• GPA Requirement: 3.0

• Sophomore, Junior, or Senior Undergraduates - all majors

• Strong academic performance and an ability to work independently
• Strong ability and desire to strengthen Spanish language skills
• One year of college-level Spanish (or equivalent)

Schedule:

• 5 weeks of academic instruction in San Jose
• 8 week internship placement

Block I:

• Host family accommodation in San Jose
• Spanish classes: four hours daily
• ECON/SOC 421: Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development - learn about topics pertinent to the Central American context
• Particular internships planning in consultation with faculty

Block II:

• Over 65 structured internships in urban or rural areas focused on the environment, education, health, youth development, wildlife conservation, women's studies, and more
• Host family accommodation close to your internship site

Credits: 15 Credits recommended

• 3 credits for Spanish language class
• 3 credits for ECON/SOC 421 - Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development
• 9 credits for Internship (if done in Spanish, some or all of these credits can count as language courses)

Schedule:

• 5 weeks of academic instruction in San Jose
• 3 week field trip through Costa Rica
• 5 weeks of independent research

Block I:

• Host family accommodation in San Jose
• Spanish classes: four hours daily
• ECON/SOC 421: Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development - learn about topics pertinent to the Central American context
• Particular internships planning in consultation with facultyHost family accommodation in San Jose

Block II:

• "Ecology of Managed and Natural Ecosystems": visit 3 to 4 different areas of Costa Rica to learn about ecological zones and systems of regional development
• Brief social and ecological research projects while living and traveling together, primarily in rural communities
• Topics and field sites vary from semester to semester in response to new study opportunities and environmental conditions

Block III:

• Conduct in-depth research in one of the previously visited field sites
• Develop projects with practical value for host communities or organizations, in topics related to social or natural sciences
• Return to ICADS to complete written work and oral presentations

Credits: 15 Credits recommended

• 3 credits for Spanish language class
• 3 credits for ECON/SOC 421 - Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development
• 3 credits for Ecology of Managed and Natural Ecosystems
• 6 credits for Independent Research

Schedule:

• 5 weeks of academic instruction in San Jose
• 8 week intensive Spanish and practicum experience

Block I:

• Host family accommodation in San Jose
• Five weeks Spanish language instruction
• ECON/SOC 421: Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development - learn about topics pertinent to the Central American context
• Particular practicum experience planning in consultation with faculty

Block II:

• Formal language classes four hours daily in the mornings
• Structured and personalized language-related practicum in the afternoons

Credits: 15 Credits recommended

• 12 credits for Spanish language class
• 3 credits for ECON/SOC 421 - Latin American Perspectives on Justice and Sustainable Development

Students are always placed in host families within a ten-minute bus ride or a thirty-minute walk to ICADS. Someone from the student’s host family will accompany the student to and from ICADS on the first day of classes to show each student the route. Each student is provided with a map that clearly indicates the location of his/her home as well as the location of the houses of all other students in his/her cluster. The fact that students are placed in close proximity to one another increases safety by allowing them to walk together and to share the required taxi ride when returning home at night, which is quite inexpensive when they can share the fare.

Each student lives with a local host family who not only feeds and supports the student, but also helps to monitor her/his whereabouts at all times. Families also help monitor the state of the physical health and emotional well being of each student.

We work hard to place students with families who represent the typical Costa Rican home to greater enhance students’ cultural experience, while prioritizing safety. We feel that it is absolutely essential that our students always feel safe and comfortable within their homes.

For Fall semester applicants, please apply to this program no later than April 1st. For Spring semester, applications are due October 1st.

The program fee includes:

• Tuition
• Room and 2/3s board (meals with host families, excluding lunches)
• Welcome and orientation

The program fee is payable to Nazareth University.

Out-of-pocket costs include:

• Round trip airfare (to and from San Jose)
• City transportation (student rate)
• Lunches
• Travel insurance
• Miscellaneous personal items and personal weekend and fall break travel

Students will be provided with a cost estimate for out-of-pocket expenses for the semester.

Nazareth students pay the on-campus cost for the ICADS semester-long program and continue to use their financial aid package and payment plan. Matriculated students are eligible for all financial resources for which they would qualify if they were studying on the Nazareth University campus (including federally subsidized loans). Students are also encouraged to apply for outside scholarships and grants to supplement their support resources.

Students from other universities will be assessed the standard semester fees for the program in addition to an administrative fee. Visiting students are advised to consult with their home campus Financial Aid Office for any other support they may receive from their institution.

Students will be responsible for arranging and paying for their round trip airfare. Nazareth University will advise all students of the best flight connections for timely arrival at the study site. Questions about travel are amply covered at orientation meetings on the Nazareth Campus or to visiting students through advisement by telephone or email. All students will be met at San Jose Airport, provided they give advance notice to the program.

All students will need a valid passport that continues to be valid at least six months after the conclusion of the semester program in Costa Rica.

It is necessary to take proof of health insurance coverage, as well as a valid student ID and Driver's License (or any other official form of secondary identification).