| Name of Institution |
Universidad San Francisco de Quito |
| |
Campus Cumbayá, Casilla 17-12-841, Quito, Ecuador |
| Contacts: |
Jennifer Stimson, Director
jennifers@mail.usfq.edu.ec
Maricarmen Paz y Miño, Assistant Director
maria@mail.usfq.edu.ec
Susan Carey, Program Development Coordinator
susanc@usfq.edu.ec
Verónica Castelo, Administrative Assistant
vcastelo@.usfq.edu.ec |
| Telephone |
593-2-297-1755 Direct Line
593-2-297-1700 (-1701, -1702), ext. 1755 / 1756 / 1757 |
| Fax |
593-2-297-1800 ATTN: International Programs |
| Strengths: |
Liberal arts (literature, anthropology, etc.), ecology, environmental science, Spanish language, political science, international relations, art, business, administration. |
| Number of Students: |
2650 undergraduates, 800 students in continuing education and distance education programs, 125 graduate students |
| Criteria for Participation/Requirements: |
Minimum GPA of 2.75. Students must complete the application provided by USFQ's Office of International Programs, including a personal essay and two academic references.
We recommend that students have taken at least two years of university Spanish before attending USFQ's campus in Cumbayá. Partner institutions are responsible for determining that students have at least an intermediate level of Spanish. Students will take a Spanish placement exam during orientation at USFQ. Exchange students must take between 12-16 credits to justify the 12-VIII Cultural Exchange visa (fall and spring semesters only). Please note that USFQ's special programs have separate requirements. |
| Admission Deadline: |
June 15 for Fall Semester
November 15 for Spring Semester
April 30 for Summer Session
(no tuition waiver for Summer Session unless specified in the exchange agreement) |
| Academic Calendar: |
Fall: end of August to mid December
Spring: early January to mid May
Summer Session (Cumbayá): end of May to end of July
Summer Session (SAFS): early June to mid July
Summer Session (GAIAS): three weeks in June |
| Academic Programs/Areas: |
College of Management, College of Agriculture, College of Architecture, College of Contemporary Arts, College of Environmental Science, College of Applied Sciences and Engineering, College of Jurisprudence, College of Liberal Arts, College of Health Sciences, College of Communication,
College of Hospitality, Gastronomy and Tourism, Berkeley School of Music. |
| Special Full-Semester Programs: |
Galapagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS). 5 intensive modular courses: Evolutionary Biology, Native and Introduced Plants of the Galapagos, Population Ecology, Introduction to Marine Life of the Galapagos Islands, and Human Ecology and Maritime Communities. Students have the option of enrolling in 15 credits (5 courses) or 12 credits (4 courses) and participating in community service or conservation work.
Pre-requisites: At least one course in General Biology and Ecology. There is no Spanish requirement, as all courses are taught in English. |
| Summer Programs: |
Summer Session on Cumbayá Campus: Students may take courses from any field, but special courses are designed for international students in Spanish and Latin American Studies. They may take a maximum of nine credits. Three trips are included in the program. |
| |
Galapagos and the Coast of Ecuador: A three-week, intensive course aimed at students interested in biological conservation, the marine environment, anthropology, and the interaction between local coastal communities and their environment. This 6-credit course relies heavily on fieldwork led by professors. In addition, students will receive lectures and presentations from well-known specialists on Galapagos and coastal environmental issues. (Taught in English) |
| |
Summer Archeology Field School (SAFS): Students acquire first-hand experience in archaeological investigation. They actively participate in surveying, mapping, excavations and lab analysis while accompanied by an experienced team of trained archaeologists. In addition to field work, students receive a combination of theoretical and methodological training in one of the most archaeologically rich areas of the country, on the coast of Ecuador. 6 credits. (Taught in English) |
| Tuition Costs: |
Waived under bilateral exchange agreements. For students who pay tuition, costs are $3390 for Fall 2003 and $3570 for Spring 2004. |
| Accommodations: |
Homestay with an Ecuadorian host family in Quito (approximately 45 minutes from campus in public transport), including breakfast and dinner, laundry service, a private room in the home and the experience of being another member of the family. Students who receive approval from their home institution to rent an apartment are responsible for making their own arrangements. |
| Homestay Costs: |
For students placed by the Office of International Programs: $13/day, totaling $1586 for Fall Semester 2003 and $1677 for Spring Semester 2004, based on recommended arrival and departure dates. Costs vary for students placed through resident directors. |
| Personal Expenses: |
$1500-$2000 per semester including in-country travel, or approximately $250 per month, including approximately $300 for lunches (not included in homestay) and $150 for transportation to and from USFQ, not including touristic travel. If planning to travel to Galapagos, bring an additional $900 - $1,000. |
| Medical Insurance: |
Students should apply for an international medical insurance plan that will cover them while they're in Ecuador. In case medical attention is necessary, students will pay out of pocket and submit receipts to their insurance company to be reimbursed. |
| Books and Study Materials: |
Approximately $300 per semester |
| Student Services: |
The Office of International Programs offers an orientation program at the beginning of each semester. We highly recommend that all international students attend. A Spanish placement exam is given during orientation and the results are used to guide students' course selections. USFQ offers a variety of sports classes including fencing, water aerobics, soccer, volleyball, tennis, aerobics, Latin American dancing, basketball, tai chi, kempo karate and track and field. There is a medical clinic with highly qualified physicians on campus. Visits to the on-call doctors are free, but students pay for laboratory tests, materials, and appointments with specialists. International students receive a free e-mail account on campus and a student ID to use as a library card and to obtain discounts at some nearby businesses. Each international student is assigned an academic advisor (USFQ faculty member) to help the student register for classes. USFQ can arrange volunteer experiences for no credit. |
| USFQ Campus: |
Nestled in the quiet valley of Cumbayá, only 20 minutes by bus from Quito, Ecuador's capital city. At 9,200 ft. above sea level and just 13 miles south of the equator, Quito enjoys year-round spring-like weather. Its proximity to famous indigenous market towns, 17th century haciendas, volcanoes, national parks, and a diversity of rich ecological zones makes the city an ideal location for students, visitors and residents alike. |
| Cancellation Fees: |
Fees for cancellation are as follows:
1) $50 Family Placement fee (if the homestay placement was made prior to cancellation).
2) $50 Cancellation fee (if the cancellation is made 30 days or less prior to the program start date).
3) One month Homestay fee (if cancellation is made after arrival in Ecuador). |
| Websites: |
www.usfq.edu.ec (USFQ's homepage)
http://www.usfq.edu.ec/GAIAS/index.html (GAIAS)
http://www.usfq.edu.ec/saf/index.html (SAFS)
http://www.usfq.edu.ec/1TIPUTINI/index.html (TBS) |
