in the Office of the Registrar and will be made available to any institution requesting them for evaluation purposes. Arrangements for Directed Readings must be completed on or before the Add/ Drop deadline.

 

COMM 3501: Intercultural Communication (GenEd Tier 3, Cluster 4) - 3 credits

Intercultural Communication examines communication among individuals of different cultural backgrounds, including the study of similarities and differences across cultures. The course will introduce students to key intercultural communication topics: communication and culture, linguistic differences, ecological influences on culture, the dimensions of cultural difference, stereotyping, intercultural encounters, culture shock, and adaptation. As students engage with community partners over the course of the field school, they will consider Peruvian life and culture more broadly. (No prerequisites.) 

Program Dates

Program Departure: May 3, 2025

Program Conclusion: May 28, 2025

Participants must be available for block week in-person classroom sessions from April 28 - May 3, 2025

Pre-departure preparation meetings will take place in the months prior to departure and meeting dates will be determined after the group has been formed.

 

Information Sessions

Online Information Sessions

  • Thursday, September 19, 4-5 pm, EB 1006
  • Wednesday, October 2, 5:30 - 6:30 pm, EB 1006
  • Thursday, October 24, 4-5 pm, EB 1006

Interested students can also contact the instructors directly by email for more information. For business students - Don Haidey (dhaidey@mtroyal.ca). For Communication students - Brad Clark (bclark@mtroyal.ca).

 

Application Process

Before applying for a field school, students should ensure they have familiarized themselves with the general field school requirements and policies.

To apply for the Peru Field School, submit the following by the application deadline:

  • Field School Application Form (with all requested and supporting documents attached in PDF format);
  • A one-page letter of intent explaining why you would like to be part of the Peru Field School and how you believe it will enhance your education and career goals. Please reference your willingness to explore cultures you aren't familiar with, and commitment to collaborating with your fellow travelers. This letter of intent should be uploaded to the online application form.

Application Deadline

Completed applications are due by Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 4 pm.

Completed applications must be submitted using the online system by this deadline in order to be considered.

Successful applicants will be notified by November 15, 2024 and will need to pay the initial deposit of $750 by November 21, 2024 in order to confirm their spot in the program. Failure to make the initial deposit by this deadline will result in the spot being given to another student. 

 

Program Costs

Field school participants need to be able to cover all costs associated with participation in the program. Costs to consider include the Program Fees, MRU Tuition & Fees (6 credits) and additional student costs as outlined below.

 

Peru Field School Program Fees - $5,529.00

The Peru Field School Program Fees include:

  • Spanish language school;
  • Local ground transportation during the field school;
  • Accommodations;
  • Some meals;
  • All course-related programming, excursions, tours, visits and activities;
  • Contingency fee;
  • Faculty expenses and MRU administration fees.

Program fees are payable according to the payment deadlines outlined in the following table. Instructions on paying program fees will be provided to participants at time of acceptance.

1st deposit* November 21, 2024 $750
2nd deposit January 31, 2025 $2390
3rd deposit March 5, 2025

$2389

*Initial program deposit is non-refundable and secures the participant's place in the program. Possibility of refund of subsequent deposits due to withdrawal from the program will be assessed and determined at the time of withdrawal according to the field school refund policy.

Program fees do not include course tuition or additional student expenses (see below).

 

MRU Tuition & General Fees

MRU tuition and fees for COMM 3799 and COMM 3501 or INBU 3730 and INBU 3399 are in addition to the program fees and will be assessed to each student's account in April, 2025. They are payable to MRU by the spring 2025 fee payment deadline.

 

Additional Student Expenses

Students are responsible for all additional expenses not included in the program fees such as: return airfare (Calgary -Lima as well as Lima-Cusco), trip cancellation & interruption insurance, meals & incidentals, Out of Country Travel Health and Medical Insurance, passport, travel essentials, personal spending and emergency funds. Air travel for the group will be coordinated through MRU's Field School travel agent.

Estimates of additional student costs are available at the Information Sessions and from the instructors or International Education.

 

Financial Assistance

Peru field school participants will receive a $1,500 grant from the MRU International Mobility Award to use towards the costs associated with the field school. Further information about this, other grants and student loan funding for field schools can be found here.


Contact Information

Don Haidey - Business (dhaidey@mtroyal.ca)

Brad Clark - Communications (bclark@mtroyal.ca)

Trinda Guillet - International Education (tguillet@mtroyal.ca)