Applications are still being accepted for the Elon in Costa Rica fall semester study abroad program. The deadline for online submissions is Feb. 18. Details…
Based in the capital city of San Jose, Elon in Costa Rica features challenging courses and weekend excursions designed to highlight the country’s natural beauty as well as the serious issues facing contemporary Latin America. When students are not in the classroom, they will be traveling to places such as the Monteverde cloud forest, Manuel Antonio beach resort and Arenal Volcano.
Students live with host families during their stay, allowing them to immerse themselves in the local culture. The families provide two meals each day, as well as laundry service.
“While students won’t be living with other Elon students, they will be in the same neighborhood and the same classes,” says Larry Basirico, dean of international programs. “The connection with other Elon students is one of the reasons people have loved this program.”
Elon in Costa Rica is one of three Elon Centre study abroad programs. Unlike affiliate programs, in which students take courses through an institution in their host country, the Elon Centre programs in London, Florence and Costa Rica are coordinated and led by Elon faculty and staff. Philosophy professor Anthony Weston will lead the fall Costa Rica program.
Weston and a team of Costa Rican professors will teach courses in general studies, business, political science and environmental science, in addition to required Spanish courses. The environmental science course fulfills Elon’s lab science requirement. Because of the Spanish courses’ unique nature and the immersion in Spanish through homestays, it is possible for students in the program to fulfill their foreign language proficiency requirements in one semester instead of two.
The Elon in Costa Rica program is $13,870, including two meals a day and insurance.
“It’s extraordinarily inexpensive for students because the cost of living in Costa Rica is so much cheaper,” Basirico says. “Students end up spending much less money during the semester than they would spend here.”
For more information or to apply for Elon in Costa Rica, go to www.elon.edu/international.