Ecuador: Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito

Overview

Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is a four-year liberal arts institution with approximately three thousand students, 10 percent of whom are international students. The Ecuadorian government recognizes USFQ as one of Ecuador’s leading institutions of higher learning. At USFQ, students develop Spanish language skills through study and cultural immersion, while also learning first-hand about contemporary issues and trends in Latin America. Students can study at USFQ for two months during the summer, a semester during the fall or spring, or an academic year. A variety of courses are offered at USFQ for students who have a solid background in Spanish. Past offerings have included Andean History, Art in Hispanic Quito, Latin American History, Spanish Composition, Spanish Conversation, Cultural Anthropology, History of Ecuador, Introduction to Latin American Issues, People of the Andes, Rural and Urban Sociology, and Tropical Ecology. Language acquisition and cultural immersion are further encouraged through placement in a homestay.

Location

Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is considered one of the most beautiful regions in Latin America. USFQ opened in Quito in 1988 and is located in the beautiful suburb of Cumbaya´, a short ride from the city's center.

CCIS

The College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS), a partnership of colleges and universities—two and four year, large and small, public and private, domestic and foreign—encompasses the broad spectrum of international higher education. CCIS members sponsor a variety of programs, notably study abroad programs and professional development seminars for faculty and administrators, which are designed to enhance international/intercultural perspectives within the academic community.