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Costa Rica: Field Research in the Environment, Social Sciences, & Humanities

San José & field sites, Costa Rica

Courses

Note: 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.

Orientation, Language, and Culture

Instructors:Eduardo Estevanovich and additional instructors

Required course
4 credits (semester program) or 5 trimester credits (trimester program)

During the four-week orientation in San José, students take an intensive course combining study of the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture. Spanish language instruction at the ACM center is provided by experienced Costa Rican teachers working under the direction of Eduardo Estevanovich. Instructors rotate among small classes to expose students to several native speakers. Language study continues during the final four weeks of the semester. Cultural orientation includes lectures and discussions about social conditions in Latin America, cultural stereotypes, and living abroad. Field trips provide opportunities to explore the diverse human and physical geography of the country.

Field Research

Required course
8 credits (semester program) or 8 trimester credits (trimester program)

The independent field research project is the key component of the spring Costa Rica program, with opportunities available in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.  More details about the project can be found on the field research page.

Research Seminar and Paper

Required course
4 credits (semester program) or 5 trimester credits (trimester program)

During the final weeks back in San José, students complete their research papers, in consultation with their advisors, and present the results to the group.  

Costa Rica: Field Research in the Environment, Social Sciences, & Humanities

Nicole Nemeth, Science Fellow, Wildlife Disease Program, Natl. Wildlife Research Center, USDA/APHIS My experience with the ACM Costa Rica Field Research program was paramount to forming my career interests. The program immersed all of the students, many of us on our first real international experience, into a new and exciting world. It was extremely well-organized and carried out; the staff created an ideal atmosphere for learning and developing, and the Costa Rican families that allowed us into their lives were also extremely supportive. We were allowed time and provided guidance in developing and carrying out our own independent research project, and this for me was a very important achievement. ACM helped me realize that I wanted to attend veterinary school, followed by graduate school; I always look back to ACM as my first step toward a research career.

—Nicole Nemeth, Science Fellow, Wildlife Disease Program, Natl. Wildlife Research Center, USDA/APHIS, Costa Rica, Spring 1994

Read more testimonials »

News
  1. Japan Study Announces New Intensive Language + Spring Semester Option (Posted: Mar 5, 2010)
  2. FaCE Grants Support Research and Workshops Aimed at Improving Curricula, Teaching, and Student Learning (Posted: Feb 23, 2010)
  3. Chicago Area High School Counselors Invited to ACM Admissions Breakfasts (Posted: Feb 19, 2010)

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ACM calendar
  1. Mar 15–16 ACM Advisory Board of Deans Meeting
  2. Mar 15 Application deadline: Summer 2010 & Fall 2010…
  3. Mar 16–17 FaCE Liaison Meeting

Entire calendar »

Who we are

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) is a consortium of independent, liberal arts colleges in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado.