University Course Description 

The first part of this class examines the formation of cultural constructs that turn archaeological sites into national parks, move broken pots to museum displays, and place abandoned buildings on the world heritage list. Topics to be covered include the Peruvian History and Archaeology, cultural heritage, looting, archaeology, repatriation, representations of the past, and nationalism. 

The second part allows the students to analyze how the modern world was created through shared and contested human pasts. Topics to be covered include tourism impact, sustainable tourism, alternative forms of tourism including ecotourism, community-based tourism, and cultural and heritage tourism. 

An additional component of the class is creating a capstone project that reduces tourism's impact on archaeological sites and other tourist attractions all aligned with UN sustainable development goals. 

  

Course Prerequisites 

There are no requirements for this class. 

 

Course Purpose  

The project goal is to increase the knowledge of cultural heritage and sustainable tourism and prepared the students with different skills required for college and career. 

The course is designed to help students analyze one or more cultural heritage aspects to critically understand their modern use in tourism, supporting multiple curricular standards, and allowing for flexible course configuration. 

 

How to Succeed in this Course 

All students take the midterm exam, final exam, and Capstone project. All students should consider the following points: 

 

Do not forget to: Stay connected, take an active role in your learning and stay connected by logging into Schoology regularly. Use the online environment to interact, collaborate and engage with your instructor and classmates. 

Interact with your classmates, the best predictors of success in this course is a student’s level of engagement. Student-to-student interactions like engaging in group work and using the course’s discussion forum to explore topics or questions that contribute to the learning process. 

Stay disciplined, set a schedule for course work doing readings, viewing lectures, working on projects and assignments, studying for tests, etc. and stick to it. Make a list of all the assignments and exams you must finish and their deadlines, and do not procrastinate. 

Reach out, contact your instructor if you have any questions or need to clarify something. Your instructor can offer ideas or solutions if you need additional considerations because of factors (e.g., family needs, slow/low internet capabilities) that impact your ability to complete your work, so be sure to reach out well in advance. 

 

Course Objectives 

Discuss and understand primary and secondary sources that shed light upon any aspect of the cultural heritage and sustainable tourism. 

Analyze the Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism phenomenon in Peru with special emphasis in Cusco region to better understand the differences between your own country and Peru.  

 

Student Learning Outcomes 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

Students will be able to identify and describe different cultural heritage sites. 

understand tourism’s contribution to inclusive sustainable growth in developing countries. 

Students will evaluate tourism trends from the past into the future and measure the impact of globalization in the tourism sector. 

Students will compare the case of Peru and Cusco with other countries and regions to understand the different stages and the evolution of a tourist area from its early development to its mature stages. 

Students will analyze from a critical understanding the role of tourism in the sustainable and inclusive growth of developing countries. 

Students will discuss the implications of climate change and its impact on the tourism industry. 

Students will be able to create a capstone project that reduces tourism's impact on archaeological sites and other tourist attractions. 

 

Required Texts and/or Readings and Course Materials 

All reading materials will be distributed electronically in Cusco. No books are required for this class.  

Grading Scale 

 

Grading Scale (%) 

94-100 

A 

90 – 93 

A- 

87 – 89 

B+ 

84 – 86 

B 

80 – 83 

B- 

77 – 79 

C+ 

74 – 76 

C 

70 – 73  

C- 

67 – 69 

D+ 

64 – 66 

D 

60 – 63 

D- 

0 – 59 

F 

 

Grade Categories and Weights 

Evaluation will be ongoing and will take in consideration the issues established in the competencies and in their use by each student. The dates for the Midterm and Final Exam will be indicated by ISA. Readings, tasks, class work and written reports are evaluated. 

 

Assessment 

Percent of Final Grade 

Ongoing evaluation (homework, field trips reports, quizzes, written work, readings, research, projects, and presentations) 

50% 

Participation in Class (oral participation, discussion, and attitude in class) 

10% 

Capstone project  

20% 

Midterm 

10% 

Final Exam 

10% 

Essay and Project Assignments  

 

CAPSTONE PROJECT: Students must create a capstone project focused on Cultural Heritage site or aspect. This document can be based on the class learning and must be a new and innovative proposal. The final project must be to follow the UN sustainable development goals with special emphasis in sustainability and tourism. 

 

FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be administered during class time on the date noted in the class schedule. The exam will review the entire course. The exam will be graded out of 100%. Rescheduling of exams will not be accepted except in cases of documented unforeseeable emergencies. Traveling and fieldwork do not qualify as such; so please, plan accordingly. 

 

FINAL PRESENTATION: The final presentation will be based on the capstone project and should focus on the analysis of their research. The students can use PowerPoint, or any other media approved by the professor. The presentation will not exceed 15 minutes and will not be shorter than 10 minutes. 

 

LATE PAPER POLICY: Late papers will not be accepted except in cases of unforeseeable emergencies. The same policy applies for granting extensions. Traveling and fieldwork do not qualify as such. The syllabus schedule will be held to; please plan accordingly. 

Provide students with a primer on how to perform well in this course specifically. Given the subject matter, are there certain study strategies you suggest? Many students may benefit from an overall introduction to effective study techniques. Consider also listing what students need to know as they begin this course, including specific knowledge or content that should have been mastered in previous courses. It can be very beneficial to provide them with links to learn more if they need to get up to speed with particular skills or knowledge sets. 

 

Course Schedule  

 

COURSE SCHEDULE 

Week 

Chapter 

Learning procedure 

Content 

1 

Introduction 

Introduction, Class explanation, methodology explanation, class agreements. 

We will get a full explanation about the class, field trips, and any other relevant dates. 

Introduction to the Peruvian history 

Overview of Pre-Inca history and the main archeological sites 

Understand the civilization before the Inca empire and the main archaeological sites 

2 

Inca history and the main archeological sites. 

Gain a general comprehension of the Inca society and the main archaeological sites. 

An overview of Colonial and republican history and their main sites. 

Understand the importance of the Colonial and republican history and the main archaeological sites 

3 

An overview of the Current Peruvian Culture. 

Understand the main aspects of the current Peruvian culture and the main attractions 

Field trip 1 

Visit an archeological sites or museum  

4 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heritage 

Capstone project assessment 

The students will discuss the Capstone project 

An overview UNESCO and main conventions, resolution and documents related to the protection of heritage. 

understand the importance of UNESCO and main conventions, resolution and documents related to the protection of heritage. 

5 

Understanding the politics of heritage and the appropriation of the past. 

Analyze the politics of heritage in the Peruvian society. 

Destruction, looting and repatriation 

We will analyze and discuss the destruction, looting and the repatriation of heritage 

6 

Field trip 2 

Visit an archeological sites or museum 

An overview of destruction, looting and repatriation 

Analyze and discuss the destruction, looting and the repatriation of heritage. 

7 

Mid-term exam 

N/A 

N/A 

Heritage 

The importance of language as a cultural heritage. 

Students gain the importance of language to intercultural communication and the rights of indigenous and tribal people. 

Capstone project assessment 

The students will discuss the Capstone project 

Break 

Tourism 

 

Field trip 3 

Visit an archeological sites or museum 

Change and loss of indigenous identity and values in modern times. 

Understand Change and loss of indigenous identity and values. 

An overview of tourism in Peru, 

Models for Collaboration between Tourism, Culture and Community 

Students analyze tourism in Peru, 

Models for Collaboration between Tourism, Culture and Community 

 

8 

Destination Competitiveness and opportunities for Peru. 

 

Discuss the importance destination Competitiveness and opportunities for Peru. 

Field trip 4 

Visit an archeological sites or museum 

9 

Peru a tourism destination on the rise. 

Analyze Peru a tourism destination on the Rise. 

10 

The developing sustainable tourism through adaptive resource management. 

 

Analyze the developing sustainable tourism through adaptive resource management. 

11 

The impact of the social conflicts on the tourism sector. 

Students analyze the impact of social conflicts on the tourism sector. 

Current policy and planning for sustainable tourism development in Cusco 

Students analyze the current policy and planning for sustainable tourism development in Cusco 

12 

Capstone project assessment 

The students will discuss the Capstone project 

Field trip 5 

Visit an archeological sites or museum 

13 

Final exam 

N/A 

N/A 

Final Presentation 

Capstone Presentation 

NO 

Capstone Presentation 

NO 

14 

Capstone Presentation 

NO 

Capstone Presentation 

NO 

 

 

***SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*** 

Field trips: 

Field trip to Cusco City Center 

Field Trip to Museo Inca   

Field Trip Museo Historico Regional 

Field trip to Saqsayhuaman, kenqo.  

Field trip to Pikillacta y Tipon. 

 

Course Policies: Student Expectations 

 

Attendance and Punctuality: 

Attendance and punctuality are basic requirements for an effective discussion and team-based course. Beyond that, each person's frequency, and quality of contribution to the class discussion will be assessed and reflected in the class participation score. 

Five absences (excused or unexcused) lower the final course grade by five points (approximately a half letter grade). The final course grade will be lowered an additional five points for each class missed over and above the first three. If the student accumulates more than five unexcused absences, he/she will be placed on academic probation, and the home university will be notified. In the event of an emergency or illness, students should petition for an excused absence from the professor with the appropriate documentation within a week of the absence. 

Missing a reading/video session counts as 1.5 absences; missing a field trip counts as two absences. 

The third time a student is more than 10 minutes late to a class, it will be considered an unexcused absence. 

 

Late Work Policy: 

There are no makeups for presentations, leading reading sessions, and exams unless the student demonstrates in advance (and the Professor agrees) that a significant life-event prevents him/her from attending class or if a documented emergency is provided. The following are not acceptable excuses: scheduled flights or trips, scheduled non-emergency doctor appointments, picking up relatives or friends at the airport, etc. If a student schedules something else during a class when is to give a presentation, lead a discussion session, or take an exam, the student will get a zero for that grade. 

In the event of an excused absence, students will be expected to confer with the professor regarding the possibility of making up any missed coursework, homework and/or exams. In the event of an unexcused absence, students are responsible for any missed coursework and notes, but late homework will not be accepted. 

 

Professionalism Policy: 

Bear in mind you are in a professional school and a member of a learning community. Thus, you are expected to comport yourself as a professional person. For instance, be on time for class, do not leave the class while it is in progress for other than emergencies -if you need to do so, make sure you ask the professor for permission-, turn off cell phones, and be respectful of others’ viewpoints even if you disagree with them, do not use improper language, do not put your feet up on your desk, raise your hand if you want to participate and dress appropriately for professional activity. Eating is not allowed during class. 

 

Food and Drink Policy: 

No food is allowed in the classroom. Your understanding of the necessity for this policy and cooperation will be greatly appreciated. This policy will be strictly enforced.  

*Course content subject to change