So you want to go abroad…
● Looking for a destination that’s safe but never boring?
● Think it’d be cool to live in a tropical paradise?
● Hoping to learn or improve your Spanish?
● Passionate about sustainability and ethical entrepreneurship?
If you responded YES! (or ¡SÍ!) to any/some/all of these questions, keep reading!
We believe EARTH University in Costa Rica is the place for you.
We offer a wide variety of one-of-a-kind study programs, special courses and internships within the Costa Rican rainforest.
Overview
Choosing the right place to study (and explore) is crucial.
We think you’d really enjoy our safe, sustainable, 8,340-acre University in the heart of the tropical Costa Rican rainforest.
Here you can aprovechar (take advantage of) free time in our integrated organic farm, butterfly garden, experimental peri-urban farm, and medicinal garden. Enjoy a dash of adventure on the weekends? You’re always a short bus ride away from the zesty flavors of Caribbean beach life, the protected sea turtles of Tortuguero National Park, the natural majesty of the Arenal and Poas volcanoes, the vast wisdom of local indigenous peoples, the colorful arts culture of San José, and the comforting aromas of your caffeine fix at thriving coffee plantations.
At EARTH University, you can learn or improve your Spanish while also figuring out how to advance the sostenibilidad (sustainability) of our world. We’re not talking about sitting in a stuffy classroom all day, either. Here, we focus on active, hands-on, experiential learning to strengthen your education and propel social change. We offer a variety of programs, from language studies to internships – it’s easy to find the right one for you.
Academic Programs
| PROGRAMS | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated Study in Spanish | ||||||||||||
| Sustainable Summer Sessions | ||||||||||||
| Intern Abroad | ||||||||||||
| Spanish Learning Courses |
Duration: 15 weeks – Students may receive a grade and academic credit after completion of the semester.
Available start dates: January 11 – May 10 – August 30, 2021
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:
First Trimester
Option 1 - First Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| CIE101 | Introduction to Natural Sciences | 3 |
| COM109 | Communication and Leadership | 2 |
| CUL101 | Tropical Crops | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM 106 | Orientation to Student Life | 0 |
| IGA101 | Operation of Agricultural Equipment | 1 |
| INF101 | Computer Workshop | 0 |
| MAT105 | Basic Skills in Mathematics I | 2 |
| ERS 103 | Health and Recreation I | 0 |
| DESCOG | Cognitive Skills | 0 |
| COM104 | Spanish as Second Language | 0 |
| Total | 13 |
Option 2 - First Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| RCN 101 | Ecological Bases for Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| COM109 | Communication and Leadership | 2 |
| CUL101 | Tropical Crops | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM 106 | Orientation to Student Life | 0 |
| IGA101 | Operation of Agricultural Equipment | 1 |
| INF101 | Computer Workshop | 0 |
| MAT105 | Basic Skills in Mathematics I | 2 |
| ERS 103 | Health and Recreation I | 0 |
| DESCOG | Cognitive Skills | 0 |
| COM104 | Spanish as Second Language | 0 |
| Total | 13 | |
Option 3 - First Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| EXP200 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM203 | Rural Development and Sustainable Communities | 2 |
| COM203 | Applied Academic Writing | 0 |
| CUL203 | Pest Control: Weeds | 3 |
| PRA201 | Animal Reproduction and Lactation | 3 |
| ING201 | Inglés | 2 |
| Total | 12 |
Option 4 - First Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| EXP200 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM203 | Rural Development and Sustainable Communities | 2 |
| COM203 | Applied Academic Writing | 0 |
| MAT 201 | General Statistics | 3 |
| MAT 202 | Calculation for Agricultural Sciences I | 3 |
| CIE 201 | Applied Genetics | 3 |
| ING201 | Inglés | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
Second Trimester
Option 1 - Second Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| COM110 | Professional Communication | 2 |
| CUL102 | Tropical Crops Production | 3 |
| COM105 | Spanish as second language | 0 |
| ERS104 | Health and Recreation II | 0 |
| ERS101 | Health Promotion | 2 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| MAT106 | Basic Skills in Mathematics II | 2 |
| IGA102 | Mechanical Skills | 1 |
| ING101 | English | 2 |
| RCN101 | Fundamentals of Ecological Management of the Resources of the Humid Tropics | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
Option 2 - Second Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| COM110 | Professional Communication | 2 |
| CUL102 | Tropical Crops Production | 3 |
| PRA101 | Tropical Animal Production | 3 |
| ERS104 | Health and Recreation II | 0 |
| ERS101 | Health Promotion | 2 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| MAT106 | Basic Skills in Mathematics II | 2 |
| ING101 | English | 2 |
| COM105 | Spanish as second language | 0 |
| CIE101 | Introduction to Natural Sciences | 3 |
| Total | 19 |
Option 3 - Second Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| CIE201 | Applied Genetics | 3 |
| CIE202 | Inorganic Chemical Processes | 3 |
| MAT202 | Calculus for Agriculture I | 2 |
| ING202 | English | 2 |
| MAT201 | General Statistics | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| Total | 15 |
Option 4 - Second Quarter
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| CIE202 | Inorganic Chemical Processes | 3 |
| CUL202 | Pest Control: Diseases | 3 |
| ING202 | English | 2 |
| CUL201 | Pest Control: Entomology | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| Total | 13 | |
Third Trimester
Option 1
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| COM111 | Scientific Communicationn and Critical Thinking | 2 |
| CUL103 | Tropical Crop Management | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM105 | Opportunities for Development and Equity | 3 |
| ING102 | English | 2 |
| MAT107 | Quantitative Skills for Agriculture Sciences | 2 |
| PRA101 | Tropical Animal production | 3 |
| HUM107 | Introduction to Student Life II | 0 |
| ERS105 | Recreation and Health III | 0 |
| Total | 17 |
Option 2
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| COM111 | Scientific Communication and Critical Thinking | 2 |
| CUL103 | Tropical Crop Management | 3 |
| EXP100 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| HUM105 | Opportunities for Development and Equity | 3 |
| IGA102 | Mechanical Skills | 1 |
| ING102 | English | 2 |
| MAT107 | Quantitative Skills for Agriculture Sciences | 2 |
| HUM107 | Introduction to Student Life II | 0 |
| ERS105 | Recreation and Health III | 0 |
| Total | 15 |
Option 3
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| CIE203 | Organic, Chemical and Biochemical Processes | 3 |
| CUL201 | Pest Control: Entomology | 3 |
| CUL202 | Pest Control: Diseases | 3 |
| EXP200 | Work Experience** | 2 |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | ||
| ING203 | English | 2 |
| ERS201 | Health and Wellbeing | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
Option 4
| COURSE CODE | COURSE | CREDITS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIE203 | Organic, Chemical and Biochemical Processes | 3 | |
| CUL203 | Pest Control: Weeds | 3 | |
| EXP200 | Work Experience** | 2 | |
| *Options: Tropical Crops – Integrated Organic Farm – Integrated Livestock Management – Forestry Farm – Community | |||
| ING203 | English | 2 | |
| PRA201 | Animal Reproduction and Lactation | 3 | |
| ERS201 | Health and Wellbeing | 2 | |
| Total | 15 | ||
(Best for students with an intermediate-to-advanced command of the Spanish language and a love of sustainability!)
Fees
| The cost per quarter is U.S. $9,513.00 and includes tuition, room and board, access to campus facilities, student services, excursions throughout the region and administrative fees. Airplane ticket, international health and travel insurance, personal expenses and any additional study abroad fees from your home institution are not included. |
|---|
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Duration: 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks or 10 weeks
Available start dates (course-specific): May, June and July 2021
This program offers five 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.
Tropical Forest Carbon Management (May 9 – May 22, 2021)
Tools for Protecting Rainforests and Mitigating Climate ChangeCourse description: Through visits to three important rainforest ecosystems – coastal, upland and cloud forest – and a range of local agroforestry farms, you will explore the application of climate change and carbon cycle science to sustainable forest management in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica. This course also introduces you to the concept of livelihoods from tree management systems, as well as poverty alleviation and sustainable development through agroforestry carbon management methods.
Field visits: FUNDECOR (Foundation for the Development of the Central Volcanic Range), jungle canopy, forest reserve, plantation, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Tortuguero, lagoon and more.
Fees
Making Agriculture Sustainable (May 23 – June 5, 2021)
Understanding Challenges and Finding SolutionsCourse description: Through visits to a multiple farms on the EARTH campuses in Guácimo and La Flor, as well as local banana, rice, mango, vegetable and organic farms in nearby communities, you will learn first-hand how several different agricultural systems impact the environment, society and economy – both negatively and positively. You will be exposed to and become familiar with a variety of tropical agricultural ecosystems within Costa Rican rural community contexts.
Field visits: Conventional pineapple plantation, USDA-organic pineapple plantation, banana plantation, biologic control center for citrus fruits, carbon-neutral dairy farm, industrial composting site, hot springs and more
Fees
Engaging Rural Communities (June 13 – June 26, 2021)
Tools and Methodologies for Sustainable DevelopmentCourse description: Through visits to local agricultural producers employing a range of approaches to sustainability, indigenous communities regenerating their long-standing approach to cacao production, and massive recent dam construction as a renewable energy source, you will learn how to interpret and critically assess diverse approaches to rural sustainable development through direct engagement and participation with local communities.
Field visits: small farmers in rural La Lucha and Santa Rosa, Ditsöwö u and Amubri Talamanca Bribri Indigenous communities, the Cacao Association in Puerto Viejo, La Argentina Women Association, Agro-ecotourism Association, “Reventazón” Hydroelectric Project and more
Fees
Tackling Environmental Issues (June 27 – July – 10, 2021)
How to Measure, Manage and Mitigate Our ImpactCourse description: Through visits to local community farms, banana plantations, wastewater treatment plants, and eco-tourism sites along the Caribbean and Pacific oceans, you will explore different methodologies for evaluating sustainability and assessing the social and environmental impact of our actions as individuals and companies. You will have the opportunity to identify and directly assist in the development of decisions to control, mitigate, and compensate for the environmental and social impacts of businesses and individuals.
Field visits: banana packing plant, Tarcoles Crocodile River, Playa Azul, Isla Tortuga, wastewater plants, San José and more
Fees
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Duration: Minimum 4 weeks per focus area
Available start dates: You name it!
The internship program at EARTH University offers the opportunity to learn through hands-on, career-focused work experiences in four distinct focus areas:
Want to concentrate on sustainable agriculture in the humid tropics? You’ll learn about specific stages of production and available technologies, the correct methodology for responsibly using agricultural inputs, and other best practices of production and harvest.
Fees
The cost to participate for one month in the intern abroad program is $2607. This fee includes accommodation in a Student Residence, meals, internship placement, supervision and student services.
This cost does not includes airline tickets, airport pick-up, airport drop-off, personal expenses, and international medical insurance (mandatory). Additional costs for transportation and materials can be provided upon request.
Here you’ll learn efficiency-promoting strategies while employing the techniques of the eco-friendly production gold standards – organic, biodynamic, bio-intensive and permaculture-style agroforestry. This biodiverse farm focuses on how these methods support health and wellbeing throughout the entire production chain. You’ll have the chance to work with crops such as cacao, bananas and plantains, while also learning about the many challenges organic producers face in Latin America and the tropics.
Fees
The cost to participate for one month in the intern abroad program is $2607. This fee includes accommodation in a Student Residence, meals, internship placement, supervision and student services.
This cost does not includes airline tickets, airport pick-up, airport drop-off, personal expenses, and international medical insurance (mandatory). Additional costs for transportation and materials can be provided upon request.
Fees
The cost to participate for one month in the intern abroad program is $2607. This fee includes accommodation in a Student Residence, meals, internship placement, supervision and student services.
This cost does not includes airline tickets, airport pick-up, airport drop-off, personal expenses, and international medical insurance (mandatory). Additional costs for transportation and materials can be provided upon request.
Fees
The cost to participate for one month in the intern abroad program is $2607. This fee includes accommodation in a Student Residence, meals, internship placement, supervision and student services.
This cost does not includes airline tickets, airport pick-up, airport drop-off, personal expenses, and international medical insurance (mandatory). Additional costs for transportation and materials can be provided upon request.
Click to contact us
Duration: You name it!
Available start dates: You name it!
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!
Please check with us for cost information as this depends on the number of hours you wish-require to enroll in.
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We are a proud member of:
Additional Information
For all our programs, we offer:
- Pre-departure information
- On-site orientation
- Courses on campus
- Campus facilities
- Housing in student dorms or campus hotel
- Three meals a day in our student restaurant on campus
- Airport transfer for groups
- Cultural and social activities (sports, arts, music, etc.)
- 24/7 medical- and campus security support
- Apartment and workspace for faculty
- Transcripts for EARTH taught courses