Quito Language & Liberal Arts Program

The Quito Language & Liberal Arts Program immerses students in the cultural and ecological diversity of the northern Andean country of Ecuador, through direct enrollment in university coursework and all-inclusive excursions throughout the country.

The program features a guided excursion to the Galápagos Islands and an excursion to the Amazon rainforest, two trips to the famous Otavalo Indian market, a guided tour of the colonial architecture of Quito, and other day trips.

Students in this program are considered full-time undergraduates at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), a modern private university located in the valley town of Cumbayá, on the outskirts of Quito. Students have access to the full curriculum at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and enroll in five to six semester-long courses in the liberal arts and sciences. Some students will also have the opportunity to participate in a local community service affiliation for two credits.

For the most up-to-date listings of courses available, please refer to the USFQ website.

Students have the option to participate in a local community affiliation placement.

Program Details

Requirements
  • Minimum of fourth-semester college-level Spanish language or the equivalent
  • Language screening interviews may be required
  • Admissions requirements for all programs
Program Dates
  • Fall Semester: August 17 to December 21, 2013
    • Spring Semester: early January to mid May
      • Depart U.S.: January 6, 2013
      • Program Arrival: January 6, 2013
      • Depart: Ecuador: May 16, 2013
    • Academic Year: late August to mid May
    Cost
    Credits
    • Upon successful completion of the program, students earn fifteen to eighteen Boston University credits. Students must enroll for a minimum of fifteen credits.
    Housing
    • Boston University’s homestay accommodations facilitate the students’ language acquisition and integration into the Ecuadorian society through the daily usage of Spanish. Housing costs include meals seven days a week, as well as laundry. Households represent a wide range of incomes and often include families with younger children and other university students. Students not only improve their conversational Spanish by living with families, but also learn important lessons about Ecuadorian culture and customs.
    Application Deadlines
    • Fall Semester & Academic Year: March 15 
    • Spring Semester: October 1

    Download a description of the Quito Language & Liberal Arts Program.

    Program Faculty & Staff

    The Boston University Quito Language & Liberal Arts Program is administered in coordination with our Boston and Quito offices. In Boston, a program manager facilitates the admissions and pre-departure procedures, and maintains contact with students prior to their arrival in Ecuador. In Quito, the program is facilitated by a resident coordinator.

    Faculty & Staff Profiles
    Heather York, Program Manager

    On-Site Staff

    Faculty

    All courses are taught in Spanish by fully qualified professors appointed to teach at the university level.

    Anthropology (ANT)
    • Carmen Anhalzer: PhD, University of Florida at Gainesville.
    • Maria del Carmen Molestina: Doctorate, Archaeology, Universidad Navarra, Spain.
    • Diego Quiroga: PhD, Anthropology and Sociology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; BA, University of California at Berkeley. He is the coordinator of the department and dean of students for USFQ.
    Art History (ARH)
    • Margarita Espinosa: BA, Art History, University of Navarra, Spain. She is the coordinator of the department.
    • Trinidad Pérez: MA, University of Texas at Austin; BA, University of Maryland at College Park.
    • Mónica Vorbeck de la Torre: BA, Art History, University of Vienna, Austria.
    Economics (ECN)
    • Gustavo Arteta: PhD, Economics, George Mason University.
    • Efraín Cazar Moncayo: MA, Economics, University of Idaho.
    • Rafael Correa Delgado: PhD, Economics, Universidad de Lovaina La Nueva, Bélgica.
    • Pedro Delgado Campaña: MS, INCAE, Costa Rica.
    • Rosa Matilde Guerrero Murgeytio: MA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma, Mexico; BA, Universidad Católica de Quito, Ecuador.
    • Christian Langpap: MS, Economics, University of Wisconsin at Madison.
    • Samantha Roberts: PhD, Economics, University of Pittsburgh.
    Environmental Studies (REC)
    • Carlos Fabara Ordoñez: Doctorate, Chemistry, Universidad Central del Ecuador; MS, Chemistry, University of Arizona.
    • Jorge Jurado Mosquera: P., Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Ecuador.
    • Enrique Laso Gonzalez: Degree in Forestry, Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela.
    • Gunther Reck: Doctorate, Marine Science, Universität Kiel, Germany; Undergraduate studies, Universität Freiburg, Germany. He is the coordinator of the Environmental Studies department.
    • Roberto Troya Villacorta: MS, Harvard University.
    • Roberto Ulloa Vaca: MA, Natural Resources, Ohio State University.
    • Carlos A. Valle Castillo: PhD, Ecology, Princeton University.
    Philosophy (FIL)
    • Alex Pienknagura: PhD, Philosophy, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; MA, BA, Philosophy, Michigan State University. He is the coordinator of the Philosophy department.
    • Lily Brinkmann: Licenciada, Philosophy and Letters, Universidad de Guayaquil, Ecuador; Doctorate, MA, Education, IICE Universidad Navarra, Spain.
    • Carlos Freile Granizo: Doctorate, Wilhem Universität, Germany; Ciclo de Licenciatura, Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad Católica del Ecuador. He is the coordinator of the Philosophy department.
    • Santiago Gangotena Ribadineira: MBA, University of New Mexico.
    • William Mulcahey: S.S.L., Bible Studies, Pontificio Instituto Bíblico, Italy.
    • Juan Manuel Rodríguez Lopez: Doctorate, Literature, P.U.C.E., Ecuador; Licenciatura, Philosophy, Universidad Católica del Ecuador.
    • Geology (GEO)
    • Miguel Mora: DPhil, Geology, St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford, England.
    • Karen Ogden: DPhil, MA, Geology, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, England; BA, St. Hugh’s College, University of Oxford, England.
    History (HIS)
    • Carmen Anhalzer: Please see her profile under anthropology.
    • Claudio Creamer: Doctoral Studies in Economics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma, Mexico; DPhil, P.U.C.E., Ecuador; MBA, I.E.S.A., Venezuela; BA, Syracuse University.
    • Carlos Espinoza Fernandez de Cordoba: PhD, History, University of Chicago; BA, Tufts University.
    • Carlos Freile Granizo: Doctorate, Wilhem Universität, Germany; Ciclo de Licenciatura, Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad Católica del Ecuador. He is the coordinator of the History department.
    • MarÍa del Carmen Molestina: Please see her profile under anthropology.
    • William Mulcahey: S.S.L., Bible Studies, Pontificio Instituto Bíblico, Italy.
    International Relations (REL)
    • Pamela Burke: PhD candidate, University of Maryland.
    • Raìl Carrera López: PhD, International Relations and Development, MA, International Relations and Latin American Studies, University of Miami; BA, Queen’s College. He is the coordinator of the International Relations department.
    • Claudio Creamer: Please see his profile under history.
    • Carlos Espinosa Fernandez de Cordoba: Please see his profile under history.
    • Giancarlo Soler: Please see his profile under history.
    Political Science (POL)
    • José Ignacio Albuja Izurieta: JD, Pontífica Universidad Católica, Ecuador.
    • Greg Bucholz: Please see his profile under economics.
    • Claudio Creamer: He is the coordinator of the Political Science department. Please see his profile under history.
    • Jessica Ehlers de Gallegos: PhD, Sociology, City University of New York.
    • Jorje Zalles Santivañez: MBA, Harvard University; BA, Yale University.
    Psychology (SIC)
    • Teresa Borja Alverez: PhD, MA, Psychology, University of Western Ontario, Canada. She is the coordinator of the department.
    • Alicia Brauer Cornejo: Degree in Clinical Psychology, Universidad Católica, Ecuador.
    • Jaime Costales Peñaherrera: PhD, Transpersonal Psychology, Pacific Western University.
    • Monserrate Checa: Postgraduate degree, Development Studies, Institute for Social Sciences, The Hague, Holland.
    • Jessica Guarderas: MS, Psychobiology, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
    Quichua Language (LNA)
    • Renaud Neubauer: Licenciado, Chinese, Université de Paris III; MA, Chinese, l’INALCO, Paris; Diplomé, Korean and Quechua, l’INALCO, Paris; Diplomé, Chinese and Japanese, l’ENLOV. He is the coordinator of the Asian and American language department.
    Spanish Language (ESP)
    • Luis Antonio Aguilar Monsalve: PhD, Hispanic Languages and Cultures, California Coast University. He is the coordinator of the Spanish Language department.
    • José Julio Cisneros Merino: PhD, Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh.
    • Gustavo Fierro Cevallos: PhD, Linguistics, Georgetown University.
    • Laura Hidalgo Alzamora: Doctorate, Literature, Licenciatura, Castillian Pedagogy, P.U.C.E., Ecuador.
    • Juan Manuel Rodríguez Lopez: Please see his profile under philosophy.

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