Costa Rica: San Jose Summer

CCIS Study Abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica

Program Overview

A small, democratic country in Central America nestled between the Caribbean and the Pacific ocean, Costa Rica is exceptional in that many environments can be visited within a short time. Rain forests, cloud forests, unspoiled beaches, coral reefs, white water rivers and volcanoes can be reached within a couple of hours by car from San José. Costa Rica is one of the few stable, democratic republics in Latin America. It has the highest standard of living of the Central American countries. The health record is excellent, and illiteracy is very low. Peaceful by nature, the Costa Ricans have no army, as it was abolished in 1948. Universidad Veritas is located in the capital city of San José. At 4000 feet above sea level, it boasts a springtime climate all year round. The city surprises visitors by its vitality. Despite its cosmopolitan atmosphere with Central, South and North Americans as well as Europeans on busy downtown streets, its residents display an unmatched friendliness and warmth. Tourists as well as visiting businessmen happily testify to this. Every year the country attracts a large number of persons who, having visited Costa Rica once, decide to return to settle there. Students have easy access to the city's museums, restaurants, bustling markets, and the National Theater. The surrounding areas, including beaches on both the Pacific and the Caribbean coasts, are all within a few hours' drive from the city.

Academic Profile

Universidad Veritas in San Jose

Veritas, founded in 1991, is a private Art, Design and Architecture University, located in San Jose, Costa Rica. The university enrolls approximately 1100 students year-round, specializing in Advertising, Architecture, Digital Animation, Film and Television, Interior Design, and Photography.

The campus is located only minutes away from downtown and the city's museums and restaurants.

Faculty from Universidad Veritas hold advanced US or Costa Rican degrees, and a great number of years of teaching in their respective fields.

Universidad Veritas is one of Costa Rica's new private universities. It is located in a residential section of town and has a local student population of approximately 3,500. The Veritas Instituto Espanol (Intensive Spanish for Foreign students) is part of the university, and offers students from around the world the opportunity to advance their Spanish language skills while taking other courses in English taught by bilingual faculty from the university. Students should not expect all of the facilities and accoutrements available on a U.S. campus. The classrooms and administrative offices of Universidad Veritas are located in the Edificio ITAN, Carretera a Zapote, San José. Universidad Veritas is recognized for its excellent programs in Art and Graphic Design.

Course Offerings

The five-week summer program offers classes in Intensive Spanish (four hours per day) as well as a number of elective courses taught in English: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecology, and Intercultural Communications are offered regularly, but other courses are available as well. Please contact sponsor for courses offered, or visit www.veritas.ac.cr

Intensive Spanish language (all levels), courses offered in English.

Credits recommended: 6-7 per one-month cycle. During the 5 week session a student could get 7 or 8 credits, 4 for Spanish and 4 for science courses, or 3 for humanities and business courses. If a student stays for the full 8 weeks, they can take 2 Spanish courses (8 credits) and an elective during the afternoon (a 3 or 4 credit elective), so they could get 11 or 12 credits.

Those applying through Miami Dade College please refer to our online booklet for course information:

MDC Informational Booklet

Academic Highlights

Students can have Spanish language study, as well as taking elective courses in English.

Activities and Opportunities

Student Life

About 99% of students live in a Costa Rican homestay with breakfast and evening meal provided. Accommodations are usually within walking distance of the University. Alternate lodging arrangements are available through the Veritas housing office.

Weekends find students traveling throughout Costa Rica to visit one of the many national parks, explore the beaches on the Pacific side, or participate in one of the many tours organized at special Veritas student rates.

Duration: Five week programs; students may extend to seven weeks at additional cost.

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to the vast outdoors activities and visits to beaches, mountains, and volcanoes, students in the Veritas program will have the opportunity to participate in weekend excursions, weekly tropical dance lessons, sports, Latin American cooking lessons, museum and artisan market visits, volunteer work with underprivileged children in the afternoons, and youth groups.

Volunteer Program

Universidad Veritas also coordinates volunteer programs for students who are interested in the national park and reserve system. "Volunteers and Projects for the support of Conservation Areas" is a program that gives support to the National System of Preservation Areas of Costa Rica. This program allows interested students the possibility to learn more about the support or our National Parks, Wildlife Shelters, Forest Reserves, etc".

If a student would like to participate in specific areas such as species monitoring, turtle nesting, botanical projects, etc, he/she should indicate it on the application and personal statement

Housing

Students are placed with host families in a Costa Rican homestay in San José, usually one student per family. Students are given private rooms with laundry service, and breakfast and dinner on class days. For students who do not opt for the homestay, Universidad Veritas will arrange accommodations at an additional cost. The Student Affairs staff coordinates all housing arrangements and social, cultural, and sports activities.

San José, Costa Rica Summer Program Details

Duration

July 5 to Aug 6, 2010 (5 weeks)

July 5 to Aug 27, 2010 (8 weeks)

4 week intensive (see uverutas,ac,cr for exact dates)

Truman requires a $300 deposit, deducted from total amount due, upon acceptance to the program.

Application Deadline(s)

June 1

Eligibility Requirements

At least one semester of college and 2.5 GPA

Language

Spanish and English

Academic Levels

All levels welcome

Costs

$3,841 - 5 weeks, $5,076 - 8 weeks (CCIS)
$5,076 - 5 weeks, $5,376 - 8 weeks (non-CCIS)

$3,466 - 4 week intensive language program

Truman requires a $300 deposit, deducted from total amount due, upon acceptance to the program, but does not have an application fee.

Miami Dade College requires a 30 dollar non-refundable application fee. No additional deposit is required.

Costs Included

Instructional costs, CCIS and sponsor fees, health insurance, room and half board, laundry, airport pickup

Costs Not Included

Airfare, personal costs, some meals

Entry Requirements

Valid Passport

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

Submit Application Materials To:

MDC Informational Booklet

MDC Global

Leeza Fernand

Office of International Education
Miami Dade College
300 NE Second Avenue
Suite 1440
Miami, FL 33132
lfernan7@mdc.edu
(305) 237-3580
(305) 237-7439 (Fax)

Eva Fernandez

Programs Manager

Office of International Education
Miami Dade College
300 NE Second Avenue
Suite 1450
Miami, FL 33132
efernan1@mdc.edu
(305) 237-3008
(305) 237-7439 (Fax)

- or -

Rosa Virginia Mendez

Truman State University
Center for International Education Abroad
Kirk Building 114
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4076
(660) 785-7473 (Fax)
rvmendez@truman.edu

How do I apply?

Start the CCIS Study Abroad application process by downloading and printing the following forms. These PDF documents are viewed using Adobe's Acrobat Reader plug-in, which is available free. If you don't have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click here.

CCIS APPLICATION PACKAGE AND INSTRUCTIONS