Program Search
Summer 2025
Dates: May 21 - July 23, 2025
Summer 2026
Dates: May 20 - July 22, 2026
Costs
Summer 2026
Costs: Contact the program sponsor for updated cost
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Please note that if you see dates or costs for a prior term above, future terms will have similar dates and costs. We will update info as soon as it becomes available.
The Summer application cycle has opened in January – you can click Apply Now then to get started for those terms.
Please note $800 deposit is due 2 weeks after acceptance.
Click here for the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador Semester Program
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is considered one of the most beautiful regions in Latin America. Located in the Andean mountains at the foot of Mount Pichincha 9,200 feet above sea level. Quito has a spring-like climate all year. Beautifully preserved colonial churches, convents, palaces, and other buildings of note contrast with the contemporary architecture of modern Quito, a cosmopolitan city of great cultural diversity. Quito has been designated the Heritage of Mankind by the United Nations. From Quito, you can travel by frequent buses to Andean Indian markets, remote jungle towns and warm Pacific beaches. In fact, starting from Quito, you can get to most points in this tropical country in less than a day.
College of Staten Island, CUNY
John Dunleavy
Study Abroad Advisor
Questions? Contact me
studyab@csi.cuny.edu
Tel:(718) 982-2100
This program is sponsored and administered by the College of Staten Island CUNY.
Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is a four-year liberal arts institution with approximately 7,000 students, ten percent of whom are international students. The Ecuadorian government recognizes USFQ as one of Ecuador's leading institutions of higher learning. USFQ opened in 1988 and is located in the beautiful suburb of Cumbayá, a short ride from the city's center. Students in the CCIS programs in Quito develop Spanish language skills through study and cultural immersion. Students also learn first-hand about contemporary issues and trends in Latin America.
Course Offerings
Courses offered at universities in Ecuador often feature a teaching/learning arrangement that is different from that which is used at institutions of higher learning in the United States. However, doing things the "Ecuadorian way" is a valuable aspect of the cross-cultural learning objective of this program. In the eight week program offered during the summer, students are introduced to Ecuador by combining intensive Spanish language and Ecuadorian culture study with home-stay arrangements and organized field trips.
Students enroll in two or three courses for up to nine credits. Spanish instruction places a heavy emphasis upon oral communication and uses an interactive methodology. CCIS students receive personalized attention in the small classes ranging from two to eight students.
Research Opportunities:
The program consists of diverse and individualized opportunities within USFQ faculty research projects. Suitable candidates will be selected for the available placements each summer depending on their interests and ongoing projects. The project is undertaken as a 3-credit independent study course in the field of relevance over the duration of the summer. CCIS students can access additional research projects run by the Galápagos Science Center Consortium (of which USFQ is an affiliate member) under their own rates. These costs will be provided by the exchange coordinator upon request and all costs related to the program will be negotiated between the parties before the arrival of students depending on the nature of the research.
Student Life
All program participants live with Ecuadorian host families. This arrangement gives each participant the opportunity to learn about Ecuadorian culture first-hand. Students gain support in the new country from interaction with the family while following the host family's customs including: eating meals, respecting host norms, and being sensitive to Ecuadorian culture.
Student Services
Duration
Summer 2025
Dates: May 21 - July 23, 2025
Summer 2026
Dates: May 20 - July 22, 2026
Costs
Summer 2026
Costs: Contact the program sponsor for updated cost
Please note that if you see dates or costs for a prior term above, that future terms will have similar dates and costs. We will update info as soon as it becomes available.
CUNY Students contact the College of Staten Island for more information.
Students registering at the College of Staten Island as Visiting Students or at a School of Record may have to pay additional costs based on residency and matriculation status.
Please note $800 deposit is due 2 weeks after acceptance.
Please contact the College of Staten Island for more information. Course offering, dates, and costs subject to change.
Costs Included: Overseas tuition, homestay with partial board, orientation in the US and abroadsickness and accident insurance, airport pickup
Costs Not Included: Airfare ($800), additional meals ($200), books ($100), personal expenses ($800), visa ($100), and optional field trips ($1155).
All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Contact the program sponsor to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.
Please refer to your acceptance materials for information on arrival, orientation, and academic calendar. The refund policy is program specific and non-transferable. Refer to your acceptance materials for the comprehensive refund policy or contact the program sponsor.
"I went to a mountain city called Guaranda for 5 days. We had the Carnival holiday this past weekend, and my family is from Guaranda, which is fortunate because Guaranda is known as the best party in Ecuador for carnival. And the reason for this was quite clear. Everyday there were parades, water balloons flying through the air, people chasing me with squirt guns, buckets of water being thrown of balconies and rooftops drenching me and other unsuspecting victims as we walked under the water trap, street dances at night, and one night by 11pm I was soaked in water, had egg and flour all over my face and in my hair, soy sauce smeared on my cheeks, vino de fruta splashed on my clothes, and then it started raining and the streets starting having little rivers of water running over our feet!!! To make it a bit worse, the sky was filled with clouds and it started raining, it was very chilly, but all part of the experience."
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is located in Andean mountains and has a spring-like climate all year. Immerse yourself - two years of college level Spanish required!
