This program in Puntarenas is administered by the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) of which the University of Iowa is a member, and enrolsl approximately 60 students from various U.S. colleges and universities. The program allows students to experience the culture and physical beauty of Costa Rica through study in specially designed courses combined with family home stay and some program travel. Students will expand their Spanish language skills through personal interaction with the host culture in the homestay setting, through field trips and optional tours, and in the classroom via accelerated study according to Tracks. The program offers a one week optional tour to northern Costa Rica and Nicaragua, or to Bocas del Toro in Panama, or to Southern Costa Rica, depending on the session. UI students earn resident credit on this program.

*NEW* as of summer 2012, the program also offers an optional 1 s.h. five day Field Study course in Havana, Cuba, at an additional cost. See Program fees.

Academic Program

Semester:

Students with little or no language study enroll in an accelerated language track that enables them to fulfill two years of college foreign language in one semester. Students in the advanced Spanish level can supplement language and literature with a selection of classes, taught in Spanish or English, in culture, political institutions, tropical ecology and conservation. Field trips constitute an integral part of certain classes. All courses are taught exclusively for program participants by local faculty, with the exception of one or two courses offered each semester by a visiting U.S. faculty member from one of the USAC consortium institutions.

Credit may be applied toward the following General Education Areas: [Foreign Language, Foreign Civilization & Culture, Humanities, Historical Perspectives, Natural Science without laboratory, Health & Physical Activity.] [Foreign Language, Historical Perspectives, Literary, Visual & Performing Arts, International Global Issues, Values, Society & Diversity.] Certain courses satisfy requirements for the Spanish major or minor. Students at the beginning and intermediate Spanish levels are typically limited to accelerated language study.

Summer:

During each session, students typically enroll in one 3 s.h. course supplemented by 1 s.h. courses on various topics. Students interested in Spanish, can choose accelerated language classes at intermediate or advanced levels, or a Latin American literature class. Otherwise, students can take a biology class taught in English (Intro to Tropical Ecology in June, Maintaining Biodiversity in July) or exceptionally in Summer 2012, a course in Technology and Multimedia in Educational Environments. Students can supplement their core study with additional 1 s.h. classes touching on culture, dance, and history. Students with one year of college Spanish may satisfy the Gen Ed Requirement in Foreign Language by participating in the two month session.
UI students earn resident credit on this program, and can earn 4 s.h. - 6 s.h. per month session, depending on the classes selected.

Program Dates

Semester

Fall: August 17, 2012 – December 7, 2012

Spring: January 11, 2013 – May 10, 2013

Summer:

Session I: May 18, 2012 - June 22, 2012 (June 28 if participating in the southern Costa Rica tour)

Session I: May 18, 2012 - June 22, 2012 (June 28 if participating in the southern Costa Rica tour)

Students can elect to participate in either or both sessions.

For More Information

More information and instructions are available from the program adviser in the Study Abroad office, 1111 University Capitol Centre.

The National University of Costa Rica and USAC Puntarenas Center

A marine biology lab of the National University is located in Puntarenas. The National University, with over 12,000 students at its main campus in Heredia, is one of four public universities in the country. In addition to undergraduate programs, it offers 16 Masters of Arts degrees and is strong in ecology and education related work. Program classes take place at the USAC Puntarenas Center, a one-story building refurbished for program needs and situated a few blocks from the downtown.

Puntarenas

Puntarenas, meaning Sandy Point, is on the Pacific coast, a two hour bus ride from the capital city of San José. It offers the peace and small town friendliness of a town of 95,000 inhabitants while still within convenient access to the capital.

Puntarenas, meaning Sandy Point, is on the Pacific coast, a two hour bus ride from the capital city of San José. It offers the peace and small town friendliness of a town of 95,000 inhabitants while still within convenient access to the capital.

Costa Rica

The geography of Costa Rica displays a stunning panorama of nature, which includes the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts, mountains that soar to 12,000 feet, lush rain forests and active volcanoes. Enlightened Costa Rica has been a forerunner in the development of national parks and in the preservation of wildlife.

Living Arrangements

Semester:

USAC arranges home stay lodging. The families are located within easy commuting distance to the university. The semester program fee includes room and three meals daily, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

If students wish to live in an apartment, the Resident Director will provide information. However, it is the student's responsibility to locate the apartment and to make all rental agreements.

Summer:

USAC arranges home stay lodging. The families are located within easy commuting distance to the university. Room is included in the program fee. For an additional cost, students can also choose to be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Travel Arrangements

Once accepted to the program, the central USAC office will provide information of the travel agency organizing program group flights.

Eligibility

Minimum eligibility requirements include good academic standing and a GPA of 2.5 or the endorsement of academic advisors.

Costs

Semester:

The Program Fee is charged on the U Bill and covers tuition and fees, orientation, field trips and cultural activities, and a UI administrative fee.

The program fee for Fall 2012 was Resident: $6586, Nonresident: $8134.

Items not covered by the program fee, besides Iowa mandatory CISI coverage, include housing and meals, books & supplies, optional tours, airfare, visa costs and personal expenses. For an estimate on these consult the USAC Programs Catalog.

Summer:

The Program Fee for summer 2013 for the one month session is $3983 for students that are Iowa residents, and the same for non-residents.

The fee for the two months session is $7752 for students that are Iowa residents and $8816 for non-residents.

The Program Fee includes tuition and fees, housing, orientation, some field trips and cultural activities, and a UI administrative fee.

Items not covered by the program fee, besides Iowa mandatory CISI coverage, include airfare, meals, books & supplies, course-specific field trips, the optional tour, and personal expenses. For estimates on these consult the USAC Summer Catalog.

How to Apply

Students must submit the paper application available at the back of the USAC Programs Catalog. Instructions are provided at an appointment with the program adviser in the UI Study Abroad office.

Non-UIowa students can obtain program information directly from USAC

Application Deadline

The application deadline for spring is October 1, for fall and academic year is March 1, and for summer is March 10. Late applications are accepted on a space-available basis through April 15.

Upon acceptance, students will receive Pre-departure information directly from the program’s central office.

All students attend a general TIPS orientation for UI Students Studying Abroad. Additional small group meetings address specific topics, as well as billing and credit procedures at Iowa.

There are no photos available for this program yet. Do you have any photos to share with us? If you do, please contact us at:

1111 University Capitol Centre
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802
USA

Phone: (319) 335-0353
Fax: (319) 335-0343
E-mail: study-abroad@uiowa.edu