Faculty-led Program in Costa Rica - Winter

‌Students will have the opportunity to critically analyze the origins and consequences of one’s own personal values as well as apply ethical reasoning to important issues facing society. Students will experience first-hand the values held by others and analyze how these compare with their own. These cross-cultural experiences will emphasize the process of inquiry and analysis to assist students in developing the reasoning skills to ethically address important, complex issues with the global community.

Visits will include a trip to the Starbuck's coffee plantation, the Poás Volcano, natural hot springs, and national parks where students may see animals including monkey's, sloths, iguanas, frogs/lizards, birds and many others. Activities include white water rafting, beach activities, and much more! Students will get to try a variety of fruits and other local foods.

Participation in this program fulfills the UNIFI: Responsibility category. It can count as a general education UNIFI elective credit under the category of Connect. Students will be enrolled into their study abroad course by Study Abroad Center staff.

Dates & Deadlines

App Deadline: Friday, September 15, 2023
Program Dates: Tuesday, January 2, 2024 to Friday, January 10, 2024

‌Apply Now

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Faculty-led Program in Costa Rica - Winter

Learn More about Winter in Costa Rica

Location

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Academics

BUS 3159: The Ethics of Global Leadership, Cross-Cultural Negotiations, and Sustainability (3 credits)

This is a UNIFI: Responsibility category course. It can count as a general education UNIFI elective credit under the category of Connect.

Participation in this program requires several class meetings during the fall semester, although the course is scheduled as a winter session course. The Study Abroad Center will enroll participants in the course. Please contact the program's course leader for more information on academic requirements.

To view a tentative syllabus, click HERE

NOTES:

Winter session courses are billed tuition and fees.
Students attending colleges and universities other than UNI are welcome to participate in this program. If you are not currently a UNI student, but would like to participate in this program, please contact the UNI Study Abroad Center prior to starting your program application.

Itinerary

Tentative Program Dates: Tuesday, January 2 (depart) - Wednesday, January 10 (return), 2024

Sample itinerary is subject to change.

Day 1: Arrive in San José, Costa Rica

Day 2: Visit Starbucks affiliated coffee plantation to learn about cultivation, processing, and business practices of the industry; then, visit the Poás Volcano, an active volcano with a geothermally heated crater lake. Class in the evening.

Day 3: Travel to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica for your stay in La Fortuna/Arenal. Along the way, stop for white water rafting on Pacuare River. The river flows from the Talamanca Mountains all the way down to the Caribbean and is well known amongst whitewater rafters all over the world as one of the planet's five best rafting rivers. Class in the evening.

Day 4: Bathe in the natural hot springs.For those interested, there are optional activities (at additional expense) such as kayaking on Lake Arenal with unbeatable views of the Arenal Volcano or zip-line canopy tour. Class in the evening.

Day 5: Travel to Tamarindo. Along the way, visit the Pumas Rescue Center and Animal Sanctuary. At this wildlife center, dedicated staff and volunteers work to rehabilitate injured Costa Rican wildlife. You will learn about the animals, about their behavior, natural history, ecology and learn the stories behind their rescue and why they couldn’t go back to nature. Class in the evening.

Day 6: Hike in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park along the Las Pailas Trail. In this dry-tropical forest you'll find hidden waterfalls, bubbling mud pots, and hot springs. End the journey at the Oropendola Waterfall and take a swim in its blue pool. Class in the evening.

Day 7: Set sail on a catamaran, exploring some of the most beautiful isolated white sand beaches and snorkel locations in Costa Rica. A snorkeling guide will show you the marine wildlife such as: puffer fish, starfish, sea turtles, and dolphins. Class in the evening.

Day 8: Beach day

Day 9: Departure

*This can be a physically demanding tour and students may need to walk at a normal/average pace at times over steep and uneven terrain.

Participant Info

Important information to review:

Review the roles of the Advisee and the Advisor under the main menu Get Started

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Review and follow the travel recommendations of the U.S. State Department for travel to Costa Rica

Housing & Meals

Students will stay in hotels arranged by the Study Abroad Center and paid for before departure. Breakfast and a few additional meals are built into the program cost. Students will purchase other meals out-of-pocket while abroad. Students are encouraged to try the local foods.

Program Costs

Estimated Program Cost: $6,071*

*estimated total cost of participation, actual amount depends on type of housing accommodation selected, actual airfare purchase price, personal spending habits, and other factors

Estimated Total Program Cost	$6,071
Estimated U-bill Charges	$3,977
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs	$2,094

Winter Cost Estimate (PDF)

Cost of Studying On Campus at UNI*

*per semester, estimated, will vary per person

Tuition & Fees	$4,527
Room & Board	$4,580
Books	$400
Personal Expenses	$878
Transportation	$320
Total	$10,705

Source: https://admissions.uni.edu/cost-aid

‌Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad

The Study Abroad Center reserves the right to determine participants' eligibility to study abroad. Students must have a completed study abroad application, including supportive recommendation form(s). Additionally, students must meet all of the following in order to be eligible to study abroad:

Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA or higher at the time of application and maintain this cumulative GPA prior to departure and throughout the study abroad process
If your cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, submit the following to the Study Abroad Center (103 East Bartlett):
- Letters of reference from two academic contacts (e.g. academic advisor and former or current professor) supporting your pursuit of study abroad. If you are attending a faculty-led study abroad program, one of the letters must be from a course leader. However, if the program has two course leaders, only one of the letters can be from one of the course leaders.

Must be over the age of 18 years old
Must meet the course prerequisites (participation in the program is dependent upon meeting these)
Must be in good standing with the university
UNI's partner institutions may require additional eligibility requirements to be met, these vary from institution to institution. Please consult with the Study Abroad Center staff to discuss these additional requirements, if applicable.
Applicants traveling to a region of a country or a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel) will not be eligible.