Dates
January 5 - 19, 2014
Application Fee
$100
Program Fee
$3,636
The Program Fee includes tuition and program expenses. Click on Program Fee for details.
International airfare and personal expenses are not included in the Program Fee and are the responsibility of the participant.
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, including students who do not attend George Mason.
Completion of SPAN 110, or the equivalent, prior to departure and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 are required in order to participate in this program.
Placement and credits earned are based on your proficiency and previous language study.
Credits
Undergraduate
3 semester credits in
- Spanish 210
- 250
- 324
- or 335
Housing
Homestays
Highlights
Maquipucuna (a cloud forest)
and Otavalo (a world famous Indigenous market)
Application Deadline
October 5, 2013
Contact
Denise Mdahuar via email or by calling 703.993.2155 or toll free at 866.468.1243.
The toll free number does not accept calls from the 703 or 571 area code.
Study Spanish abroad this Winter Break in beautiful Quito, Ecuador, one of the most culturally fascinating cities in the world!
GMU - Ecuador from Brett Line on Vimeo.
The Dome of La Compañia de Jesus Church
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on Incan city ruins. It is among the best-preserved historic centers in Latin America. The rich culture and history combined with rainforests, volcanoes, the Galapagos Archipelago, and the year-round spring-like climate makes Quito the perfect city in which to spend two weeks practicing your Spanish!
USFQ " Las Artes Liberales en Ecuador" from USFQ Universidad San Francisco on Vimeo.

2014 Itinerary
| Sunday | Jan 5 | Arrival Date - Host family pick-up at Airport |
| Monday | Jan 6 | AM Orientation at USFQ-PM City Tour |
| Tuesday | Jan 7 | Classes begin at USFQ |
| Wednesday | Jan 8 | Class at USFQ |
| Thursday | Jan 9 | Class at USFQ AM/PM trip to Guayasamin Museum |
| Friday | Jan 10 | Class at USFQ |
| Saturday | Jan 11 | Maquipucuna |
| Sunday | Jan 12 | Free Day or optional trip to Papallacta Hot springs |
| Monday | Jan 13 | Class at USFQ/PM Lecture on Andean Anthropology |
| Tuesday | Jan 14 | Class at USFQ |
| Wednesday | Jan 15 | Otovalo Interactive class (below) |
| Thursday | Jan 16 | Class at USFQ |
| Friday | Jan 17 | Final Class at USFQ/Presentations and Exam |
| Saturday | Jan 18 | Free morning or optional trip to Cotopaxi |
| Sunday | Jan 19 | Departure |

At Otavalo, a World-Famous Indigenous Market
Academic Director

Dr. Alexía Vikis is an Assistant Professor of Spanish for the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at George Mason University. She earned her D.A. in Community College Education (2002), her B.A. (1993) and M.A. (1996) in Foreign Languages (French and Spanish) at George Mason University. At GMU she has been teaching Spanish since 2002 and has taught French and Spanish at Northern Virginia Community College for several years. Her teaching and scholarly interests include contemporary women writers from the French and Spanish-speaking Caribbean, teaching with technology, and the development of online courses. She has traveled to over 15 countries and has lived abroad in Cyprus, Martinique and Mexico. Her passions include teaching, traveling, and experiencing different cultures.
Dates: January 5 - 19, 2014
You should plan to leave the United States for the first day of the program which is January 5th on an early morning flight. You can schedule your return to the United States from Quito for the last day of the program or choose to travel independently.
Do not purchase your international airfare until you are advised to do so by your Program Officer.
Program Fee: $3,636
The Center for Global Education Program fee includes:
Tuition
Housing with a host family in Quito
Most meals - breakfasts and dinners
Excursions
One lecture per week on Ecuadorian culture
Pre-departure orientation
Emergency medical insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to George Mason students. George Mason students can click here to download the CGE Global Perspectives scholarship application. Mason students may also use financial aid to cover a program's cost. If you are not a George Mason university student check with your study abroad office or office of financial aid to learn more about how to cover the cost of your study abroad.
How to Apply
Consult the How to Apply section for detailed instructions. Start by completing the online application. Pay the $100 application fee.
Note that all supplemental documents are required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Contact the Program Officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.

