Ecuador Faculty-Led Immersion Academics

Eligibility

To apply, you must be a currently enrolled, degree-seeking, undergraduate UW-Eau Claire student. You need to be in good academic, conduct and financial standing. You also need to have a cumulative GPA of 2.3. You must maintain enrollment and continue to meet the academic standing and GPA requirements the semester prior to departure. You may apply as a first year student. Students from all academic disciplines are welcome to apply. 

While there are no mandatory language requirements for this program, students with some Spanish language background will find it very beneficial when communicating with locals and homestay families, most of whom do not speak English. All program activities will be in English or with a translator. 

Course Information

In Fall 2018, you are expected to take the prerequisite course, GEOG 321/LAS 321:  Geography of Latin America (3 credits), taught by Dr. Jeff DeGrave. If you have extenuating circumstances that do not allow you to take this prerequisite course, please email Shanti Freitas (freitasb@uwec.edu). In addition, you are expected to attend 3-4 orientation sessions specific to the Ecuador Immersion program during the Fall semester. 

The course in Ecuador is LAS 390 Latin American Studies Immersion Experience (3 credits).

This program fulfills 30 hours of service learning while in Ecuador.

Completion of both courses also fulfills half of the Latin American Studies certificate. 

Liberal Education/General Education Requirements

For students in catalog years 2016-17 and later, the fall prerequisite GEOG 321 course fulfills the Responsibility Outcome 2 (R2): Global Perspectives and Integration Outcome (I1) upon completion of all assignments. The Winterim LAS 390 course also fulfills the Responsibility Outcome 2 (R2): Global Perspectives requirement upon completion of all course assignments. 

For students in catalog years through 2015-16, the fall prerequisite GEOG 321 course fulfills GE-III and 3 credits of the Foreign Culture requirement upon successful course completion. The Winterim LAS 390 course also fulfills GE-III and 3 credits of the Foreign Culture requirement upon successful program completion (students earning a B.A., B.F.A. or B.M degree in the College of Arts & Sciences cannot use study abroad to fulfill their foreign language/foreign culture requirement. See the university catalog for details).

Academic Calendar

The program dates are tentatively December 28, 2018 - January 19, 2019. Arrival and departure times will be discussed more at orientation in October, do not book flights until then.

To learn more about the program itinerary, see last year's program activities and daily schedule: ECUADOR Itinerary 2018