Semester in the Andes

Exchange with the Center for Interamerican Studies Cuenca, Ecuador

Founded in 1992, in recognition of the 500^th 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. Salisbury University has been bringing students to the CEDEI for the winter Intersession in Ecuador since 1994.

SU/CEDEI EXCHANGE: Each year students from CEDEI come to Salisbury University to study and students from Salisbury travel to CEDEI. Exchange students pay the equivalent of full time tuition and fees to their home institution and study tuition-free at their host university. There are two exchange slots available to SU students at the CEDEI each year, normally one in the fall and one in the spring. Selection is competitive. The exchange for SU students includes room and board in Ecuador and most in-country program provided travel. Additional fees include international airfare, insurance, passport and visa fees, some program-sponsored travel and personal expenses.

CLASSES: The semester is divided into two academic terms, allowing students to begin with intensive Spanish courses and then to choose from several options. Students will take a maximum of three courses and a minimum of two courses during each of the two academic terms for a total of 12-18 credits for the semester. The schedule is intensive and attendance and participation are required. A number of courses in Spanish are offered annually. In addition, the Semester in the Andes offers a variety of coursework in English. The courses offered in English vary each year according to student interest, faculty initiative and resources.

CITY OF CUENCA: With a population of 400,000, Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador behind the port city of Guayaquil and the capital, Quito. Cuenca is nestled high in the Andes Mountains at an altitude over 8,000 feet. Located south of the equator in southern Ecuador, the climate is temperate throughout the year with warm sunny days and cool mountain nights. A UNESCO world heritage city, Cuenca has preserved its Spanish colonial roots with quaint cobblestone streets and colonial Spanish architecture. It also reflects the strong Native American culture of the Andean region.

HOUSING: While in classes in Cuenca, students live with an Ecuadorian family and experience the hospitality of Latin American culture firsthand. Most of the families have been housing foreign students for some 20 years. These families play an active role in providing a rich intercultural and personal experience for Semester in the Andes students. During the extensive program travels, hotel accommodations will be provided, although meals are the responsibility of students.

PROGRAM TRAVEL: Students in the Semester in the Andes program get a comprehensive view of Andean life through a wealth of programmed travel. Included in the costs of the program are short field trips to the capital city of Ecuador, Quito, the world-famous indigenous market at Otavalo, the Cañari and Inca ruins at Ingapirca, Cajas National Park, and several Andean villages. At the mid-semester break, student will travel into the Amazon rainforest in northern Peru on an educational adventure in one of the worlds’ most interesting and beautiful places. At the end of the program, students will have an 11-day study tour to Peru where they will visit the modern metropolis of Lima, the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco and the Lost City of Machu Picchu.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: All questions concerning the exchange should be addressed to:

Dr. Brian Stiegler, Director

Center for International Education

Phone: 410-677-5027

E-mail: sucie@salisbury.edu