Get ready for your MISTI experience in South America! Training sessions and resources are designed to familiarize you with Peruvian culture in and outside of the workplace.

Country Prep Subpages

Culture Courses

This list is provided as a guide. Not all courses are offered regularly. For pre-requisites and further information, consult the registrar and/or relevant department. The list below includes courses in Global Studies and Languages taught in English.
Course No. Course Name
11.025J
D-Lab: Development
11.491J
Economic Development and Policy Analysis
11.597
Advanced Seminar in Transportation Finance
11.701
Introduction to International Development Planning
15.232
Business Model Innovation: Global Health in Frontier Markets
15.395
Entrepreneurship Without Borders
17.145
Political Economy of Technology and Development in Latin America
17.50
Introduction to Comparative Politics
17.516
Transitional Justice
17.55J
Introduction to Latin American Studies
21G.070
Latin America and the Global Sixties: Counterculture and Revolution
21H.171
Latin America: Revolution, Dictatorship and Democracy, 1850 to Presenta
21H.273
From Coca to Cocaine: Drug Economies in Latin America
21L.019
Introduction to European and Latin American Fiction
21L.616J
Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film

Language Courses

This list is provided as a guide. Not all courses are offered regularly. For placement advice, pre-requisites and further information, consult Global Studies and Languages Headquarters. Courses 21G.711-21G.714 are designed for students who have completed Spanish IV or its equivalent. They serve as a transition between language study and more advanced subjects in literature and culture. Although each subject has a different emphasis, all provide students with additional practice in reading, speaking, and writing. Native speakers of Spanish who have studied Hispanic literature at a high-school level must obtain permission from the instructor to enroll in any of these subjects.
 
Courses 21G.S01 through 21G.S02 - not listed here - cover special subjects in GSL and offer opportunities for undergraduate study of subject matter that is not covered in the regular curriculum. Consult GSL headquarters for more information.
Course No. Course Name
21G.701
Spanish I
21G.771
Spanish I - Globalization
21G.702
Spanish II
21G.772
Spanish II - Globalization
21G.782
Spanish II (Study Abroad)
21G.700
Refresher Spanish
21G.703
Spanish III
21G.773
Spanish III - Globalization
21G.704
Spanish IV
21G.774
Spanish IV - Globalization
21G.708
Spanish: Communication Intensive I
21G.709
Spanish: Communication Intensive II
21G.711
Advanced Spanish Conversation and Composition: Perspectives on Technology and Culture
21G.712
Spanish Conversation and Composition
21G.792
Spanish Conversation and Composition - Globalization
21G.713
Advanced Communication in Spanish: Topics in Language and Culture
21G.714
Spanish Language and Culture: Refining Communication Skills
21G.715
Topics in Medicine and Public Health in the Hispanic World
21G.716J
Introduction to Contemporary Hispanic Literature and Film
21G.717J
Introduction to Hispanic Culture
21G.731
Creation of a Continent: Representations of Hispanic America, 1492-1898, in Literature and Film
21G.735
Advanced Topics in Hispanic Literature and Film
21G.736
The Short Story in Spain and Hispanic America
21G.738J
Literature and Social Conflict: Perspectives on the Hispanic World
21G.739J
Globalization and its Discontents: Spanish-Speaking Nations
21G.740J
The New Spain: 1977-Present
21G.751
Spanish I
21G.752
Spanish II
21G.783
Spanish II (Study Abroad)
21G.911
Independent Study
21G.THT
Pre-Thesis Tutorial: Global Studies and Languages
21G.THU
Global Studies and Languages Thesis
21G.UR
Undergraduate Research
21G.URG
Undergraduate Research

Additional Resources

MIT Language Conversation Exchange Sponsored by Community Wellness at MIT Medical for all members of the MIT community, the Language Conversation Exchange (LCE) will give you an opportunity to practice a language you're learning with a native speaker and share your culture and interests while learning about those of other MIT community members.

 

Recommended Reading

The Last Days of the Incas MacQuarrie, Kim. The Last Days of the Incas. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007.
The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics Starn, Orin, Robin Kirk, and Carlos Iván Degregori, eds. The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2005.
Shining and Other Paths: War and Society in Peru Stern, Steve J. Shining and Other Paths: War and Society in Peru, 1980-1995. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998.

Passport

Every student needs a valid passport. If you are a US citizen and need to apply or renew your passport, please visit the US State Department's website for more information. Routine service requires 4-6 weeks. Note: your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your planned return.

Visa requirements

Program managers can advise students about the application process, timeline and documents required. Please visit the Consulado General del Perú’s website for updated visa requirements for travel to Peru.

Flight

Each flight is booked by the student.

For summer internships, most students book flights immediately after confirming the dates of their internship with their host.

If you need the change the dates on your ticket, there will be a change fee associated with the date change. It is best to purchase your flight after confirming your dates with your internship host. Also keep in mind that one-way tickets are not necessarily less expensive than a round-trip ticket.

Accommodation

MISTI provides resources and advice for housing in Peru. Housing options vary by location, so start looking early. Please consult with the Program Manager for more information on local housing options such as homestays, apartment rentals, and student housing.