Love sustainability but not fluent in Spanish? We’ve got you covered! This active study abroad program gets students analyzing Costa Rica’s sustainable development efforts in both urban and rural contexts. In English! The program combines enriching fieldwork and site visits with engaging classroom time, allowing students to critically examine and understand several models of responsible economic development, biodiversity promotion and resources management. The program’s first two months are spent in urban San José, Costa Rica’s capital city, at the International Center for Development Studies (ICDS). The final two are spent in the Caribbean lowland rural rainforest area at EARTH University.

The four-month program includes five credit-bearing courses. Spanish skills are built through complementary Spanish language courses, local culture immersion and homestays. (Best for on-the-go students with a passion for protecting biodiversity and strengthening socio-economic wellbeing!)

For the first two months, students will take the following courses at ICDS, located in San José, the urban capital of Costa Rica:

Become fully integrated into the EARTH way of life for a semester, alongside our full-time undergraduate students from more than 40 countries across Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. You’ll take courses in environmental science, organic agriculture, sustainability, community development and Latin American studies, among others. 12 different course-load options are available.
Choose one of the following to start your rainforest adventure:

(Best for students with an intermediate-to-advanced command of the Spanish language and a love of sustainability!)

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This program offers four intensive courses, each exploring a unique approach to sustainability. You will gain access to projects and practices employed on EARTH University’s campus, as well as numerous notable sites throughout Costa Rica. During these 14-day courses, you have the opportunity to join international peers, research partners and renowned professors to learn about critical global sustainability issues. Courses involve lectures, participatory activities and field visits.

Interested students are encouraged to register for multiple course sessions.

The internship program at EARTH University offers the opportunity to learn through hands-on, career-focused work experiences in four distinct focus areas:

EARTH University’s Spanish Language Institute offers intensive language-learning courses as either a standalone study or as a supplement to any of our existing programs – they pair especially well with the internship abroad program, for example. These courses are small-group or one-on-one and thus can be tailored specifically to your needs. That means classes for beginner, intermediate and advanced language learners are all available. During your time on campus, you also will have many opportunities to get involved in University life and activities with our full-time students, along with visiting local communities and traveling to impressive destinations across Costa Rica!