APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: July 01 2016

The Spanish Intensive Program in Ecuador runs for almost four weeks during January semester. The program is based at the Centro de Estudios Interamericanos in Cuenca, Ecuador, a colonial Spanish city of 400,000 people nestled high in the Andes mountains and enjoying spring-like temperatures year round. The program is designed to provide serious students with an opportunity to study the language and experience the culture of Latin America.

CLASS: Students attend classes Monday through Friday mornings for four hours each day.

Attendance is strictly required. Classes are taught by Ecuadorian faculty. All classes are four credits. Students may only take one four credit course:

SPAN 102: Introduction to Spanish I (Prerequisites: SPAN 101 or equivalent)
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish (Prerequisites: SPAN 102 or equivalent)
SPAN 202: Spanish in Review (Prerequisites: SPAN 201 or equivalent)
SPAN 300: Topics in Spanish (Prerequisites: SPAN 202 or equivalent)
SPAN 312: Spanish Conversation (Prerequisites: SPAN 202 or equivalent)

HOST INSTITUTION: Founded in 1992, in recognition of the 500th anniversary of the meeting of the Old and New Worlds, the Centers for Interamerican Studies (CEDEI) is a not-for-profit institution of higher learning, dedicated to the study of American languages and cultures. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education of Ecuador and co-sponsors programs with several colleges and universities in the United States.

TENTATIVE EXCURSIONS: The Intersession program will begin with an overnight stay in Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil. Students will then wind their way by bus through the magnificent Andes on their way to the Valley of Paute where they will spend two days and nights for orientation and exploration. Once in Cuenca students will make several local field trips including the fascinating Incan ruins at Inga Pirca, and the breathtaking El Cajas national park, at over 10,000 feet above sea level. Finally, students will end the program with several nights on the Pacific coast. Unlike the indigenous Andean experience of the highlands, this final portion of the program will introduce students to Ecuador's tropical Pacific coast with an environmental studies experience.

COST: Total cost of the global seminar is estimated at $4,200. Final cost will be determined in fall 2016.


Admission is competitive and enrollment is limited. Students will be admitted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Once the program is full, accepted students will be placed on a waiting list.

The application deadline for winter term is May 1, 2016

In order to complete application students will need to create an online profile and submit an online application containing:
- A 300 word application essay answering the question "How will your participation in this international program contribute significantly to your academic career and influence future plans?"
- An unofficial transcript demonstrating overall Grade Point Average of 2.5
- A completed faculty recommendation form from a faculty member who knows the student well