Education Abroad & Exchange - Ecuador

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)

At-A-Glance
Eligibility / Requirements	2.75 GPA + 4-5 College-Level Spanish
Open to Non-UMA?	No
Fall, Year	March 1
Spring	October 1
Documents	Expense Estimate

Overview

The University of Massachusetts maintains an exchange program in Ecuador with Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) for semester or year exchanges. This program offers an opportunity for total immersion into Ecuadorian culture.

USFQ is a private four year University which enrolls about 3,500 students including undergraduates. Its strengths are in the Liberal Arts (literature and anthropology), Ecology, Environmental Science, Spanish language, International Relations, Art and Business.

Location

"Mitad del Mundo" which is Spanish for middle of the earth is about 25 kilometers from the city of Quito. Since it is so close to the equator, Quito enjoys mild days and cool nights almost year-round. It is a sprawling metropolis bordered on all sides by green, cloud-cloaked peaks. At an altitude of 9,252 feet it is almost twice as high as Denver. The campus is located in the valley of Cumbaya just outside of this magnificent city. It is a modern campus within a 20 minute commute from Quito.

Curriculum

This is a complete immersion program into an Ecuadorian University. There is a wide selection of courses taught in Spanish to choose from in the subject areas of politics, anthropology, sociology, literature and history. Popular courses for exchange students are "Literatura Hispanoamericana," "Historia de America Latina Republicana," "Arqueologia Andina," "Arte Quito Colonial," "Genero y Sociedad," "Español Avanzado," "Fonetica" and many more.

Housing

Homestays with Ecuadorian families in Quito includes breakfast and dinner, laundry service and a private room in the home. You can rent an apartment after approval from the UMass coordinator, but the student is responsible for making all arrangements.