Costa Rica is considered the most stable and peaceful country in Latin America. San Jose, the capital city of one-million residents, is a lively and friendly city nestled in the hillsides of the country’s central valley. It has an active nightlife and is convenient to nearby beaches, volcanoes, and rainforests.

USC students will live in San Jose and attend classes at Veritas University, a fully-accredited and prestigious university located near downtown San Jose.

Details of the program:

The program is a collaboration between USC and CEA (Cultural Experience Abroad), an experienced study abroad agency with offices in San Jose and strong ties with Veritas University. The program will be supervised on-site by Dr. Eric Holt. Additionally, the full-time staff and office of CEA in San Jose will be available to answer students’ questions and deal with any emergencies or special needs that might arise.

Housing: Students will live with Costa Rican families chosen for the quality of the home and the neighborhood and the enthusiasm of the family members in hosting and interacting with foreign students. Students will have private rooms. Students receive two meals daily, breakfast and an ample dinner. Of course, Spanish is the language of the home.

Classes: All classes will be taught in Spanish by Veritas University faculty. In the first part of the morning, USC students will be placed in a two-hour Spanish class at either the intermediate or advanced level. A minimal language prerequisite for participation in the program is completion of the SPAN 122 course at USC or equivalent. After a 30 minute break, students will choose one of two electives: Spanish for Business or Cultures of Central America. Students will sign a pledge to speak only Spanish while on the Veritas campus.

Students will receive three credits for Spanish 350 for the language course and three transfer credits from Veritas for the elective course.

Excursions: Included in the program price are weekend trips to Manuel Antonio National Park (Pacific coast) and Puerto Viejo (Caribbean coast). Other reasonably-priced optional excursions will also be available.

Activities: San Jose has a very active nightlife and is convenient to beaches,
mountains, and volcanoes where students can participate in outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, exploring the rainforests, and observing the underwater ecology.
There will be many activities at the university, such as conversation partners, dance lessons, and sports to help students become immersed in Costa Rican culture and meet Costa Rican students.

Orientation: After arrival, students will receive an extensive orientation. Topics include: Costa Rican cultural norms, cross-cultural adaptation, academic policies, use of local transportation system, currency issues, and a review of “survival Spanish.” During orientation, students will participate in a city tour, a visit to the Veritas campus, and a welcome lunch. At the end of the summer program, we will be treated to a farewell meal at Tiquicia, a restaurant overlooking the city that serves traditional Costa-Rican cuisine.

Costs: The program cost of $2550 (tentative; plus USC tuition and fees and fares)

• Private room and two-meals daily with a family
• Excursions as listed above
• All airport transfers
• Orientation and social activities arranged by CEA and Veritas
• On site-staff and facilities of CEA

Not included:
Airfare to/from San Jose. We will look into arranging a group fare from Columbia or Charlotte. You may also arrange your own travel and meet the group in San Jose on July 8.

Deadlines for Payments:
02/10/06 Application, Conduct/Language Pledge, Consent Form, &
Deposit ($100) nonrefundable
03/01/06 Second Payment ($1000)
03/31/06 Third Payment ($1000)
04/28/06 Final Program Balance (TBA)
07/01/06 USC tuition & fees ($1023 for 3 credit hours) due directly to USC Bursar

Persons wishing to participate but who have missed the deadlines, contact Dr. Holt. It may not be too late, depending on the flexibilty of CEA and Veritas to accommodate us.

To apply, please complete the Application form for Costa Rica

If you are intersted in applying for a travel stipend, please complete the
SPANISH PROGRAM SUMMER STUDY ABROAD TRAVEL STIPEND APPLICATION

Contact Information:

Dr. D. Eric Holt at holt@sc.edu
Director, USC Program in San Jose, Costa Rica
Dept.of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
University of South Carolina, Columbia SC 29208

Links of Interest:

• Costa Rican government: http://www.go.cr/
• US Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/
• US Dept of State information on Costa Rica http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm
• Lonely Planet Guide to Costa Rica http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/central-america/costa-rica/