Chatham University
Falk Hall, Lower Level
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412-365-1388
globalengagement@chatham.edu
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Costa Rica

Spring Break 2025- Costa Rica: Sustainable Living in a Rainforest Community

Term To Study: Spring-Break 2025
Application Deadline: Oct 23, 2024
Program Starts: Mar 01, 2025
Program Ends: Mar 07, 2025
Program Category: One-Country
Program Type: Faculty-led
Program Fee: $3,027
Link 1: More information on the program itinerary and learning objectives
Program Locations: Limon, San Jose
Contact Phone: 412-365-1638
Contact Name: Dr. Heather Cunningham
Contact Email: cunningham.h@chatham.edu
What is Included: The fee includes roundtrip air transportation, food (3 meals a day), lodging, in country transportation, materials, equipment, 24/7 guidance, and programmed activities.

1 credit tuition: Included in spring 2025 semester tuition for full-time students enrolled in a total of 20 or less credits.
Enrolling for more than 21 credits is considered financial overload. Students on financial overload will be charged additional tuition for every credit in excess of
21 credits at the University’s current per credit rate for undergraduate students.

Chatham undergraduate students may be eligible for a $1,200 study abroad voucher. Students must meet eligibility requirements. Study abroad voucher is a one-time subsidy from Chatham of $1200 toward a credit-bearing experience abroad. Full-time undergraduate students who have completed a minimum of 30 credits, of which 15 credits must have been completed at Chatham prior to departure, are eligible for the $1200 study abroad voucher.

Please note that the program cost is subject to change without notice, depending on the exchange rate at the time of payment.
What is not Included: Students are responsible for the cost of obtaining a valid passport, exit tax, any visas (as necessary), all meals that are not included as part of the program fee and any entry fees, excursions or other costs incurred by the student during free time on the program.

Accepted students must submit a $500 deposit by November 4, 2024 and pay their balance by December 15, 2024.
Estimated Costs: US Passport book - $165 plus photo (expedited processing is an additional fee)

Please see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport.html for information on obtaining a passport.

Costa Rica Exit tax: $29 US
Documents: 
field_experience-costarica-0824.
pdf
Program Description

The location: With about 5% of the world’s species, Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. The lush wild natural environment can be experienced all throughout the country. The country has been hailed as an example of successful sustainable development. However, social, environmental and economic problems persist. Exploring those problems and possible solutions, this program will be based in the southeast Limon province, in the indigenous community of Yorkín. In Yorkín, students will meet with the Bribri, Costa Rica’s largest group of indigenous people, to learn about the challenges of rural development in the rainforest and about life in the indigenous territories. Additional planned excursions include a rainforest canopy tour in Sarapiquí and sightseeing in Costa Rica’s capital city of San José.

Course Work and Highlights: In this course we will study three Global Goals through experiential learning. We will analyze what it means to consume less and how reducing our consumption will have a positive impact on our quality of life. In the Bribri Territories of Costa Rica we will meet indigenous people for whom consuming “stuff” has always been less important than other human pursuits like community, solidarity, and respect for Nature. We will explore their deep relationship with the tropical rainforest in which they live. We will examine how this value system impacts community goals, education systems, and plans for the future in the Bribri Territories.

Housing: In Yorkín, housing will be very rustic with limited electricity, no heated water and bunks with bug netting.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this field experience.

Eligibility:
Chatham undergraduate students must have good academic standing and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the time of application and at the commencement of spring 2025 term. Students must have completed at least 30 undergraduate credits at the time of travel, including at least 15 credits
completed at Chatham at the time of travel.

Students must have good judicial standing (to be verified by Office of Student Affairs) and good financial standing at Chatham (to be verified by Student Accounts).

Students must be current Chatham students at the time of the field experience to participate.

The minimum enrollment for this course is 16 students. Each field experience is self-supporting and must meet its minimum enrollment number or it will be cancelled.

Quick Facts

Population: 4636348
Capital: San Jose
Per-capita GDP: $ 12100
Size: 51100 km2
Time Zone: (GMT - 06:00 hours) Central Time (US & Canada)

US State Department

Travel Warning: YES
See :
Country Specific Info.


Chatham University Office of Global Engagement