The Salisbury Abroad: Costa Rica program allows Salisbury University students the opportunity to take courses taught in English in business in Central America and Latin American studies alongside courses at all levels in Spanish language, literature and culture. The cost of the program for tuition, room and board with a Costa Rican family is equivalent to the costs for one semester in Salisbury.
Costa Rica is a stunning Central American nation with coastlines on the Pacific and the Caribbean. Although usually known for its beaches, Costa Rica also offers a great variety of landscapes with volcanoes and rainforest, as well as a vast biodiversity. The university is located in Barrio Tournón, a nice neighborhood within walking distance to downtown San José, the capital city of Costa Rica.
HOST UNIVERSITY: The Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) is a private bilingual university founded in 1987. Although it is a relatively new institution, ULACIT is recognized as one of the best universities in the region and one of the most prestigious in Latin America. The University offers its nearly 3,000 students (with about 15% international students) more than 69 different majors from which to choose.
Housing: Students live with a carefully selected Costa Rican family and experience the local culture firsthand. All homestays also include full board (three meals a day) as well as airport pick-up and drop-off. The stay with a host family provides an incredible way to gain insight into Costa Rican life and tradition and is a great addition to the learning experience.
CLASSES: Students may spend a semester in Costa Rica and choose from a selection of courses taught in English in business and/or Latin American studies as well as a wide range of courses taught in Spanish on Spanish language, culture and literature. Students take 4 courses as part of the exchange but can take additional courses for an extra fee.
Business Studies Track: Students from the Perdue School of Business can select from a choice of 6 pre-approved classes within a Central American setting. Because the courses are already incorporated in the curriculum, business students can easily count their upper-level business courses for their majors in the Perdue School, making the Costa Rica semester an ideal choice for junior and senior business majors. All business students should contact the Perdu School of Business for more information before applying for the Salisbury Abroad: Costa Rica semester program.
Spanish Studies Track: Students can complete coursework towards the minor and major in Spanish at SU during a semester in Costa Rica. All upper-level courses count toward the minor and the major. Courses are offered in Spanish.
Latin American Studies Track: Students can complete a maximum of four out of the five courses required toward the interdisciplinary Latin American Studies minor at SU with one semester in Costa Rica. Courses are offered in English and/or Spanish. For more information on the Latin American Studies Minor including a checklist see the Area Studies Minor website.
CITY OF SAN JOSÉ: San José is the capital city of Costa Rica. Although the San José Canton has a population of just over 288,000, the metropolitan area counts a third of the country’s population and the city center attracts more than a million people daily but is still one of the safest cities in the region. San José lays in the Central Valley region of the country, between volcanoes in the north and the Talamanca Mountains in the south of the city. In addition to being the nation’s center for political and economic activities, San José is one of the country’s predominant cultural center as well as a major transportation hub for the rest of the country.
COSTS: Costs include all tuition and fees at SU and ULACIT, housing and full board with a Costa Rican homestay family, and mandatory international health insurance. Costs not included are international airfare, optional program travel, spending money, books, other. This cost is equivalent to that an in-state student pays for one semester of tuition and fees, on-campus single-occupancy housing, and the 15+ meal plan at the SU main campus in Salisbury.
DATES:
Fall Semester: Late August through mid December.
Spring Semester: Mid January through mid May.
APPLYING: Students will be admitted on a rolling basis until the program is full. Once the program is full, accepted students will be placed on a waiting list. The application deadline for spring semester is October 1 and for fall semester is March 15.
Business students should consult with the Perdue School of Business prior to applying to the program.
