Study in Costa Rica - Sustainable Development & Social Justice in Latin America (in English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Foster a deep connection with your host community through immersive service-learning opportunities assigned based on your specific career interests and Spanish language level.
• Gain invaluable insights while taking coursework in top fields of study at ICDS including sustainability, environmental sciences, Latin American sciences, and tourism, where academic learning is grounded in a social justice perspective. Embrace the world as your classroom while participating in coordinated community service and cultural activities designed to complement your studies.
• Learn alongside other international students while taking classes in San Pedro, a lively neighborhood in San Jose filled with local students as it is where several universities are located.
• Explore one of the most biodiverse countries in the world while having access to affordable travel options to bucket list destinations in Costa Rica and Latin America.
LIFE ABROAD
Live in San José, the largest city in Costa Rica, nestled between lush green mountains and tropical rainforests. Enjoy spending a semester in paradise while gaining transferable skills through hands-on experiential learning focused on sustainability in one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
LIVE
Live with a Tico host family that is matched based on your language level and build meaningful connections and cross-cultural understanding. Enjoy staying in a single room in a local neighborhood that is within a 30-minute walk, or 20-minute bus ride to campus.
DINE
Taste traditional mouth-watering Costa Rican specialties prepared by your host family including gallo pinto, chifrijo, and patacones! Host families provide breakfast and dinner Monday-Thursday, and three meals a day on Friday-Sunday. On your way to class, stop by a café and sip on beverages Costa Rica is famous for—batidos, agua dulce, and some of the world’s most delicious coffee!
EXPERIENCE
Dive into Costa Rican culture through a guided tour of the city exploring markets, theatres, and San José’s downtown district. Enjoy cultural activities available at ICDS including dance classes, visits to indigenous communities, and a Tico cooking class! Participate in overnight excursions outside of San José that balance academics and leisure. Locations for excursions vary term to term but previous groups have traveled to the Los Santos region to visit a coffee farm, or to the coastal rainforest of Carara to take in one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful national parks, all while learning about local sustainability methods throughout the visits.
EXPLORE
Costa Rica is the prime destination for anybody who loves spending their free time exploring nature and embarking on iconic outdoor adventures! Zip line above the sea of clouds in the world-renowned rainforest of Monteverde, spend a weekend unwinding on one of the countless serene beaches like Manuel Antonion or Guanacaste, or hike to experience the strikingly blue waters of Rio Celeste.
THRIVE
Succeed in your host community with the support of an on-site counselor who speaks English and provides mental health support. Learning accommodations are also available if you need extra time on tests, or visual and audio resources.
SERVICE-LEARNING
Develop meaningful connections with local communities while taking service-learning courses where you will work with an NGO that aligns with your interests. Gain hands-on experience and invaluable insight into the lives of Costa Ricans at community and non-profit organizations. Enhance your international education while working for an NGO that is assigned based on your specific academic, professional, and language criteria.
What We Love About ICDS
We love that studying abroad in Costa Rica offers opportunities to recharge in a beautiful destination, all while gaining practical skills through immersive learning opportunities that have a lasting impact on your future.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (12 credits)
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses (15 credits)
Course Description
This program offers students the opportunity to learn about sustainable development and Latin American culture through an immersive, integrated program that combines coursework, community service, and cultural activities. Students will take 4-5 classes:
• Spanish Language (required)
• Community Engagement & Sustainable Human Development in Latin America: A Service-Learning Course (required).
• Current Environmental Issues in Latin America (elective)
• Sustainable Development in Rural and Urban Latin America (elective)
• Responsible and Sustainable Tourism (elective)
• Development in Latin America from a Gender Perspective (elective)
• Human Rights, Migration, & Social Inclusion (elective)
• Contemporary Latin America Through Film (elective)
• Literatura Centroamericana (elective)
The service-learning core course includes weekly sessions of community service in and around the greater San José area. Each student is individually matched to a community work site that aligns with their experience, career interest, and Spanish language level. Additionally, students will participate on a one-week immersive experience in sustainable practices at an agroecological farm in rural Costa Rica.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn 12-15 US Credit Hours. Each class will be worth 3 credits.
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
Students will enroll in four to five courses:
Required Courses:
• Spanish Language (3 U.S. credits)
• Community Engagement & Sustainable Human Development in Latin America: A Service Learning Course (3 U.S. credits)
Elective Courses (select 2-3, 3 U.S. credits each)
• Current Environmental Issues in Latin America
• Sustainable Development in Rural and Urban Latin America
• Responsible and Sustainable Tourism
• Development in Latin America from a Gender Perspective
• Human Rights, Migration, & Social Inclusion
• Contemporary Latin America Through Film
• Literatura Centroamericana (taught in Spanish, advanced Spanish level required)
No prior Spanish language experience is required for this program. A language test is given at the beginning of the term to place students in the appropriate Spanish course.
Please note: Elective courses with fewer than six students will be cancelled and students interested in the cancelled course will select another elective course.
Semester & Prices (based on your filters)
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