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Ecuador: Quito - Culture

Tucked high in the Andes, Quito is blessed with a spring-like climate throughout the year and is one of the most beautiful cities in South America. In 1978, UNESCO designated Quito as a world cultural heritage site, ensuring the preservation of Quito’s colonial architecture. The old center is remarkably well preserved displaying some of the most impressive architecture in Latin America. With a spectacular geography that encompasses tropical Pacific beaches, Andean mountain villages, and Amazonian rainforests, Ecuador provides a dynamic setting for studying the challenges that face a small, developing nation.

The School for International Training (SIT) program in Ecuador focuses on national identity, ethnicity, and social movements. Students begin the program with intensive Spanish language study. Following this class, students begin the core seminar in Culture and Development, taught in Spanish, which deals with the following sub-themes: History, Politics & Economics; Development Issues; Environmental Issues, Geography & Ecology and Cultural Anthropology & the Humanities. The core seminar is supplemented by integral excursions to the cloud forest, the Ecuadorian Amazon and the coastal region, as well as homestays in coastal villages outside of Quito. The other academic components of this program include a required field study seminar and required independent study project.

Dates

Fall semester: late August to early December. Spring semester: early February to late May.

Fields of Study

Ecuadorian history, politics, economics, environmental studies, ecological policy, anthropology, sociology, arts.

Eligibility

Four semesters of college-level Spanish, with one semester taken in year preceding study abroad, 7.5 GPA required. Pomona students are part of a competitive national pool.

Number of Students

5 or more Pomona students. Total group approximately 20-25.

Academic Program

The program begins with a week of orientation conducted by the program co-directors in Quito. Following orientation, students are placed in one of six intermediate or advanced groups based on a placement exam in Spanish. The academic program consists of: Intensive Spanish (1.5 Pomona credits); National Identity, Ethnicity, and Social Movements Seminar (1.0 Pomona credit); Field Study Seminar (.5 Pomona credits); Independent Study Project (ISP), (1.0 Pomona credit).

There is no P/NC option on this program.

Living Arrangements

Homestays with Ecuadorian families for four weeks near Quito in Los Chillos Valley, and four weeks in urban Quito. Other accommodations during the program include hostels, private homes or small hotels.