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| Location: Quito, Ecuador |
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Program Highlights Quito can be found in the Andes at 2,800 meters above sea level. It is renowned for its historic Old Town, where colonial churches, chapels, monasteries, convents can be found. Quito has been settled by nomads since the first millennium. In the 16th century the Inca Empire established Quito. During the colonial period the Spaniards arrived at Quito and found only ashes and ruins. An Inca general had razed the city to prevent it from being used by Spain. In 1534, the city of San Francisco de Quito was founded. USFQ is a small, private university with about 5,000 students (750 being international students) and about 1,600 course offerings each semester. Only some courses are taught in English, which is why it is recommended that students have at least 2 years of college-level Spanish by the time that they plan to enroll. Notwithstanding, USFQ offers excellent courses for people learning Spanish as a second language. These are taught both within the College of Liberal Arts' Spanish Department, as well as by the Instituto de Lenguas Extranjeras, and are open to students of all kinds. Students can independently choose their courses from any of USFQ's thirteen different colleges. USFQ doesn't publish a hard copy of its Schedule of Classes. It simply publishes this information online via its Registrar's online system. To see the courses being offered in the upcoming semester (without course descriptions), simply go to the registrar's page of the main USFQ web page and choose "consulta" for the semester you are interested in. Either put the course prefix you are interested in, or if you simply leave the form blank and hit "return" the entire listing of courses will appear. This information is usually available a six to eight weeks before the semester begins. To actually register, you will be sent instructions and a student code after acceptance to the program. "I was able to visit a village of Afro-Ecuadorians. I felt proud and thankful to have had this experience. I felt an instant connection to MY people and hoped I represented well for them as well. I loved meeting and hugging the children and wished I'd had more time to spend there to do more talking and interaction with them, so that they could have an understanding of life as a Black person and a Black woman, living in the U.S." -- Marlalynn Yourell Academic Programs Ecuador is a fantastic country to study abroad. It has every kind of possible adventure you can imagine, the Amazon basin, snow-capped volcanoes, amazing beaches, islands, wildlife, and incredibly rich cultures. USFQ is in a fabulous location, just 20 minutes from Quito and easy access to the whole country. **When registering you will see that each course is worth 4 credits. Please take note that the 4 credit system is only for internal purposes (Ecuadorian students only) to comply with a new disposition of the National University Council, therefore, you will still have 3 hours per week of class and will receive a transcript with 3 credit courses, except for sports and lab classes that are worth “0” credits. Please remember this when registering. Any 4 credit course at USFQ will transer back to EIU as 3 credits. Search for classes here! (¡En Español!) Academic Calender: January 5, 2013 - OIP recommended arrival date January 7 & 8, 2013 - ORIENTATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS January 9, 2013 - Classes start January 18, 2013 - Last day to Add/Drop classes January 30, 2013 - Last day to drop classes without a fine February 1, 2013 - Last day to drop classes WITH a fine February 11 & 12, 2013 - Vacation, Carnival February 27, 2013 - Vacation for students March 25 to April 1, 2013 - Vacation Spring Break May 1, 2013 - Vacation (Día del Trabajo) May 7, 2013 - Last day of classes May 9 to 15, 2013 - Final exams May 16, 2013 - OIP recommended departure date Health Preparation See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect. The CDC recommends the following vaccines for Ecuador (as appropriate for age):
Malaria Malaria is not a problem in Quito or the Galapagos, although it is found in Ecuador at altitudes below 1,500 meters. There will be short trips planned to the Amazon jungle and the Ecuadorian coast during the first three weeks of the program, and malaria medication is recommended for these regions. For this reason, you should discuss the proper malaria medication with your doctor and take the necessary precautions. Larium is the drug recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Yellow Fever A WHO vaccination record (with yellow fever vaccination record) is REQUIRED to get to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon jungle. Local authorities will not permit you to enter the region without it. Housing Students living with families and are provided with three meals per day. USFQ has a network of trained families. Foreign Entry Requirements Passport
Visa You are strongly encouraged to read the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on your host countries. It will provide you with a great deal of information to help you prepare for your trip. Please note that EIU does not own, operate, or sponsor this program. |
