Ecuador & Argentina

ECUADOR & ARGENTINA

The South America program offers students the opportunity to study in two very different cities in Latin America. In Cuenca, Ecuador, gain perspectives into Ecuador’s history and culture while improving their Spanish in preparation for a semester in Argentina. In Mendoza, Argentina, students directly enroll in courses at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, a prestigious institution that serves approximately 40,000 students, and learn about Argentine history and culture through the course Argentina in a Latin American Context.

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This Dickinson in South American program offers an immersive experience in two very different Latin American cities, each rich with their own diverse history and culture. 


CUENCA, ECUADOR  

Cuenca is a beautiful, prosperous colonial city of about 467,000 (UNESCO World Heritage Site) situated in a highland river valley in the Andes. It has an ethnically and socially diverse population and a comfortable climate all year round. The city is very safe and relatively inexpensive with the U.S. dollar in use as the national currency. Moreover, Cuenca is well-located for excursions to the Amazon rainforest, the Galápagos Islands, coastal Guayaquil (Ecuador’s commercial center), and northern Peru. The surrounding countryside is ideal for camping and hiking activities (El Cajas National Park, and the Inca ruins at Ingapirca are only 90 minutes away). 

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 

Located about 690 miles northwest of Buenos Aires and a six hour drive from Santiago, Chile, Mendoza is a lively city in the heart of South America’s largest wine region and the gateway to the magnificent mountains, rivers, and lakes of the Central Andes range. Mount Aconcagua, the Western Hemisphere's highest mountain, is located in Mendoza province. Mendoza is a verdant oasis in a mostly arid environment thanks to an extensive irrigation system developed during colonial times over the basis built by the original Huarpe population, whose canals still run along every major city street. The capital city and surrounding urban area are home to approximately 850,000 people. The city has a vibrant cultural scene, including attractions such as art, natural history, and history museums, theaters with a variety of concerts and plays throughout the year. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the many urban parks and explore activities in the nearby mountain region. 


Ecuador & Argentina

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  • Dual country program with locations in Ecuador and Argentina
  • Direct enrollment in courses at the UNCuyo in Mendoza, Argentina, for most majors
  • Dickinson courses Ecuador and the Andres and Argentina in a Latin American Context
  • Homestays


ACADEMICS 

Students enroll in four courses each semester, earning them four credits. In Ecuador, students take Ecuador and the Andes: Culture, History and Society at Centro de Estudios Interamericanos (CEDEI). 

In Argentina, students take Argentina in a Latin American Context in addition to directly enrolling in two courses at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCuyo) in the humanities, social sciences and the arts. 

Students are also required to attend five group tutorial sessions with on-site staff to continue improving their oral and written skills and to help students become familiar with the academic resources at UNCuyo and expectations of their Argentine professors. 

ACADEMIC EXCURSIONS 

In Ecuador, students will tour Quito and Saraguro. The program will also take students to Cajas National Park and the ruins of Ingapirca in addition to other sites in and around Cuenca. While in Argentina, visits to local sites around the Mendoza region will be integrated with the program’s core course as well as multi-day excursions, including Buenos Aires. Students will also have opportunities to independently explore the local region. 

HOUSING AND MEALS 

Students live with homestay families in Ecuador and Argentina and are located throughout the cities with access to the CEDEI and UNCuyo campuses through public transportation. Host families provide students with three meals a day and offer them the opportunity to discover both Ecuadorian and Argentine culture through their host’s daily life. 

STAFF 

Participants benefit from the support of local faculty and the education abroad professionals in Cuenca and Mendoza. In Ecuador, students receive administrative and academic support from the staff at CEDEI. In Argentina, Resident Director Eliana Torres manages program logistics, cultural excursions, and liaises with the network of homestay families. She offers support to students throughout the semester. 

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TERM DATES 

Academic Year, Fall, Spring 

Academic Year: Early July to mid-July. Applications are due by February 10. 

Fall: Early June to mid-December. Applications are due by February 10. 

Spring: Mid-January to mid-July. Applications are due by September 7. 

EXPECTATIONS 

3.0 GPA 

Completion of Spanish 231 (equivalent to five semesters of Spanish) prior to start of program. 

FACULTY DIRECTOR 

Eliana Torres  
Argentina Resident Director 

In Ecuador, students receive administrative and academic support from the staff at CEDEI. 


“I met a lot of new people and got to practice my Spanish every day and see a whole other world down in the southern hemisphere. After this experience I feel that my mission to become a global citizen has just begun. I am even more inspired now to continue traveling but do so with more of a purpose.”

—Elisa Varlotta ’20 (mathmatics)

Dickinson Majors that are a good fit for Dickinson in Ecuador and Argentina
  • Anthropology 
  • Archaeology 
  • Art & Art History 
  • Dance 
  • Economics 
  • Education 
  • Film Studies 
  • History 
  • International Business and Management 
  • International Studies 
  • Latin American Studies 
  • Law and Policy 
  • Music 
  • Policy Studies 
  • Political Science 
  • Psychology 
  • Sociology 
  • Spanish 
  • Theatre 
  • Women’s and Gender Studies  

Don’t see your major? Connect with us. This program could still be a good fit for you. 

Non-Dickinson Student Information

This program is open for non-Dickinson students. Marissa Mitchell (mitchmar@dickinson.edu), in the Center for Global Study and Engagement, with any questions about this program. More information on programs available to non-Dickinson students can be found here. 


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