A country of ecological diversity, with an enviable system of national parks, along with the longest uninterrupted history of democracy in Latin America, Costa Rica has consistently met the challenges of modern development with a preference for peace and pragmatism. With a fabulous – but also fragile and complicated – geography, varying from beautiful beaches along both its coastlines to tropical rain forests and green mountains in the interior, Costa Rica is working to protect its biodiversity, while at the same time pursuing economic development. The resulting economic boom in tourism, along with investments in infrastructure, education, and health care, have helped place the country at or near the top of human development rankings in Latin America. Today, Costa Rica continues to address the underlying contradictions of sustainable development in Central America, weighing new economic opportunities in tourism, pineapple, and high tech industries against the need to protect the country’s status as a gem of neotropical biodiversity.
The spring ACM Costa Rica program has given students a privileged window onto these developments since the program’s founding in 1964. Based in San José, only blocks away from the Universidad de Costa Rica, the program takes full advantage of the resources and scholars of that institution, while reaching out to local and international NGOs and investigators throughout the country to facilitate student research in science and the humanities. Students may choose from two program options:
- Full spring semester - This traditional semester-long option runs from January-May.
- Spring trimester option - This option (from April-June) is ideal for students at schools not using a semester calendar.
Students spend a month in San José at the beginning and end of the program to polish their Spanish and their research plans, and to analyze their data and write their final papers. In the middle of the program, students fan out to the four corners of the country (and its mountains, and two coastlines) to carry out independent field research under the supervision of an advisor with experience and contacts in the student’s chosen field. Students with urban interests or whose data is best gathered in the capital city may remain in San José. Students on the full spring semester program will spend approximately two months working on their research project, while students on the spring trimester option will spend one month doing research.
Click here to learn more about possible areas of research!
During the program, students live with host families both in San José and wherever their research takes them. In addition to the cultural and linguistic immersion that comes from the homestay, the ACM typically arranges excursions, to give students a sense of Costa Rica’s geographic and biological diversity and to familiarize them with San José itself. Throughout the program, a variety of guest speakers are invited to help students understand the larger cultural context in which they carry out their research.
For more detailed information, please use the links located on the left-hand side of this page.
Quick Facts
- Terms: Spring semester & spring quarter/trimester (April-June)
- Language prerequisite: Spanish
- Language of instruction: Spanish & English
- Living arrangements: Host family
Application deadlines
October 15, 2010
Spring 2011 semester
March 15, 2011
Spring 2012 semester early application date
Do I need to apply early?
The early application date is available for students whose college requires that all off-campus study applications for the entire upcoming academic year must be completed the prior spring semester. If your college does not require a spring decision for programs the following spring, you may simply apply by the regular application deadline.
October 15, 2011
Spring 2012 semester
If the deadline has passed and you are interested in applying, contact the ACM Office immediately. Late applications may be accepted on a space-available basis.
Related Programs
Program contacts
Heather Everst
Program Associate
205 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.263.5000
heverst@acm.edu
More program contacts »
Publications & Resources
Costa Rica programs brochure
Costa Rica Student Handbook - 2008-09
Profiles - ACM Costa Rica program alumni
St. Olaf article about ACM Costa Rica program - October 2009