Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë

Program Dates

May 22–June 24, 2025

Academic Information

All students will take a Spanish class, engage in an internship or community engagement project, and take one additional class - a course on Costa Rican culture, Tropical Ecology or Statistics & Data Science. For the internships/community engagement projects, students will be paired with local non-profits and/or researchers, and have the opportunity to choose from a variety of projects that may focus on: reforestation, water monitoring, camera-trapping, community health, medicinal plants, gender equity or permaculture. Statistics and data science students will be working on data analysis projects. In order to receive additional credit for the internship, students can take mini in Fall 1 upon return to campus.

Students will also participate in several additional excursions to a sustainable fishery, organic farms and cloudforests and rainforests.

Accomodation

Upon arrival in Costa Rica, students will participate in an excursion, and stay at a local, environmentally-friendly lodge, with meals provided. Once in Monteverde, all students will be placed with local families as part of their immersive experience, with meals during the homestay provided by the families. This experience offers an invaluable way to further practice Spanish skills – at any level, and to gain first-hand insight into Costa Rican culture.

No prior knowledge of Spanish is required, but an intermediate level may be needed for certain internships. Accepted students may participate in a course (82-289, units variable) during mini-4 prior to the program. For questions, contact the program director Therese Tardio.

Statistics & Data Science students should contact Peter Freeman.

Program Cost

$9,000

This includes: Tuition and materials; entry fees and transport to excursions that are part of the required curriculum; homestay with Costa Rican families (room & board); transport to and from the Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica and the program site on the designated travel days for arrival and departure.  

Not included: Airfare to and from Costa Rica, incidental expenses. Students must arrive to and leave from Juan Santamaría International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. 

For the Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë in Monteverde program, students will be billed the program cost via their Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë student account. Please refer to Student Financial Services for more information including payment options.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Our department, along with the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, offers study abroad scholarships for students to study for a semester, full-year, or summer overseas. All LCAL declared majors, and Arabic Studies minors, are guaranteed a departmental scholarship if they are in good academic standing with Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë. Scholarships can be put towards tuition, room and board, airfare and/or book expenses when participating in any accredited study abroad program. Students are encouraged to talk to program director to look for additional scholarships. Learn more about scholarships.

Additionally, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholar Development offers two national and international fellowships and scholarships that students participating in the Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë in Monteverde program might be eligible for: the Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë Jennings Family Brave Companions Fund and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. Learn more about these study abroad scholarship options.