| Name of Program |
ECUADOR: Environment and Ecology-- Long Term |
| Location: |
Quito , Ecuador |
| Sponsoring Institution(s) |
Kalamazoo College Universidad San Francisco de Quito |
| Dates |
Long Term: mid August to late February |
| Language of Instruction |
Spanish |
| Eligibility Requirements |
Junior Standing (17 units) Participation by Kalamazoo students in this
program is subject to annual enrollment limits: 18 .
Contact the Center for International Programs for details. See
the College catalogue for selection criteria. |
| Additional Recommended Prep |
Botany strongly recommended. |
| GPA |
2.70 minimum |
| Language |
Minimum: Spanish 202
Maximum: Spanish |
| Application Process |
Application/Essay Required?
Interview Required?
Due Date for Applications |
| Approved for Transfer of |
Kalamazoo Fin. Assistance/Scholarships Academic Credit |
| Orientation on K Campus Required | Yes |
| Academics | This program is intended for students with a strong background in Biology who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary course work in ecology, and who are able to enroll in a regularly-offered program of study in the College of Environmental Sciences at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. All courses are taught entirely in Spanish. Students will be enrolled in four required courses, one elective, and a required field research experience at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station. |
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| Courses | This program is intended for students with a strong background in Biology who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary course work in ecology, and who are able to enroll in a regularly-offered program of study in the College of Environmental Sciences at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. All courses, except for Tropical Ecology, are taught entirely in Spanish. Students will be enrolled in four required courses, one elective, and a required field research experience at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station and GAIAS, USFQ’s campus in the Galapagos. Spanish: Español Como Segunda Lengua II (3): Catalogue description reads as follows: "Desarollo de la capacidad de escribir, leer, escuchar y hablar español por intermedio de la literatura y discusión de temas, eventos y actualidades. Nivel intermedio," or Spanish: Español Como Sengunda Lengua III (3). Catalog description reads as follows: "Lectura, análisis y descripción de obras de ficción. Sintáxis y gramática avanzada. Nivel avanzado." Students will be tested by the Spanish department for placement. Tropical Ecology (3): Taught in English. Catalogue description reads as follows: “Introduction to ecological principles applied to the functioning of tropical rain forest superimposed on the natural history of the ecosystem. Emphasis is concentrated on the Neotropics. Conservation and management issues are discussed. This course is complemented with a visit to Tiputini Biodiversity Station in which students will carry out a project. It includes oral presentations of the research proposal and a topic of research related to the rainforest. Also a written report of the research project that includes statistical analysis.” Anthropology: Eco-Antropologia (3): Catalogue description reads as follows: "Global vision on the main technological and cultural changes registered in Andean society and the impact these have had on the environment, ethics and cosmovision of a contemporary developing society. Special attention is given to the existing relationship between knowledge and popular lore, beliefs and technology, and the effects of development processes on social change in the neotropics." This course has been designed for international exchange students, for U.S.F.Q. students minoring in Environmental Sciences and for students in other majors interested in greater knowledge of the great biodiversity of Ecuador. Biology (3): Students choose a three-credit total from within the biology curriculum. Tiputini Field Research Project and Galapagos field course (3): one Unit in Biology/Environmental Studies. In addition to enrollment in required university courses during the university's fall semester, students will participate in several required field study trips designed to give them exposure to a variety of Ecuadoran ecosystems. Following the completion of courses, participants will complete a directed Environmental Field Study project at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station and at USFQ’s campus in the Galapagos, GAIAS. A final paper is required at the completion of the field study, to be written in Spanish and a one-page abstract in English. NOTE: All participants in the Environment and Ecology in Ecuador program are required to complete the Field Research Project at Tiputini & GAIAS. University Course work: Students must enroll in one additional 3-credit course of their choice. Courses that are less than 3-hours must be combined with another course in that discipline to receive credit. A catalogue of USFQ courses is available in the Center for International Programs. Cultures Credit: The following courses have been pre-approved as fulfilling the "cultures" requirement: Eco-Anthropology; Latin American Issues. Please see the Study Abroad Handbook regarding instructions for petitioning for "cultures" credit for other courses. |
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| Credits | Participants are eligible to earn 6 K units of credit for the long-term program-five from university courses and the Tiputini Field Research Project. The distribution of the units depends upon the courses taken. Students are urged to consult with their academic advisers concerning course selection. To receive Kalamazoo credit, courses must be within the liberal arts tradition. In order to be counted as one K unit, a course must have 40-45 contact hours of instruction. In cases where students must combine courses to achieve the minimum number of contact hours for a unit of credit, both courses must be from the same discipline, i.e. art history with art history. Grades from all study abroad courses will appear on the Kalamazoo transcript but are not included in the Kalamazoo grade point average. The transcript will list the title of the course, the appropriate discipline, and a translation of the local grade into the Kalamazoo "A, B, C" grading system. Students must earn the equivalent of a "C" in the local grading system to receive credit for course work completed abroad. Credit earned on Study Abroad can be used to satisfy major, minor, or concentration requirements at the discretion of the Registrar. Consult the Study Abroad Handbook and the college catalogue for additional information. |
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| ICRP/Field Study | The ICRP is not a component of this program. |
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| Housing | While in Quito, students will live and eat with Ecuadorian families selected by Kalamazoo College's Resident Director. The program will provide housing during field-study trips and the field research project. | |
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| Co-Curricular Opportunities | Students are eligible to participate in all activities sponsored by USFQ and are encouraged to join local clubs and organizations, such as a mountain climbing club, soccer, tennis, student government, student newspaper, and film club. |
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| Excursions | |
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| URL of Host Institution | |
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| Comprehensive Program Fee | |
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| Program Fee | $22,646 |
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| Comprehensive fee includes | tuition and fees, food and housing while classes are in session, round-trip international airfare from the designated point of departure, typically New York, and some excursions. |
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| Not included | books, personal spending money, medical expenses, food or housing during vacation periods or after classes have ended, and independent travel. |
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This document contains the most accurate information available at the time of publication. Statements contained herein are not contractual obligations, and verbal or other representations that are inconsistent with or not contained within the Academic Catalogue's offerings or policies are not binding. Kalamazoo College and the Center for International Programs each reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or change, without specific notice, programs, offerings, policies, procedures, qualifications, fees, and other conditions.
