Quito
Ecuador
Bridge
Quito
Discover a country teeming with diverse
cultures, climates, nature and wildlife.
Few places in the world match Ecuador
for the range of experiences it offers.
Connect
Sharpen your Spanish language skills
by living with a host family and taking
advanced level courses.
Act
Volunteer or pursue an internship with
agencies serving Quito’s vulnerable children and the health of women and the
elderly.
Quito Quick facts
Location: north-central Ecuador, just south
of the Equator
Population: 1,619,146
Fun Fact: Quito is a well-preserved old
town and was deemed a UNESCO World
Heritage site in 1978.
Table of Contents
Bridge the World | Why BCA Quito?..................................... 3–4
Connect to Learning | Host university, sample courses......5–6
Connect to Culture | Living in Quito....................................7–8
Act: What Mattered to Me| Student experiences................9–10
Bridge the
World
Why BCA Quito?
When thinking about BCA Quito,
it is best to think about it as a
journey … a journey to the middle
of the world. Ecuador, as its
name suggests, is situated on the
equator. Although only the size of
Oregon, one will be hard-pressed
to find a more diverse country
anywhere in the world. The bulk
of your journey will be among the
marvelous Andes mountains, highlighted by numerous
snow-capped volcanoes.
You will study in one of the country’s premier
universities, the Universidad San Francisco de Quito,
which offers a wide range of courses similar to those of
U.S. universities. You will be communicating in Quiteñan Spanish, meaning that you will learn numerous
Quichua words, which are part of the daily vernacular.
While most of the people you see around you are
mestizos (a mix of Spanish and indigenous descent),
you will recognize significant human diversity, including
varied indigenous cultures, Anglos, Afro-Ecuatorianos,
Asians and Arabs.
Everywhere you go you will encounter different cultures, socio-economic situations, traditions and foods.
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A significant part of the journey is your effort to understand the complexity of the country, city and school
where you study. As you travel, whether to other parts
of the country, or just on your daily commute to school,
you will witness human challenges that most of us
normally take for granted. Poverty, segregation and
political instability are the norm. It is very likely that
you will become frustrated with the unfair distribution
of wealth, and this will be complicated even more when
you realize that many of your classmates are children
of the extreme upper class. It is also likely that you will
begin to see your own country in a different light, as
you learn about its effect on small developing nations
like Ecuador.
Your journey will be a true exploration of our new
global society and hopefully your inauguration as a
global citizen.
Sincerely,
Daniel Bryan
BCA Quito Resident Director
I came to Ecuador with an idea
of what I wanted my experience to
be like and am leaving having had
a completely different experience,
but one that I could not dream of
replacing.
Elizabeth Randolph, Denison University
Connect to
Courses
Learning
Overview
Suggested Areas
of Study
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Spanish
Business Administration
Economics
Biology
International Relations
Music
Education
Language Requirement:
2 semesters of college-level Spanish
or equivalent are required.
View more recommended courses at
www.BCAstudyabroad.org.
BCA Signature Course
Animal Physiology
bio322
Applied Entomology
bio250
Applied Microbiology
bio100
Basic Biology
bio201
Flora and Fauna of Ecuador
International Relations
Globalization
rel402
International Law
Ecuador: Language and Culture (Fall Semester)
rel410
International Negotiation
Ecuador: Culture and Justice (Spring Semester)
rel305
International Organizations
rel360
International Political Economy
Sample Courses
Spanish
University of San Francisco de Quito
bio303
rel424e
(Required)
The University of San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is comprised of 16 academic
colleges and institutes spread across three campuses in Ecuador. It is the only
university in the world that owns a campus in the Galapagos Islands and a
campus in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve (Tiputini Biodiversity Station), one of
earth’s most biodiverse areas.
Biology
EPE321
Advanced Conversation
The University of San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is one of the
best in all of Latin America. It is a private, liberal arts university ranked in the top three of Ecuadorian universities by the
Ecuadorian Council of Evaluation and Accreditation of High
Education. With hundreds of available courses and abundant
resources, students couldn’t find a better option in Ecuador.
EAI315
Advanced Grammar
EAI320
Creative Writing
EAI321
Hispanic American Language and Literature
EAI322
Language and Cinema
EAI317
Language and Civilization
EAI319
Language and Translation
While most of the professors are Ecuadorian, instructors come
from all over the world including the United States, Europe,
Asia and other countries in Latin America. Nearly 90 percent
of the faculty have doctorate degrees and have studied and/
or worked outside of Ecuador. As a BCA student, you will take
Spanish language classes as well as regular university courses
with Ecuadorian students. USFQ offers a variety of courses in
many academic disciplines.
EAI323
Phonology and Phonetics
Business Administration
Music
imc103
Arrangements 1
imc377
Evolution of Jazz
imc101
Harmony
imc104
Improvisation
imc110
Introduction to Music Technology
Education
edu201
Class Management
edu415
Curricular Planning
edu340
Evaluation of Learning
edu400a Internship
edu320
Learning Methods
fin330
Markets and Financial Institutions
Economics
The most helpful thing to me during the language acquisition process
was having a family who spoke to me in Spanish everyday and my host
parent’s inability to speak English, which challenged me to learn more
Spanish all the time.
ecn330 Economic Development
ecn370 Environmental Economy
ecn420 International Economics
ecn210 Principles of Macroeconomics
ecn200 Principles of Microeconomics
Emily Bell, Denison University
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»»Fundación Tierra Nueva: public health and education
»»Fundación Quito Eterno: cultural education and arts
»»Fundación Azúcar: Afro-Ecuadorian cultural organization
»»Clínica La Primavera: medical clinic with specialty in
water-births
»»Rehabilitation Center Virgilio Guerrero: youth guidance
center for imprisoned minors
tients who have special needs or incurable diseases
ADM450 Contemporary Problems
ADM465 International Business
BCA Quito has established partnerships with NGO’s and
governmental institutions to give you professional volunteer
and internship experiences:
»»Fundación ABEI: work with both youth and geriatric pa-
PUB310 Business Contexts
EMP201 Entrepreneurship
Experiential Learning and Internships
Wow. My volunteer experience was one of the best
and most valuable experiences I’ve had in Ecuador, and
even in my life. I left a part of my heart in that classroom.
Holly Rittenhouse, Manchester University
Connect to
Culture
The capital of Ecuador, Quito lies at 9,000 feet above sea level in a high valley
at the base of Mount Pichincha. With a climate referred to as “eternal spring,”
Quito is a city of sun and sky, surrounded by mountains and three snowcapped volcanoes.
City Life
Life in Quito offers a mix of Spanish, indigenous, and modern
international traditions. Although the city is ever-growing,
currently with 1.6 million people, its neighborhoods retain
their small city atmosphere. As one of the most cultural cities
in the world, Quito has plenty to offer, including a beautiful
historical center, dozens of museums, a theater, symphonic
concerts, state-of-the-art shopping centers, numerous parks
and recreation centers and food of all kinds.
Whether it is life with your Ecua-family, the great cultural opportunities all around you, your volunteer work, local youth
groups or just hanging out with Ecuadorian classmates or fellow BCA-ers, Quito quickly becomes “home.” And just as you
felt after leaving your United States home for the first time,
you will feel homesick after leaving Ecuador.
Housing, Meals and Transportation
Host Families: families range from middle to upper-middle
class, with different resources available. All families provide
breakfast and dinner, a private room and laundry services.
Meals: host families provide breakfast and dinner. You will
receive a lunch allowance each month.
Local Transportation: buses and taxis. You will receive a taxi
allowance.
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Activities
Students have access to the numerous sports activities at the
university, including soccer, fencing, mountain climbing, hiking, aerobics, yoga, tae kwon do, basketball, volleyball, track
and tai chi. You may also take advantage of the public parks
that are open for jogging and playing basketball, soccer and
Ultimate Frisbee. There are many gyms throughout the city
and students can easily become members.
Leave your house every day
because there are so many free
events connected to what you like,
and many more offering new things
that you’ll discover you love. Suddenly you’ll look back at your ticket
stubs and be really impressed by
how much you did!
Chelsea Dugger, Soka University of America
Excursions
Included in the program fee, educational
excursions offer an exciting way to examine important global issues affecting the local people
and environment. Destinations may change and
vary by semester, but can include a few of the
following locations:
»»Galapagos Islands: a five-day excursion to
observe the amazing wildlife, learn about the
islands’ natural and cultural history, and meet
the people who live there
»»Amazon: experience its tremendous biodi-
versity, witness the impacts of oil extraction,
and visit indigenous communities struggling
to maintain their cultural identity and ancestral land rights
»»Coast: visit the northern coast of Ecuador
to experience the unique culture of AfroEcuadorians, learn about the coastal
mangrove ecosystem, and see first-hand the
social, environmental and economic impacts
of the shrimp farming industry
»»Papallacta Hot Springs : in the Andes
Act
Leaving behind your
friends and family may
seem scary at first, but the
community that you will
build in your new home
makes the risk worth it.
What Mattered to me
student experiences in Quito
Bridging
Victoria Rehr, Juniata College
The World
The most valuable aspects
were the trips, focusing on
social justice issues and the
injustices that Ecuadoreans
face. It was good to be aware of
these problems, to experience
them firsthand and to help in
some small way.
Where I am
now
While I was volunteering in a
third grade classroom in Quito, I
realized my passion for teaching
English as a second language. I
doubt I would have discovered
this passion and followed this
route if not for BCA. TESOL has
opened up incredible opportunities I never imagined.
Holly Rittenhouse, Manchester University
Connecting
to culture
Leah Garrity, Ursinus College
Living in another culture is an experience that
is so different and incredible, you can’t even imagine
how it will change you
until you live it.
Do not constantly compare Ecuador to the United States. It
is such a different country, but it has so many treasures. If you
constantly compare it with the US, you will fail to see its positives and how beautiful and amazing of a country it truly is.
Kellan Moorse, Bethel University, Minnesota
Emily Bell, Denison University
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[Volunteering] gave
me something to look forward to doing after class
twice a week and made
me feel like I was not just
a tourist traveling and
taking classes but helping the community in a
positive way.
Zach Hosler, Bridgewater College
Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA Study
Abroad promotes international understanding, awareness
of global citizenship and academic scholarship through
educational exchange.
Our Mission
www.BCAStudyAbroad.org
BCA Study Abroad Programs 2014–2015
Austria: Vienna
India: Chennai
Quick Facts
Belgium: Brussels
Ireland: Maynooth
China: Dalian
Mexico: Xalapa
Ecuador: Quito
Morocco: Tetouan
England: Cheltenham
New Zealand: Dunedin
Application Deadlines
»» Fall Semester: April 15
»» Spring Semester: October 15
Germany: Marburg
Palestine: Ramallah
Greece: Athens
Spain: Barcelona, Valladolid
Language of Instruction: Spanish. Two semesters of
college-level Spanish (or equivalent) are required
BCA’s Comprehensive Fee Covers
»» Tuition
»» Housing
»» Meals or meal stipend
»» Excursions
»» On-site staff
»» Seminars and guest lectures
Dates of Study
»» Fall Semester: late July – mid-December
»» Spring Semester: early January – late May
Host University:
Universidad de San Francisco de Quito
Housing: host families
A. 50 Alpha Drive · Elizabethtown, PA · 17022
P. 717-361-6600 or Toll Free (U.S.): 1-866-222-6188
E. [email protected]
»» University services
»» Academic advising
»» Orientation program
»» Language training (where applicable)
»» Academic transcript
»» On-Call International Travel Assistance