Program Site
La Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is based in the capital of Ecuador, considered one of the most beautiful regions in Latin America. Located in the Andean mountains at the foot of Mount Pichincha 9200 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. A private Ecuadorian University developed on the American model, USFQ was founded in 1985 and enrolls more than 2,000 students in degree programs such as: Agriculture, Nutrition, Applied Science, Ecology, Architecture, Liberal Arts, Education, Art, Economics, and Finance. In 1994, the University moved to its new, modern campus in the region of Cumbaya, a short drive from the center of the city.

Academic Program Highlights
The program is designed for students who wish to study Spanish in an intensive format and who wish to explore the world of the Andes. All courses are taught in Spanish; therefore, students should have advanced Spanish language proficiency before enrolling in semester programs. Course offerings vary each semester. Recommended core courses include: Andean History, Art in Hispanic Quito, Latin American History, Spanish Composition, Spanish Conversation, Cultural Anthropology, Drama, History of Ecuador, Introduction to Latin American Issues. People of the Andes, Rural and Urban Sociology, and Tropical Ecology. Students typically receive 12-17 undergraduate credits per semester.

Program Duration
August 24 - December 23 (Fall)
January 10 - May 20 (Spring)

Application Deadlines*
May 1 (Fall)
October 15 (Spring)

*Note: Contact Rio Salado College for exact dates.

Recommended Credits
12 - 17 credits

Transcripts
For all courses taken at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito where there are equivalent courses in the MCCCD, the official record for those credits will be posted on the MCCCD, Rio Salado College, transcript.

Eligibility
A 2.5 GPA, along with transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose are required for admission to the program, which is open to students at freshman through graduate level standing.

Student Life
All students live with Ecuadorian host families. This arrangement facilitates the students' immersion into the Ecuadorian culture. Two to three meals per day are provided. In addition to several tours within Quito, field trips to other areas of interest in Ecuador are organized throughout the semester. The program features a semester-long orientation program designed to facilitate cross-cultural adaptation and learning.

Costs
The cost of a semester may vary as changes occur in the economies and currencies of the U.S. and Ecuador. The factors listed below are used to calculate program costs.

  • Tuition at Rio Salado College (assessed according to the student's residency status).
  • Program costs in Ecuador, including instruction, housing, application and orientation fees, insurance, books and field trips.
  • Transportation to Ecuador.
Financial Aid
Any financial aid for which students are eligible during the course of their study at Rio Salado College, including Pell Grants, can be used toward the cost of the program in Ecuador.

For More Information
Office of International Education
Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 517-8416
(480) 517-8849 Fax
Contact: Erma Abeyta, Director of International Programs
OIE@riomail.maricopa.edu