Why BCA Quito?

With so many study abroad options available, we want you to know what makes BCA Quito different from others. Here are some points to consider when choosing the program that’s right for you.

Great for Majors

Spanish Language, Spanish Education
Just about any Liberal Arts major, but especially the Social Sciences (Anthropology, Archeology, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, etc.), Humanities (History, Art History, Literature) and Peace and Justice Studies
Environmental Sciences (Ecology, Biology)

Cultural Immersion

Family life: Many students remark that living with a family is the most rewarding aspect of their study abroad experience.
Quito: one of the most cultural cities in the world, rich with a unique history, colonial architecture and distinctive traditions.

Expert Resident Director

Quito’s on-site, full-time Resident Director, Daniel Bryan, has lived in and around Quito for almost a decade. Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer, Daniel worked in health and education projects within some of Quito’s most marginal neighborhoods. He later moved to the heritage-filled Historical Center where he founded the internationally renowned cultural educational program Eternal Quito (“Quito Eterno”), developed the Mestizo Theatre of Quito (“El Teatro Mestizo de Quito”) with the Bolivar Theatre Foundation and lectured/researched under a Fulbright Scholar Grant. He taught and led workshops with numerous universities, including the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and is working on a book entitled El Mito de Nuestra Identidad, to be published in Ecuador in 2009.

The University of San Francisco Quito

Located in the valley of Tumbaco, just outside Quito, the university’s beautiful grounds are highlighted by its pagoda (which houses Oriental studies) and a charming pond.
A private university that offers more than 40 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels.90% of classes are taught in Spanish.
International students have access to all of the amenities that are available to full-degree students
The International Programs office has agreements with universities throughout the world, meaning that each year students from over a dozen countries are on campus.
The university has one of the best culinary schools in South America. As part of their coursework, students share their creations with the campus community in its many restaurants and cafés.

BCA Orientation

Learn about Ecuador's history, culture and current issues, and receive intensive language training with BCA’s four-credit, four-week pre-semester course "Ecuador: Language and Culture.” (Fall and year-long students only.) Spring term students take the one-credit, 12-contact hour pre-semester course "Ecuador: Culture and Justice."

Excursions and Activities

Fall and spring semester students go to the Galapagos Islands for four days.
Fall and spring students will also go to the Amazon (four days) and the Indigenous town of Otavalo for a long weekend.
Full year students travel to Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru during their second semester.
Each semester, several day trips are planned, which may include a Night Tour of the Historical Center, the Cloud Forest, and a Volcanic Lake, among others
The resident director reimburses for much of your Quito cultural activities, including museums, plays, concerts, etc.
At the end of each semester, there is a final dinner at the Papallacta Hot Springs, which are located high in the Andes.

Extra Educational Opportunities

Participate in internships or volunteer work, including working in orphanages, day care centers, and schools for disabled children; teaching English as a second language in local schools; and working in various non-profit Foundations. The BCA Quito director helps arrange interesting volunteer work experiences for students.