Field research
Costa Rica Field Research participants have plenty of support, with courses, a local research advisor, and experts from business, government agencies and universities to consult. Costa Rican society and the nation's abundant natural resources provide many opportunities for research. Along with these resources, students draw on their own motivation and ingenuity as they gather and analyze data, prepare reports, and cope with understanding - and living in - a different culture.
Click here to learn more about possible areas of research!
Spanish language requirements
Second-year level college coursework in Spanish, taken in the year prior to the start of the program, is recommended. A student is expected to have a level of Spanish proficiency appropriate for his/her proposed research project. Projects which involve personal interviews will typically require higher-level Spanish language skills than some other types of research projects. ACM will review applications on a case-by-case basis and may recommend that a student arrange to refresh or augment his/her level of Spanish prior to the start of the program.
Selecting a topic
Choosing a research topic can be a complicated process. Students are asked to write about their research interests in their applications, but should be aware that the field project they actually do in Costa Rica depends on the expertise and availability of the local faculty advisors.
The program’s professional contacts in Costa Rica allow students to pursue research with field specialists in a broad spectrum of disciplines in the field, including scientific research and community-based research in the humanities. Advisors are drawn from academic institutions, business, government, and non-governmental and international organizations.
Prior to the start of the program, and as the program begins, students discuss possible research options with the program director. The director selects advisors for the students with similar interests and expertise in the specific fields of interest. Students are able to pursue research in a wide range of topics in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities.
Proposal and field research
In consultation with their local advisor, students then write a detailed research proposal. Advisors counsel students on methodology and on the practical problems of operating in the field. They also help identify useful resources. A visit to the field site with the advisor precedes field work. Students spend two months in middle of the program in the field (one month, for students on the trimester option), and are strongly encouraged to find research sites outside San José.
Wrap-up in San José
A four-week period in the city (three weeks, for students on the trimester option) concludes the program. During that time, students complete their research papers, in consultation with their advisors, and formally present the results to the group.