Semester at Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Ecuador
With the culturally vibrant capital and historically intriguing colonial city of Quito as your classroom, the semester program at Catolica allows student total immersion in Ecuadorian culture, past, present and future. Ideal for intermediate to advanced level speakers, Catolica’s program for international students focuses on total integration of ‘extranjeros’ – whether they’re debating Latin American politics with their peers in the classroom, commenting on the culinary flair of their host families, working on their salsa moves on a night out in the happening Mariscal Sucre area of bars, restaurants and clubs, or practicing rolling their r’s with locals in one of the beautiful downtown plazas surrounded by stunning views of the Andes.
Enjoy all the amenities of a large, urban campus, from gyms, cultural events, and student clubs to internships opportunities or just hanging with your new Ecuadorian amigos. Special events, such as conversation clubs and Ecuadorian mentors, help international students integrate into student body of nearly 8000 students. PUCE has several satellite campuses, including the Yasuni Research station in the Amazon, along with the Ibarra campus a couple hours north of Quito, where students can take classes or join excursions.
Volunteer Role/Skills Required
Students can choose to take a diverse range of liberal arts courses, all in Spanish, including any of the offerings from PUCE’s Faculty and Schools of History, Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Law, Education, Administration, Social Work, Biology, Environment, Literature, Philosophy and more. The program has as it’s a core the mission to promote and develop the formation of skills, knowledge and relationships to help find regional and international solutions and improved relations among members of the American continent, though many study abroad students also come from Europe.
Spanish placement tests will be given to help determine which courses, including Espanol como Segunda Lengua, are best suited for international students. Students must have completed at least four levels of college level Spanish and test accordingly to matriculate at Catolica.
Dates and Costs
Dates
Fall 2010: mid August – December
Spring 2011: January – May
Summer 2011: June and July session – Intensive Spanish Program (9 Credits)
Cost
Tuition: $4000, plus $15/day for room and board (3 meals) with host family
Does not include books, student Visa fees, etc.
International student application due first week of June (transcripts, health, homestay form, etc.)