• This is an IU Co-Sponsored Program
• Summer Environmental Studies Program with IES Abroad
• Typical enrollment: 10-15 students from U.S. colleges and universities

• IES Abroad "Environmental Studies" summer program*
• Required Spanish language course
• Two environmental studies courses taught in English
• Field Trips: 
  • Galápagos Islands - Students explore the ecological diversity of one of Ecuador's most famous sites. Activities have included snorkeling, guided tours, and discussions on identifying Ecuador's flora and fauna.
  • The Amazon region - Students hike through the world's largest and most biologically-diverse rainforest.
  • The highlands

Course Load

• Program requires enrollment in Spanish language course and two IES Abroad courses.
• 9 IU credits total
  • Required Spanish language course (3 credits) HISP-OS 100
    • Basic Intensive Spanish (HISP-OS 100)
    • Intermediate Intensive Spanish (HISP-OS 100)
    • Advanced Intensive Spanish (HISP-OS 100)
  • Required two courses from list of three options (3 credits each)
    • Environmental Issues: Conservation and Public Policy in Ecuador (SPEA-V 450)
    • Ecuadorian Ecosystems (BIOL-OS 300)** lecture or lab course
    • Ecological Anthropology (ANTH-E 328-CASE S&H, HISP-OS 300-Spanish minors, or HISP-OS 400-Spanish majors, taught in Spanish)

***Note: -OS 100 (-OS 300) is the default designation to identify overseas study coursees recorded as 100-level (300-level) undistributed credit that can count in total hours toward graduation and may be able to satisfy major, minor or distributional requirements with the approval of participants' school or the department.

**Note: Course fulfills either an unspecified BIOL-OS 300 upper-level lecture or an unspecified BIOL-OS 300 upper-level lab in Biology B.A. and standard Biology B.S. The course fulfills an unspecified BIOL-OS 300 upper-level lab in Biology B.S. with Area of Concentration in Integrative and Organismal Biology.

*Note: IU selectively co-sponsors IES Abroad program offerings, including the one described on this page, but not all IES Abroad tracks/offerings. Please contact Overseas Study for clarification.

• Program Website
• Getting Started Handbook
• Diversity, Identity, and Accessibility Resources

• Students live in private homes in Quito with families or señoras
• Homestay hosts provide 3 meals per day, 7 days per week

You may apply if you:

• are an undergraduate student at any Indiana University campus who is making normal academic progress
• are in at least your third full-time semester of college
• have approximately a 2.75 cumulative GPA

Students must have a passport valid for six months beyond program's end date.

Students must be able to demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and self-reliance.

Complete eligibility criteria and selection criteria are outlined within the Academic Policies and Procedures of the Office of Overseas Study. Selection is based on maturity, seriousness of purpose, and appropriateness of match between program and applicant. Students on disciplinary probation during program period are ineligible.

Summer 2023

Financial Aid and Scholarships:

• IU scholarships, grants and loans applicable to program costs with some exceptions. Please carefully check these exceptions before you commit to a program.
• IES Abroad Merit-based, Diversity Scholarships, Legacy Scholarships and Disability Grants available.

Please see our financial aid page for general information and links to additional scholarship opportunities.