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Study Abroad - Programs
Spring 2004
Costa Rica
February 11, 2004 - May 28, 2004


Program Overview

Study in Costa Rica, home to a fascinating diversity of natural environments and one of the oldest democracies in the Americas. Discover the country that Christopher Columbus named "Rich Coast," with its rain and cloud forests, "dry" forest, two seacoasts, and live volcanoes. It's the perfect setting for studies in Latin American culture, Spanish language, environmental science, and more.

Classes will be taught at the Universidad de Costa Rica; all courses, except those designated SPAN, will be taught in English. Course instructors will be from the Universidad de Costa Rica. Environmental science majors can take classes in geology, ecology and biology, enabling them to participate in the program while remaining on-schedule in their major. And students with a background in Spanish will have the opportunity to strengthen their language skills and learn first-hand about this 500-year old culture.

Accommodations: Students will live in homestay settings. Breakfast (continental) and dinners are provided at homestay, and students are given a monetary disbursement to cover lunches. An allowance for local bus transportation is also included in the program fee.

If you have questions about which track is right for you, contact Marion Bernard-Amos (FLL track) or Bill McNabb (IPSS track).

Courses
Students must enroll in all courses for credit and a grade; pass/fail and audit registration is not permitted.

Honors credit may be available. Check with the faculty director and the Honors program for prior approval (before departure).

All students must enroll in 12 or more credits, as well as the 0-credit UNIV course. Students take two courses in Session I and three courses in Session II. All classes, except HIST 336 and those designated SPAN, are taught in English.Applicants must have completed at least one Spanish course at the intermediate level (SPAN 107 or equivalent) except for Environmental Science students, who must have completed at least college-level Spanish II (SPAN 106 or equivalent).

Session One: Dates TBA
FLLT326 - Topics: Hispanic Literature in Translation (3 cr.)
A study of the works of one or more outstanding authors or of a special theme. Course will be taught in English. May be repeated for credit if topic is different.
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group A

SPAN107 - Spanish III: Intermediate (4 cr.)
Review of grammar, continued practice in speaking and writing, and reading texts of average difficulty.
Prerequisite:SPAN 106 or four years of high school Spanish
Satisfies the following requirements:
      Arts & Sciences Foreign Language
Restrictions:only Environmental Science students may take this course

SPAN200 - Spanish Grammar and Composition (3 cr.)
Intensive study of selected grammatical topics: subjunctive, ser-estar, preterite and imperfect. Vocabulary exercises and short compositions.
Prerequisite:SPAN 107

SPAN201 - Spanish Reading and Composition (3 cr.)
Major emphasis on reading development, composition and literary analysis.
Prerequisite:SPAN 200

SPAN306 - Practical Oral/Written Expression (3 cr.)
Strengthens skills in grammar and vocabulary in preparation for advanced courses. Includes oral exposes, discussion of articles and videos, textual analysis and compositions.
Prerequisite:any two 200-level Spanish courses conducted in Spanish

SPAN326 - Latin American Civilization and Culture (3 cr.)
Survey of geography, history, art and society of Latin American lands.
Prerequisite:SPAN 200
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group B
Multicultural
Session Two: Dates TBA
BISC317 - Tropical Ecology (3 cr.)
Basic aspects of tropical ecology, including climatic, geological and edaphic components, and focusing on species interactions and ecosystems. At least two field trips are planned.
Prerequisite:BISC 207/208, Introductory Biology I/II
Satisfies the following requirements:
      Environmental Science

BISC318 - Tropical Amphibians and Reptiles (3 cr.)
Course deals with topics herpetology worldwide with a major focus on Costa Rica. Lecture topics include evolution; Extinct groups; and the Orders Gymnophiona, Caudata, Amura, Testudimes, Crocodylia and others. Field trips included.
Prerequisite:BISC 107 or 207
Satisfies the following requirements:
      Environmental Science

GEOG230 - Humans and the Earth Ecosystem (3 cr.)
An examination of the historic and contemporary role of humans as major agents of biological change in the earth's ecosystem.
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group C

GEOL434 - Geology of Coasts (3 cr.)
Erosional, depositional, and tectonic processes; morphology and classification, and geologic history of the coastal areas of the world, with emphasis on Costa Rica.
Prerequisite:GEOL 107 and 303

HIST336 - Topics in Latin American History (3 cr.)
Topics vary. May include topics such as history of Costa Rica, history of Central America or colonial history of Central America.
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group B
Restrictions:taught in Spanish

POSC311 - Politics of Developing Nations (3 cr.)
Forces determining public policy among the emerging nations. Cross-national comparative analysis.
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group B
Multicultural

SPAN107 - Spanish III: Intermediate (4 cr.)

Prerequisite:SPAN 106 or four years of high school Spanish
Satisfies the following requirements:
      Arts & Sciences Foreign Language
Restrictions:continued from First Session

SPAN326 - Latin American Civilization and Culture (3 cr.)
Survey of geography, history, art and society of Latin American lands.
Prerequisite:SPAN 200
Satisfies the following requirements:
Arts & Sciences Group B
Multicultural

SPAN355 - Special Topics: Literature (3 cr.)
Explores a special area of interest in Spanish literature or cultural studies. Topic to be selected.
Prerequisite:SPAN 201

SPAN406 - Advanced Language (3 cr.)
Advanced grammatical structure and stylistics, with special attention to technical vocabulary and discourse.
Prerequisite:Any 300-level Spanish course

Requirements
The Semester in Costa Rica is designed for undergraduate students regardless of major or academic affiliation. A minimum 2.8 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) is required. Full-time enrollment status (at least 12 credits) during the program is required. Applicants must have completed at least one Spanish course at the intermediate level (SPAN 107 or equivalent) except for Environmental Science students, who must have had at least two semesters of college-level Spanish (SPAN 106 or equivalent). For all participants, a formal application is necessary, including a deposit, one transcript (non-University of Delaware students only), and one recommendation. An interview may be conducted in person or by telephone.

Study abroad at the University of Delaware is highly competitive. See here for an overview of the acceptance process. If you are not selected for your first choice program, we recommend moving your application and deposit to another program (by emailing your request to studyabroad@udel.edu).

Costa Rica Program Costs
Participants in the Costa Rica program will be charged University of Delaware tuition for one Spring Semester and the program fee. The program fee usually covers round-trip airfare, housing, and all excursions but does not include transportation to/from the group's initial departure airport. Your specific program fee may or may not include these and other items, check with the faculty director for details.

A $200 deposit towards the program fee must be paid by no later than October 17, 2003 , although we recommend that you pay your deposit within three working days of submitting your application. The deposit is non-refundable if you are admitted into the program. The program acceptance list will be available approximately two weeks later. See below for additional program fee and tuition payment deadlines.

UD students pay all program fee deposits by direct bank transfer via this website: http://www.udel.edu/studyabroadpayments. Non-UD students should send a check, payable to the University of Delaware, to CFIS, Elliott Hall, 26 East Main Street, Newark, DE 19716. Credit card payments are not accepted.

  DE Resident Non-DE Resident
Final Tuition based on current year 2945 7710
Estimate Program Fee
 3700 3700
UD Registration & Activities Fee 0 0
Estimate Total 6645 11410

Please note that final program fees are subject to change until the group's departure date. Final program fees may be increased due to airline taxes, fuel surcharges, exchange rates, or changes in the group size.

Scholarships
Need- and merit-based scholarships are available to UD undergraduates on a competitive basis. For more details and to apply for a scholarship, go to our scholarships page (and be sure to submit scholarship materials by the deadlines).
Deadlines
All payments and application materials are due by 5:00pm on the dates listed below:
  • Application and $200 deposit deadline: October 17, 2003
  • $800 deposit deadline: October 27, 2003
  • Final program fee balance due: January 6, 2004
  • Tuition and Registration Fee due: January 6, 2004
Contact Information
Marion Bernard-Amos
Study Abroad Coordinator
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
30 East Main St., R110, Jastak-Burgess Hall
Phone:(302) 831-6458
Fax:(302) 831-0597
Email: mba@udel.edu