• USFQ

    Universidad San Francisco de Quito
    Quito, Ecuador

    Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) is a private liberal arts university located in Quito, Ecuador. In addition to the main campus located in Cumbayá, USFQ has a satellite campus and research station in the Galápagos Islands and a biological field station “Tiputini Biodiversity Station” in the Amazon basin.

    We believe in freedom as a fundamental human characteristic, and in training students to become well-rounded “world citizens”, leaders and entrepreneurs. As a research-centric university, USFQ has the highest number of PhDs in the country; a strength we leverage across all subjects.

    USFQ is truly an International University and is a leader in the region. Ranked #1 University in Ecuador and #51 in Latin America (2018 QS University Rankings). We currently have over 9,000 students enrolled of which 1000 are international students. We have over 100 Bilateral Partnerships for Research and Exchange, as well participate as members of prestigious International Networks, for example Berklee School of Music, Paul Bocuse, Global Liberal Arts Alliance, Hemispheric University Consortium and now, The Association for the Pacific Rim. Our faculty members represent 30 countries and 5 continents. We have both ABBET and AMBA accreditation.

    Website: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es

    VSE Season 1, 2021-22: Courses offered by Universidad San Francisco de Quito


    Application Deadline

    APPLICATION CLOSED
    Students must submit an application to the VSE Central Office before:
    Jul 26 2021, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (UTC+8)



    Academic Requirements

    Before applying, please make sure you have fulfilled the course offering university's academic requirements listed below:

    GPA 3.0 or above

    For more details, please contact the VSE coordinator at USFQ.



    English Language Proficiency Requirements

    Before applying, please make sure you have fulfilled the course offering university's English language proficiency requirements listed below:

    At least 4 semesters of college-level English or Spanish depending on the language of instruction of the selected course.

    For more details, please contact the VSE coordinator at USFQ.


    Course Information

    Click on the course titles to reveal full course details:

    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Course TeacherSara Newman
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 21, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeMon, Wed 0830-0950
    Time ZoneUTC-5
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThis course is aimed at a diverse group of students, to those who make a career in the arts and to those who pursue other areas of study, that is, for all who have an interest in recognizing the guidelines, principles, criteria, concepts or elements that may guide and even support the appreciation of a work of art. On the other hand, it means to try to clarify the most common prejudices in relation to the appreciation of a work of art, and to confront students with their own critical sense.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Course TeacherScott Gibson
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 21, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeTue, Thu 0830-0950
    Time ZoneUTC-5
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThis course is a Socratic seminar that promotes active learning, which is the foundation of our philosophy of Liberal Arts. Students will systematically explore and evaluate ideas, problems, and values from both their own and shared world-views through discussion and reflection upon historical, artistic, and scientific expressions of prominent Western thought. The main objectives are to understand the society in which we live through interdisciplinary knowledge, stimulate critical thinking and reflective capacity, and promote the intellectual autonomy of students.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Communication and Contemporary Arts
    Course TeacherAmy Scheidegger
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassOct 25, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 19, 2021
    Course ComponentTutorial
    Mode of TeachingAsynchronous
    Meeting TimeN/A
    Time ZoneN/A
    Restrictions Minimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThis course aims to familiarize students with the basic tools of drawing, allowing them to develop the fundamental skills of perception through linear, volumetric and geometric figures that facilitate the understanding of specific studies and exercises, for instance still life and landscape.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Communication and Contemporary Arts
    Course TeacherAmy Scheidegger
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassOct 17, 2021
    Course ComponentTutorial
    Mode of TeachingAsynchronous
    Meeting TimeN/A
    Time ZoneN/A
    Restrictions Minimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThis course will accustom students to the use of different tools and techniques of watercolor painting with the aim of developing practical skills in relation to intonation, gradients, contrasts of color, expression of shapes and volumes, representation of light and shadow, textures and artistic composition to develop artistic works using watercolor as a medium. The different criteria and tools needed to allow students to get to know, understand and develop skills for the correct use of watercolor will also be explored.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Biological and Environmental Sciences
    Course TeacherBecky Zug
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 21, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeMon, Wed 0830-0950
    Time ZoneUTC-5
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionIn this course students will learn the basic principles of ecosystem function, how these ecosystems provide services to the human population, and what makes them vulnerable to resource extraction. Students will become familiar with the major ecoregions of Ecuador and the associated environmental problems. Students will learn about the basic principles of sustainable development while considering the importance of Ecuador’s natural resources to the national economy. This course will touch on environmental economics through case studies and will have the opportunity to practice basic data analysis techniques.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Biological and Environmental Sciences
    Course TeacherMargarita Brandt
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassOct 25, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 19, 2021
    Course ComponentTutorial
    Mode of TeachingAsynchronous
    Meeting TimeN/A
    Time ZoneN/A
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThis is a groundbreaking course produced internationally to help students from all disciplines learn and retain the core concepts of ocean health. Fundamentals of ocean science are taught by highly distinguished marine scientist in a comprehensive fashion while sharing the complexities to work with stakeholders looking for solutions for resource consumption and conservation of the marine realm. In each module students are encouraged to actively participate in the critical thinking group discussions and are required to present innovative assignments and a capstone project.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Course TeacherSabrina Guerra
    Language of InstructionSpanish
    First Day of ClassOct 25, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 19, 2021
    Course ComponentTutorial
    Mode of TeachingAsynchronous
    Meeting TimeN/A
    Time ZoneN/A
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level Spanish.
    Course DescriptionThe course of Andean History seeks to make a diachronic exploration of issues, phenomena, and issues that are common to the vast and complex landscape of "Andean World," or, rather, "the Andean Worlds." Because it would be too ambitious and homogenizing to try to chronologically or thematically cover the history of an entire region, with its many convergences and divergences, what this course offers is an analysis and synthesis of common themes and issues that somehow surpass any temporary or regional distinction. This historical inquiry will be made through the analysis of problems and case studies that allow us to connect these Andean transversal themes with our region nowadays. Liberal Arts Students can complete 40 hours of community work through this course if they take it as part of the major's general curriculum.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Course TeacherMatthew Dolloff
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 21, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeTue, Thu 0830-0950
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThe value of the study of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest dramatists in history and in the English language, is self-evident. Shakespeare revolutionized drama and is even today, nearly 500 years after his death, still recognized as one of the most important influences on English and world literature. His plays and dramas are still a part of our evolving culture: there have been at least seven major film adaptations of Hamlet alone since 1990. In this course, we will examine five of Shakespeare's most important plays, reading them in the original Elizabethan English and acting out key scenes in class. This will be supplemented by scenes from certain movies. We will also pay special attention to modern-day adaptations of Shakespeare's works, asking ourselves how well the Bard's messages work today in our day and age and how modern actors and directors interpret these timeless works.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentGeneral Studies
    Course TeacherAlex Rendon
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassAug 23, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 21, 2021
    Course ComponentLecture
    Mode of TeachingSynchronous
    Meeting TimeThu 0700-0820
    Time ZoneUTC-5
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionThe service-learning course combines the academic component of learning about the social reality of Ecuador and other areas of the world, and the component of community service (project based), the student has an integral professional and personal experience. Through lectures, reflections and debates, discussions and various activities, students will be able to reflect on different topics, develop leadership attitudes, civic awareness, tolerance and respect.
    Course OutlineDownload
    Number of Credits3
    Offering DepartmentCollege of Social Sciences and Humanities
    Course TeacherCecilia Isabel Conde
    Language of InstructionEnglish
    First Day of ClassOct 25, 2021
    Last Day of ClassDec 19, 2021
    Course ComponentTutorial
    Mode of TeachingAsynchronous
    Meeting TimeN/A
    Time ZoneN/A
    RestrictionsMinimum of four semesters of college-level English.
    Course DescriptionIn this course, that is open to undergraduates of all majors, the following topics are explored at an introductory level: (a) the nature, implications, and consequences of human conflict; (b) the main current theories regarding its causes; (c) so-called ‘strategies’, that are the ways in which we humans address conflict (avoidance, confrontation, yielding, management and/or resolution); (d) escalation of conflct; (e) the tendency for escalation to become irreversible; (f) the main processes for de-escalation, management and resolution, including pre-negotiation and direct negotiation between or among the parties; (g) reconciliation between or among parties that were previously in conflict; and (h) various forms of impartial third-party intervention.
    Course OutlineDownload


    The number of credits is shown as provided by the course offering university. The credit structure at the course offering university may be different from the one at your home university. Please contact the VSE Coordinator of your home university for credit transfer information.

    Course enrollment is subject to final approval from your home university and the course offering university.