Spanish Language, Liberal Arts & Environmental Sciences

San Jose, Costa Rica
Spanish Language, Liberal Arts & Environmental Sciences

About the Program

Take a deep dive into environmental issues in a country that's renowned for its amazing biodiversity while improving your Spanish language fluency and discovering local culture. Along with environmental science courses, you'll choose from a range of liberal arts courses with a Costa Rican focus in areas such as economics, health sciences, political science, photography, and cultural studies. Designed for all levels of proficiency, you'll take one or more Spanish language courses and choose from a range of electives taught in English. Students at the advanced Spanish language level may choose to take electives taught in Spanish. An Early Start option, offered in the fall semester, helps you jump start your Spanish language skills before the semester begins, and the Winter Semester – Extended option allows you to take an additional Spanish language class at the conclusion of your regular semester..

Requirements

Overview

Location:

San Jose

Dates:

5/24/25 - 8/9/25

Price:

$9,495

Credits:

12 - 16

Deadlines

Apply By:

3/1/25

Withdraw By:

4/1/25

Requirements

$95 Online Application Fee
Transcript - Unofficial
Complete Application
Program Participation Agreement

Eligibility

Minimum GPA:

2.6

Education
Completed:

High School Graduate

Foreign Language Proficiency:

All Levels

Get a Flight Credit worth up to $500 when you apply with code* by November 17, 2024

Where You'll Study

Veritas University

Since its founding in 1976, Veritas University has become one of the most highly recognized private universities in Latin America. Not only is Veritas fully accredited by the Costa Rica Ministry o...

Student Offices
Student Offices
Clubs & Organizations
Clubs & Organizations
Study Room
Study Room
Counseling Services
Counseling Services
6-8

Credits

Program Structure & Courses

During the summer you can choose several sessions, depending on how long you want to stay in Costa Rica, the number of courses you want to take and whether you want to take Spanish language or English electives. Choose to take 2, 3, or 4 courses in June/July, or choose a 1- or 2-course 5-week session in June or July. Your course offerings and the total contact hours/credits available vary by session.

Veritas University offers courses in English and Spanish language. English taught courses are fully in English, while the Spanish language acquisition courses are taught fully in Spanish - the methodology they use is “Spanish in Spanish”.  Veritas utilizes the Competencies based learning as their Pedagogical Model for both English and Spanish courses.

Language courses meet for 3 hours in the morning, Monday-Friday. Elective courses meet daily, Monday-Thursday. Active learning components required by your courses may be scheduled on Fridays.

Prior to departure, you will select your preferred courses and take a Spanish language level placement exam. Students who have no prior knowledge of Spanish language and consider taking SPN 101 Spanish Basic I or SSP 141 Basic Spanish for Health Professionals, may opt out of the of the language placement exam. You will be enrolled into courses based on their availability and the results of your language placement exam. It is in your best interest to have multiple alternative courses approved by your home university prior to your departure due to course availabilities. To ensure that you receive credit for the language level you place into, have your home school pre-approve courses at several levels before you leave for Costa Rica. Please consult with your academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.

Beginner Level Course Structure

View Term

Available Levels

Courses

The host institution has offered the following courses in the past. Please note that course listings will not be finalized until the start of the term.

*Courses with an asterisk indicate that the course has been associated with multiple subject areas.
Please click on the course title to view additional subject areas and detailed course information.

Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
SPN 101 Basic Spanish I 100 Sp 60 4
SPN 102 Basic Spanish II 100 Sp 60 4
SSP 141 Basic Spanish for Health Professions * 100 Sp 60 4
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
COMM 3200 Intercultural Communication & Competence 300 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
ETH 3100 Selected Topics in Afro-Caribbean Studies * 300 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
ENV 3044 Tropical Ecology 300 En 60 4
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
HIS 2302 Contemporary Latin American History 200 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
HUM 2100 Introduction to Video Creation 200 En 60 4
HUM 3513 Costa Rica Colloquium: History & Culture * 300 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
MKTG 3010 International Marketing Management 300 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
PHOT 2130 Cultural Photography 200 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
PSY 2200 Health Psychology 200 En 48 3
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
ART 2130 Mural Painting and Public Art * 200 En 60 4
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
ENV 4100 Biotechnology and Sustainability * 400 En 60 4
SUSD 3100 Gender and Sustainability * 300 En 60 4
Course Name Level Lang Hours Credits
THEO 3150 Major World Religions 300 En 48 3

Interested in taking your career to the next level?

Where You'll Stay

*Housing options may change and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.

Excursions

Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.

What's Included in your Program

From housing to excursions, our programs include a variety of inclusions to enhance your study abroad experience! Here are examples that may be available in San José. Inclusions vary by program – please contact our Enrollment and Advising team to find out what options are available for you.

  • Personalized Pre-Departure Advising
  • Visa & Immigration Advising
  • Financial Advising
  • Tuition and Registration
  • Airport Pick-up
  • Onsite Orientation
  • City Tour
  • Onsite Staff Support
  • 24/7 Emergency Assistance
  • Travel Medical Insurance
  • International Emergency Service Support
  • Welcome & Farewell Events
  • Centrally Located Housing
  • Wellness Activities
  • Cultural Engagement
  • Language Exchanges
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Excursions
  • Student Clubs & Organizations
  • Host Institution Services & Amenities
  • Career & Re-entry Workshop
  • Official Transcript(s)

Sample Calendar

Below is a tentative itinerary for your program. Please note, dates and events below may change without prior notification. Contact CEA CAPA before purchasing airline tickets.

You will receive a finalized itinerary once you arrive onsite.

Note: Additional cultural activities/excursions or required course-related activities may be incorporated into your final itinerary. You are advised not to make personal travel arrangements until you have the final dates.

Date Description
May 24
Arrival/Program Begins

Official Program Start Date. Students must arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose on this date in order to be eligible for airport pickup. Students will then be transferred to their assigned housing.

May 25
Orientation

Mandatory CEA CAPA Orientation & Welcome Activities.

May 26
Classes Begin

Classes begin at Veritas University.

May 31 - June 01
Excursion

Trips outside the city will be included - Subject to change.

June 06 - 08
Excursion

Trips outside the city will be included - Subject to change.

June 30 - July 04
School Break

Veritas University is closed for Summer Break. No classes will be held.

July 11 - 13
Excursion

Trips outside the city will be included - Subject to change.

July 19 - 20
Excursion

Trips outside the city will be included - Subject to change.

August 09
Program Ends/Move-Out

Official Program End Date. Students must move out of housing no later than this day.

Sample Budget

This budget contains costs that you can take to your financial aid office. Please note that amounts may fluctuate; we've included a range of costs.

Federal law allows the use of financial aid to cover "reasonable" costs of study abroad including round-trip transportation, tuition and fees for the program, living costs, passport and visa fees, health insurance, and more.

Please note that all costs and charges listed below are subject to change without notice. With the exception of Program Price, all costs are estimates and may vary.

Description Low-Cost High-Cost
Program Fee
Tuition and fees, registration, orientation, airport pickup, welcome and farewell receptions, housing, official transcript, cultural excursions/activities, student support services, CEA On-site Staff and administrative costs.
$9,495
$9,495
International Airfare & Transfers
Cost varies depending on time of purchase, point of origin and time of travel.
$500
$1,400
Immigration Requirements
Includes passport and additional requirements such as visa, entry and exit fees, French Carte de Séjour, French University Administrative Fee (if applicable), or Italian Permesso di Soggiorno.
$165
$165
Books, Materials and Supplies
Includes books, school supplies, art supplies, and course fees. Does not include fees or supplies for optional courses. This cost varies depending on the course choices of the student.
$35
$50
Meals
Includes the average expected cost for meals in housing option without a meal plan, such as daily groceries and eating out at restaurants. 
$575
$925
Personal Expenses
Includes telephone, laundry, local transportation, personal necessities and upfront payments for potential doctor visits. Please note, certain locations may require deposits to secure spots in CEA organized activities and excursions (deposits are returned at the end of the program if student attends activities/excursions or cancels participation before set deadlines). Some of these costs vary according to the spending habits of the student.
$575
$813
Travel Expenses
Includes additional travel outside of CEA excursions. This cost varies according to the spending habits of the student.
$625
$1,250
TOTAL EXPENSES $11,970 $14,098