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Mission Statement
The College of Communication and Contemporary Arts COCOA is a community of artists, communicators, educators and media professionals, dedicated to training future leaders in the areas of communication, creative design, audiovisual production and contemporary art, in an environment interdisciplinary
We firmly believe that each student should take responsibility for the acquisition of their knowledge and professional training through a commitment to their own personal development. The teachers of the School are committed to an education based on liberal arts that offers students various possibilities of creative expression and critical thinking. In COCOA careers, students experience their creativity with the use of state-of-the-art technology and carry out entrepreneurial activities through the resources and contacts they acquire in their fields of study. Finally, we believe that our academic community has a duty to create a positive impact on Ecuadorian society.
International Role
Universidad San Francisco de Quito has been categorized number 51 in the Latin American Ranking by the QS World University Rankins. The University has collaborationa agreements with more than one hundred international universties around the world. Our college -COCOA- has several type of collaboration with these institutions:
- Politecnico di Milano, ITALY
- School of Visual Arts, USA
- ELISAVA, SPAIN
- Universidad de Palermo, ARGENTINA
- Escuela de Nuevas Tecnologías Interactivas (ENTI-UB) – SPAIN
National Role
We are the only Liberal Arts university in Ecuador. Universidad San Francisco de Quito has been categorized as the best university in the country. As a college, COCOA has an active role in the local film production, advertising and communication industry areas in Ecuador. We organize several academic events every academic year. These promote dialogues and conversations between our college and other academic institutions, the industry, and the business sector in our main areas we focus: communication, arts and design. For example, every two years we organize academic event for the areas of Design and Digital Arts called Vertice. This year we wil have the participation of two international keynote speakers (from Spain and Italy), as well as researchers from other ecuadorian universities, discusing the state of the art of design in Ecuador.
Main Focus
Our main focus is based on three areas: communication, arts and design. Our education objective is oriented on providing an undergraduate educatin on thee areas, as well as research.
Faculties and Departments
The unit's name is Colegio de Comunicaciony Artes Contemporaneas COCOA. It is a Faculty of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. The departments which are part of our unit are:
- Digital Animation
- Visual Arts
- Filmmaking
- Communication
- Graphic Design
- Journalism
- Communication Media Production
- Advertising
- Scenic Arts
- Photography
- Illustration
Bachelor Level Programs
The bachelor level programs that the Faculty offers are:
- Digital Animation
- Visual Arts
- Filmmaking
- Communication
- Graphic Design
- Journalism
- Communication media production
- Advertising
Master Level Programs
We do not offer any at the time.
For more information about graduate school: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/posgrados
Research Activity and Main Areas
- Communication
- Arts
- Design
- Interactive Media
Doctorate Level Programs
We do not offer any at the time.
For more information about graduate school: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/posgrados
Subject Areas for Exchange Students
Students can choose their courses from across USFQ's ten colleges. USFQ offers hundreds of courses each semester, including a growing number taught in English. Courses offered can be searched on our online Schedule of Classes.
Students with advanced Spanish can also participate in service-learning through the course “Aprendizaje – Servicio.” All international students are encouraged to take the “Service Learning” section taught in English (PAS 102E), if desired.
Credits and Grades
Credits
USFQ's credit system is the same as the North American/United States system: 15 class contact hours is equal to 1 credit. Typically each USFQ course is worth 4 credits and meets for three hours a week in a 15 week semester. Please note this 4 credit system is only for internal purposes (Ecuadorian students only) to comply with a new disposition of the National University Council, therefore, international students will receive a transcript with 3-credit courses, except for sports and lab classes that are worth “0” credits.
International students must take at least 16 credits "presencial" (courses where you are "present," that meet on a regular basis in a classroom) and usually take no more than 24 (four to six classes in total); however, students may request exceptions in very special circumstances. During the Summer Session students can take from 4-12 credits (one to three classes).
Grades
USFQ's grading scale is based on the standard U.S. scale: A, B, C, D, F (no pluses or minuses). There is not an option to take a course on a “Pass/Fail” basis unless that is the grade structure for a particular course.
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester (August to December): June 1
Spring Semester (January to May): October 25
Summer Term (May to July): May 1
Teaching Languages
Spanish Requirement
The OPI strongly recommends that students coming to USFQ on an exchange program have at least two years (4 semesters, or 6 trimesters) of college-level Spanish prior to arrival. However, the decision of eligibility in terms of Spanish language skills is left up to the students’ home university. USFQ’s partner universities may, or may not, have a policy different than the recommendation made by the USFQ OPI. Students should consult their home institution’s Study Abroad Office for more information.
Use of English at USFQ
USFQ requires that its degree-seeking students have a good command of English and the vast majority have studied English at the K-12 level. Many of USFQ's professors were educated abroad in the U.S. or other English-speaking countries, and have a strong command of English. However, Spanish is required to study at USFQ. USFQ students are Ecuadorian and will, of course, be more comfortable communicating in their native language. Still, Spanish requirements do vary from class to class. While USFQ does offer about 10% of its classes across the disciplines taught in English (courses taught in English will have an "E" at the end of the course code as well as have the course title written in English), some courses require more advanced levels of Spanish than others. Readings are often in English, especially in advanced courses, but class discussions are normally in Spanish. For the international student, the higher his or her level of Spanish, the more course options they will have available to them.
Semester Dates
Fall Semester (August to December)
Spring Semester (January to May)
Summer Term (May to July)
Cost of Living Per Month (Studying and Living)
€705 (US$800) to €794 (US$900) per month.
€3701 (US$4200,00) per semester
