Quito Campus
Fall: 17 weeks (late August to late December)
Spring: 19 weeks (January 2 - May 10, 2010)
Summer (Quito only): 9 weeks (late May to late July)
Academic Year

GAIAS (Galápagos Campus)
Fall: 17 weeks (late August to late December)
Spring: 19 weeks (early January to mid-May)
Academic Year

Spring Semester 2010 closed

Sponsored by the College of Arts & Letters, the Eli Broad College of Business, the College of Natural Science, and the College of Social Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This multidisciplinary program, organized in collaboration with La Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), is open to all majors and provides a wide variety of classes that explore the extraordinary diversity of Ecuador’s natural resources, language, culture, and society.  MSU participants will attend a combination of Spanish language courses designed for non-natives and regular USFQ classes taught in Spanish by USFQ faculty.  Opportunities for field study and several field trips supplement the classroom experience.

Students of the natural or social sciences also have the option of studying for a semester at the USFQ’s Galápagos Academic Institute of the Arts and Sciences, or GAIAS.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Where does it take place?

Ecuador is a country of contrasts.  Though relatively small when compared to its South American neighbors, Ecuador has been blessed with all the natural beauty and diversity of a much larger country.  Students will find not one but various ethnic and cultural traditions coexisting in Ecuador and in constant juxtaposition with modern, cosmopolitan life.  Ecuador’s geographical variety ranges from the unique island preserve of the Galápagos, to the coastal coffee and banana plantations, to the snow-capped Andes, and the rainforests of the upper Amazon Basin.  Multiplicity and mixing are just as evident in Ecuador’s climate, people and even its cuisine.

Quito has been an important regional capital since long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.  In fact, the city was a rival center of power to Cuzco, the Inca capital, throughout the imperial period.  In 1978 UNESCO designated Old Quito a World Heritage Site for the preservation and style of its colonial architecture - a unique blend of Spanish, Moorish, Italian, Flemish and Indigenous elements.  Being so near the Equator, the weather in Ecuador is tropical year-round.  However, Quito is nestled among the eastern foothills of imposing Mount Pichincha, so its altitude keeps it refreshingly cool at night.
               
The USFQ campus is modern, exceptionally well cared for and located in Cumbayá, a sunny, quiet valley twenty minutes from the city center.

Several field trips have been planned in conjunction with USFQ to places like rainforests, Indigenous communities, and the mountains.  These excursions complement the academic and cultural components of this program and are mandatory.

The Galápagos Islands, discovered by accident and uninhabited by humans until the 19th century, are an oceanic preserve famous for stimulating Charles Darwin’s revolutionary thoughts on evolution.  The archipelago remains one of the most pristine places on Earth.  Here, plant and animal life is not only abundant, but unlike anywhere else on the planet.  There is no better place to study conservation and ecology, whether from a political or scientific point of view, than at the heart of this ecological treasure.

What can I study?

The USFQ is a private university that offers excellent academic and non-academic opportunities for students.  It is one of the few universities in Latin America to offer a liberal arts approach to education.  It has a first-class international reputation that has attracted outstanding educators - most of whom have received PhD’s from the United States.

Each student will be required to enroll for a minimum of twelve (12) credits per semester.  The minimum in the summer is six (6) semester credits. Participants will need to have completed Spanish 202, or the equivalent, to be considered for this program.  In addition, Spanish majors and minors must have completed Spanish 310 or its equivalent.  Students may choose from a wide variety of courses in arts and letters, business, natural science, and the social sciences.

Courses at the main campus in Quito that may interest students in the College of Natural Science include:

• The Geology and Geodynamics of Ecuador
• Studies in Tropical Ecology
• Ecology and Conservation of the Galápagos Islands
• Tropical Mountain Ecology
• Tropical Rainforest Ecology
• Entomological Fauna of Ecuador
• Medicinal Plants

A variety of courses are available that will satisfy core requirements for students in the Eli Broad College of Business, the College of Arts & Letters, including Spanish, and the College of Social Science. 

Students going to GAIAS can choose from one of two thematic tracks: Evolution, Ecology and Conservation, or Politics and Environment.  Specific course titles vary from semester to semester.  Contact the program coordinator for details.

Like any university, USFQ does not offer every possible course each term.  To assure that credit for your courses is applied to requirements, consult with your academic adviser.  If you have questions about a particular course, contact the Office of Study Abroad.

This is a co-sponsored program. Credit may be awarded for certain courses as regular MSU credit rather than transfer credit.  These courses will be listed on your official MSU transcript and will include the title of the course abroad, the number of credits and the grade earned. For further details see co-sponsored programs.

To find out what courses other students have taken on the program and what MSU courses they might replace, visit Transfer MSU and Office of the Registrar - Co-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Courses listed may not be offered every semester, and additional courses may be available during the semester you plan to participate.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Students must have completed SPN 202 (or the equivalent) and be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Spanish majors and minors must also have completed SPN 310 or its equivalent. Meeting the minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required of GAIAS participants.  In addition, students must have successfully completed at least one year of university study prior to leaving for the Galápagos.  Applicants to the Evolution, Ecology and Conservation track must have successfully completed one course each in general biology and ecology prior to participation.  Intermediate Spanish is recommended for applicants to the Politics and Environment track, but not required.

Additionally, students must submit an essay with their application stating why they wish to participate in this program.

This program is open to MSU students only.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will live with Ecuadorian families that have had experience hosting American students.  Accommodations in Quito include three meals a day. Only one meal per day is included in the Galápagos.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Rocío Quispe-Agnoli
Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities
305 Linton Hall
Phone:  (517) 353-3560

Karen Lienhart
College of Natural Science
110 Natural Science Bldg.
Phone:  (517) 432-9260

Jayne Braverman
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
332 Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605   

Dwight Handspike
Eli Broad College of Business
Undergraduate Academic Services
332 Eppley Center
Phone: (517) 355-7605

Oumatie Marajh
College of Social Science
201C Berkey Hall
Phone: (517) 353-9202

For more information about USFQ, log-on to their Web site.

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

A valid passport is required for entry into Ecuador.  In addition, a cultural exchange visa is required for semester study. 

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

For Quito, the program fee for Spring 2010 is $8,236.  These program fees include the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• tuition and fees
• meals
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips
  

For the Galápagos, the program fee for Spring 2010 is $12,706. These program fees include the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• tuition and fees
• accommodations
• meals
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips
• round-trip airfare between Quito and the Galápagos
  

Amounts not included in the program fees for which participants will need to budget include:

• international airfare
• additional meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

These additional costs are estimated at $2,853 for Spring 2010 for Quito.  For Galápagos, these additional costs are estimated at $3,315 for Spring 2010.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadlines to apply for these scholarships are March 1st for summer, fall and academic year programs and October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester participation and by March 1st for summer, fall or academic year participation.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines. 

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records.

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.