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Study in Costa Rica!
Goucher College, in cooperation with Mount Holyoke College and the Monteverde Institute, offers a semester-long (Spring Semester only) academic program in Monteverde, Costa Rica. "Global-Local Challenges to Sustainability: The Costa Rican Experience" is open to all majors, and offers students a wealth of opportunities to analyze the challenges of sustainability and to search for solutions within the specific context of Costa Rica and Monteverde. The program emphasizes place-based learning, and includes overnight feild trips, site visits, and an opportunity for participants to undertake independent research. Students may also take advantage of an independent study option and extend their stays in Costa Rica.
Students live with host families, and all meals are provided. During field trips, students stay in triple- or quadruple-occupancy lodging, and all meals are included. A faculty member from either Goucher or Mount Holyoke serves as the resident director on-site.
Academics
The program consists of four 4-credit courses. All courses except Spanish Language & Culture are taught in English. The three core courses are as follows:
- Spanish Language & Culture (placement determined upon arrival)
- Environmental Sustainability
- Development & Social Change in Costa Rica
Students choose between "Field Methods in Tropical Ecology" and "Topics in the Social Sciences" for the fourth course in applied research.
Eligibility:
- 2.7 GPA or higher
- Applicants must have declared a major
- One semester of Spanish is strongly recommended, but not required
Financial Information:
- Goucher students pay Goucher tuition, room, and board charges, and receive a $3,500 tuition discount towards the tuition cost of the program.
- The travel voucher and any federal or Goucher-based aid and scholarships can be applied toward the program cost.
- Orientation and excursion fees are included in the costs of the program.
Deadlines:
- Early bird Application Deadline: April 21st, 2008. Students who turn in their applications by this deadline will know of their acceptance by the end of the Spring 2008 semester. General applications are due in early October, 2008. Applications include a $200 application fee, which will be applied towards the program cost. In the event that a student is not accepted to the program, the $200 will be refunded.
- $500 non-refundable deposits are due from accepted students in early November 2008.
Contact the Office of International Studies to request a brochure or make an appointment to discuss the program.