SIT Study Abroad Ecuador: Development, Politics, and Languages

Study indigenous concepts of sustainability as it intersects with biological diversity, culture, and quality of life in Ecuador.

WHY ECUADOR?

Living in Ecuador, you will experience a multilingual and multiethnic nation that is also one of the America’s most biologically diverse countries. Here, you’ll study development as well as alternatives grounded in indigenous worldviews that call for respect of natural resources. Two homestays will deepen your understanding of both urban and rural life and culture in Ecuador.

On excursions to the threatened Intag Forest Reserve and the Galápagos Islands you will observe the conflict between development and natural resource preservation. You will also visit the Upper Amazon, where you will experience direct exposure to political ecology and socio-linguistic issues regarding this highly diverse but threatened region.

You’ll explore how Spanish and indigenous languages are used to reinforce and reinvent power relationships as you consider how intercultural and inter-ethnic relations are shaped. You will learn basic Quichua and develop your Spanish language skills through classroom instruction, homestays, excursions, and cultural immersion.

Please visit the SIT Study Abroad website for details on the program highlights and details of coursework, educational excursions, and housing.

MONEY MATTERS

SIT is an all-inclusively priced study abroad program – including academics costs, excursions, accommodations and meals, airport transfers, and health insurance. Be sure to discuss how study abroad costs are handled at your school with your study abroad advisor and read the website for more specific information.  

SCHOLARSHIPS

SIT has awarded an average of over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to SIT Study Abroad students in the past three years. All scholarships and grants are need-based. Awards generally range from $500 to $5,000.  

CONTACT SIT STUDY ABROAD

·       Visit our website: studyabroad.sit.edu

·       Request more information or email us: studyabroad@sit.edu

·       Call an admissions counselor: 888-272-7881

·       Contact a former student.

·       Apply to SIT

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Further information about SIT Ecuador: Development, Politics and Languages specific to Wheaton College students

Wheaton College is committed to providing students with opportunities to broaden their understanding and vision beyond the borders of this campus and this country. We work in collaboration with carefully selected partner institutions around the world to support our students as they prepare to study abroad and while they are overseas. Students must apply to Wheaton's Center for Global Education as well as the institution through which they plan to study abroad. The most up-to-date information can be found on the program provider's website above.       

Courses & Credits:
Students enroll in four to five courses each semester. 15 to 16 U.S. semester hours will earn 4.0 Wheaton credits. Independent Study Projects and/or Internships must be individually approved for credit at Wheaton. Do not assume your project or internship is automatically approved. 

Housing & Meals:
Students spend much of their experience in home-stays; when traveling they will be housed in guesthouses, educational institutions, hostels, or small hotels depending on local conditions and customs. All meals are provided by home-stay families, group meals or stipends. 

Budget Information:
Students studying abroad will continue to pay Wheaton tuition. Students are not charged Wheaton room and board, or the Wheaton technology, laundry, or student activities fees while on a study abroad program. Wheaton will, in turn, pay the program for all tuition and academic fees. Additionally, Wheaton will cover the cost of the program international insurance or sign students up, and pay, for CISI international insurance for the duration of the study abroad program.

Students will pay housing directly to their study abroad program. Some study abroad programs include meal plans while others do not offer meal plans and students will shop for and prepare their meals independently. Students will book and pay for their own flights.

Fees billed by Wheaton will be charged to students on their regular Wheaton College student account during regular billing cycles (July/December). 

Federal, state, Wheaton need-based and merit scholarships will be applied to these charges for Wheaton-approved programs. Students must consult with the Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) for a comprehensive review of their aid. If a student receives aid beyond the cost of Wheaton tuition, they can request a refund through SFS.

Please do your research as housing and meal costs vary greatly from program to program. This Budget Worksheet can help you estimate the total costs of your program. Refer to your SIT program website for an overview of all anticipated expenses.

Scholarships:
SIT Study Abroad provides matching grants to all students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding; this award can be applied to any SIT semester program. SIT also awards scholarships to Posse Scholars. See the SIT website for more available scholarships. 
                     
For Wheaton specific questions contact:                                                                                     
Center for Global Education
5  Howard Street
Wheaton College
Norton, MA 02766-2322
globaled@wheatoncollege.edu
508-286- 4950