�� in Ecuador Semester Program

Live and learn in Quito through Spanish language study, community engagement, academic coursework, and everyday life with a host family

"I loved the �� in Ecuador program because I got an immersive cultural experience in Ecuador, and got to see the beautiful biodiversity of the country! It was an amazing experience especially learning from the local Indigenous Kichwa community and working with kids as part of my community engagement.”

Gabriela van Ausdale

�� student, Spring 2026

16 Week Semester Program

The program takes place in the Fall from mid-August to late-December and in the Spring from early January to late May

The �� in Ecuador Semester Program combines Spanish language development with interdisciplinary study of contemporary Ecuador. The program is particularly well suited for students interested in Spanish, Latin American and Indigenous Studies, sociology, anthropology, political studies, environmental studies, education, and human rights.

You'll learn through coursework, your host family, sustained community engagement, and an Independent Study Project.

The �� Program Advantage

Community Engagement

Engage with local community organizations in Quito. Opportunities include options in education, health, human rights, Indigenous communities, museums and cultural organizations, or LGBTQ+ rights. This sustained engagement gives you the opportunity to build relationships and connect issues explored in the core course with everyday life in Ecuador.

Homestay

Live with a host family in Quito throughout the semester. Host families are an important part of the learning experience and serve as co-educators, sharing their perspectives, culture, and everyday lives with students.

Study Trips & Excursions

Experience Ecuador beyond Quito through academic study trips to the Galápagos Islands, San Clemente, and Chocó Andino. Explore extraordinary biodiversity, spend time in an Indigenous Kichwa Karanki community in the foothills of Imbabura, and encounter some of Ecuador's distinct environments and perspectives firsthand.

�� Students: Earn Credits and Fulfill Graduation Requirements

The �� in Ecuador Program can fulfill ��'s Intercultural Understanding Global (IUG) educational objective and the Social Responsibility Praxis (SRX) educational objective.

Location

Spend the semester in Quito, Ecuador's capital and one of the highest-elevation capital cities in the world. Your host family, classes, community engagement, and independent research are all rooted in the city, allowing you to experience Quito not simply as a destination, but as the setting for your daily life and learning.

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Courses & Credits

Courses	Claremont Credits	Semester Credits
Ecuador, an Andean Country	1.0	4
Independent Study Project	1.0	4
Spanish & University Coursework Beginning and Intermediate Spanish: Intensive Spanish at the Academia Latinoamericana de Español plus one course at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). Advanced Spanish: Two regular university courses taught in Spanish at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ).	2.0	8
TOTALS	4.0	16