Fact Sheet:
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Eligibility Requirements: |
-Sophomore or Junior
-2.5 GPA or above
-2 years of college level Spanish or equivalent
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Dates: |
Spring Semester (Semester 1): February - July
Fall Semester (Semester 2): July - December
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Housing: |
Homestay |
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Language of Instruction: |
Spanish |
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Institution Link: |
Universidad de Costa Rica |
Host City:
Set in a spectacular valley and surrounded by mountains, San José is Costa Rica’s capital city with a population of 325,000. It has both peaceful colonial-era neighborhoods and a hectic downtown. San José is home to numerous museums, theatres, cafes, and the Teatro Nacional, which hosts plays, operas, ballets, and the National Symphony Orchestra. San José offers good nightlife as well, with plenty of bars and places to catch live music.
Universidad de Costa Rica is located in the San Pedro area, about fifteen minutes by bus from the city center. San Pedro is a hip neighborhood that caters to the student population with cheap food, inexpensive bars, and dance clubs.
Thanks to its status as a travel hub, San José is an excellent place from which to explore the rest of Costa Rica. Planes and buses depart from the city to all destinations in Costa Rica and to neighboring countries.
Institution:
Costa Rica UCR The oldest and best known university in the country, Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) offers a wide range of subjects and faculties. More than 30,000 students attend UCR, and the university boasts a large international student community as well. The campus offers extensive sports facilities, arts venues, and beautiful grounds.
Program in Brief:
One of the oldest democracies in the Americas, Costa Rica is also considered one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth. It covers only .03% of the world's surface (roughly the size of West Virginia) and yet has an astonishing 5% of the world's life forms. With a population of approximately three million people, Costa Rica is a country that enjoys immense diversity of climates and environmental regions.
Costa Rica, or "rich coast" in English, is bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast. It is endowed with a virtual treasure trove of palm-fringed Caribbean beaches, steaming volcanoes, cascading waterfalls, forested mountains, dense rain forests, dramatic cloud forests, and rustic countryside. Its people pride themselves on peace and friendliness while the rich biodiversity lends opportunities for snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.
Academic Programs & Areas of Study:
UCR offers a good variety of subjects and faculties and allows students to cross-register in different departments. Particularly strong are literature and social sciences. All coursework is in Spanish.
Business- Accounting, Business Administration, Finance
Fine Arts- Drama/Theatre, Studio Art
Liberal Arts- Archaeology, Art History, Costa Rican Studies, Education, Geography, History, Literature, Spanish Language/Studies
Sciences- Biological Science, Chemistry, Food Science/Nutrition, Geology, Mathematics, Meteorology, Physics
Social Sciences- Anthropology, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
Costa Rica Arenal Volcano
Housing & Meals:
Students will live in private Costa Rican homes. The Oficina de Asuntos Internationals y Cooperacion Externa will assist with placements. Since most of the culture of Latin America revolves around the extended family, living with a host family is one of the best ways to immerse yourself into the culture and language of Costa Rica.
The program fee includes three meals per day.
