LLI Ecuador Semester
PROGRAM OVERVIEW (SEMESTER)
APU partners with Living and Learning International that hosts the Ecuador semester and provides an academically excellent semester where students will learn to engage with the challenges of holistic community development from a Christian worldview. This program is designed for college-age students who desire to grow in their ability to integrate Life AND Learning; to integrate their walk with God with the realities of struggle, poverty and injustice in a desperate world; to not just add knowledge and travel to their lives, but to understand, with wisdom, God's calling. Students experience a homestay with a local family and participate in an internship during the program.
Learn more about why YOU should choose Ecuador in this video.
Get an idea of what the program offers through this introductory video.
Program Website: https://landli.org/locations/ecuador
PROGRAM TYPE: Type #1, APU Approved Semester Program
PROGRAM & TERM STATUS: The Ecuador semester is offered both fall and spring terms. Applications are now open for the next term.
SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS
Christian Community & Student Life
Trip to Galápagos Islands
Visit the Amazon Jungle
Homestay with an Ecuadorian Family for a portion of the term
Weekend excursions & travel
Internship & 30 APU service credits built into the program through the Community Development course. Major-specific internship options available too.
Option to complete all GE language requirement in one semester.
NEW Spanish Major Track includes 16 credits of upper-division Spanish and a full-time homestay for the entire semester (extra costs apply)
SEMESTER REQUIREMENTS
APU prerequisites are mandatory
Students are not allowed to take APU online courses unless designated in program elective offerings. Students can only be enrolled in up to 6 online units.
Students must maintain full-time enrollment status (minimum 12 units)
All Students participate in a variable 1, 2, or 3 unit Internship* or Practicum** (some degree-specific internships available).
*2 and 3 unit internships should be developed with both the Ecuador staff and APU academic department for approvals**SPAN 310 Advanced Language - Study Practicum (Chair approval needed)
PROGRAM COURSES: REQUIRED
*NOTE: listed below are the LLI Course and then the APU equivalent course. APU & Ecuador Semester Course Comparison document HERE.
1.) LLI Ecuador 350 (3) = APU HIST 235 Cultural History/Travel Study (3 units, Meets APU GE Requirement: Intercultural Competence)
2.) LLI CD 100 (1-3) = APU TBD* or UGSA 300 Community Development + Internship/Practicum (1-3 units)
3.) LLI SPAN (multiple) (3) = APU SPAN (multiple) Select at least one Spanish course from below (3 units)
4.) LLI (NA) = APU GLBL 425 Integration and Formation (1 unit, Post-Ecuador Course)
(Student are automatically enrolled in the GLBL 425 course the semester AFTER the program.)
PROGRAM COURSES: ELECTIVE OPTIONS
*NOTE: listed below are APU courses. To find Living and Learning's course equivalence, go to the Ecuador Course Advising List HERE
APU BIOL 101 Biology and Society (w/lab) 4 units
(Meets the GE Natural Science requirement and therefore is not applicable for biology major credit.)COMM 260 Intercultural Communication 3 units
(Meets the GE Requirement: Intercultural Competence)SPAN 101 Elementary Spanish I 3 units
(Meets the GE Requirement: Foreign Language)SPAN 102 Elementary Spanish II 3 units
(Meets the GE Requirement: Foreign Language)SPAN 201 Intermediate Spanish I 3 units
SPAN 202 Intermediate Spanish II 3 units
SPAN 250 Intermediate Conversation & Writing Abroad 3 units
SPAN 301 Spanish Conversation and Community 3 units
(Meets the GE Requirement: Intercultural Competence)SPAN 310 Advanced Language Study Practicum 3 units
SPAN 495 Special Topics in Spanish 3 units
*UGSA 301 Undergraduate Study Abroad (Spanish 330 Voces del Ecuador: Select Topics in Ecuadorian Perspectives) 3 units
*UGSA 302 Undergraduate Study Abroad (Christian Spiritual Formation) 3 units
*UGSA 303 Undergraduate Study Abroad (Worldview and Global Religions) 3 units
*UGSA 304 Undergraduate Study Abroad (Social Entrepreneurship & Leadership) 3 units
COURSE INFORMATION: EQUIVALENCIES OR TIF
Equivalencies or TIF: Most of the courses for the LLI Ecuador program have been pre-approved to count towards specific APU courses. Therefore, students do not individually need to get course approvals each semester. Instead, they will simply register for the study away sections of the courses below (instructions provided) and will receive those course credits on their APU account upon completion of the course.
Internships: If you pursue getting specific credits for the internship portion, you will need to complete additional forms. How to Complete a TIF Form: Video Instructions
Course Registration Process: Registration is all through your APU Account. Upon acceptance, students will be granted access to register for study away sections of the courses
PROGRAM COSTS: 2024 - 2025
Program Costs charged to student's APU account:
LLI Tuition (12-18 units): $12,000
LLI Program Fees: (Housing, required activities, some meals) $3,000
APU Study Away Fee $50
Required International Insurance: $100
APU UG Services Fee: $340
(Optional) APU Health Fee/Medical Insurance: $755*
Out-of-pocket Expenses for Students to Pay Directly:
$75 Non-refundable application fee
$50 Housing security deposit for arrival at home stay. This money may be refundable, but it is up to the program's discretion.
International airfare, some meals, optional excursions, souvenirs
$1500 additional fee for students in the full-time home stay Spanish Major Track.
*Regular APU student health insurance & waiving options apply.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Charges: (see above)
Financial Aid: Students must apply (using the APU APA Form, see below) to apply for a financial aid placement.
Federal Aid: Yes, automatically applied like regular semester.
State Aid: Yes, automatically applied like regular semester.
APU Institutional Aid: No, APU institutional aid is manually removed for your Ecuador semester and then automatically reinstated for following semester(s). APU Institutional Aid includes aid such as President's/Dean's/Provost's/Director's/Founder's/M.E.L. scholarships, Fac/Staff Award, Honors/APU Grants, etc. Since students are going to a non-APU program, APU Institutional Aid cannot be used. In recognition of the financial challenges this creates, APU has agreed to charge students the lower program tuition cost instead of APU tuition. We recognize this does not cover all differences, but it is meant to assist with the cost.
Payment Due Dates: Same as regular APU semester payment due dates HERE.
*APU Catalog Financial Aid Policy for the LLI Ecuador Semester. Access all related policies HERE.
APPLICATION PROCESS - ECUADOR
1.) Program Application: Complete the Ecuador Application with Living & Learning International (LLI).
Advisor Form - Part of the LLI application includes a form you will need to have processed by APU Study Away (allow 2 weeks)
NOTE: For any forms your program needs you to get APU Study Away signatures, send them to studyaway@apu.edu
2.) Application Response: The program will communicate if they accept you as a participant. However, before committing to the program, we advise confirming APU program advising, APU academic advising and APU financial advising.
3.) Study Away 101 Completion: If accepted, you will be sent a link to self-enroll in the APU Study Away Canvas course to complete all forms/preparation needed for APU.
ADVISING ROLES & RESOURCES
PROGRAM: Consult with LLI Ecuador for all questions about the program and items they need from you.
APU Study Away: Consult with APU CCEL Study Away to explore which program is the best fit for you. Accepted students are provided a canvas site that will have all preparation materials including information on how to register, program charges, etc.
APU Academic Advising: Make an appointment with academic advising (APU Academic Success Center or Faculty Advisor) to make sure the program you are interested in has the courses to keep you on track to graduate on time. Reference the course information on this site.
APU Student Services Center: Consult your account specialist with any financial aid questions. Reference the program costs, charges & financial aid information on this site.
INTERNSHIPS
It is Living and Learning International's goal as a program to place students in an internship that is best suited to their skills, background, future interests, and major. In some cases, students have a good idea of future careers and they can be very specific in their placements. In other cases, internships will provide an opportunity to serve, learn and "try on" a field or job with the desire to see how it fits. Practical ministry internships are also one of the most rewarding parts of this program.
Students will need to meet with the internship coordinator from the APU academic department they will be doing their internship credit through (or with a professor that is willing to help customize an internship). Students will need to request this information in advance. Students are responsible for starting this process.
“My academic journey was greatly impacted by my study away experience! I loved the opportunity to learn in an unconventional classroom and then participate in the things we learned throughout the community. I am very thankful to have had professors who cared about me and loved me deeply. Studying and growing in knowledge as a family is something I have never quite experienced before. The concepts we learned in Community Development are things that have carried over in the way I view the world.”
- Sara Crofford, Sociology major