Eligibility

Students with a 3.0 overall GPA or higher and Honors Program students in good standing are eligible for the program. All program participants must have completed at least the equivalent of Spanish 203 before our departure, with a GPA of at least 3.0 in Spanish courses taken.
 

Academic Credit

All students in the program must register for either UH 201, ML 399, CPL 310, or ENG 399 during the Fall 2008 quarter. The common theme for these courses is Travel Literature. These courses will meet together, and students will complete coursework and projects individually tailored to their major program of study and personal interests. In some cases, students who have already completed UH 201 may petition the Honors Program to take the course for UH 400 credit. These courses will also serve as a ten-week orientation before students embark for Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, students will continue their independent research and study, applying the coursework of the previous ten weeks to their study abroad experience. A final seminar paper will be due upon returning from Costa Rica. This paper will be presented to the public at a special Honors Dialogue in February. Non-Honors students will also participate in this public presentation. In Costa Rica, students will take an Intersession course: Spanish 312 (Spanish Conversation, Spanish 322 (Spanish Composition), or, with special permission, a 400-level culture course.

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Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful, safe, democratic haven for international visitors. Rich in biodiversity, Costa Rica's rainforests, volcanoes, and beaches are natural wonders that attract tourists from all over the world. Costa Ricans are friendly, peace-loving people who boast that Costa Rica has more teachers than soldiers. Indeed, the 1949 constitution abolished the national army, and Costa Rica’s education system and high literacy rate are to be envied. The average temperature in December is 75-80 degrees, with little to no rain.

Field Trips

Included in the cost of the program are several field trips to museums, volcanoes, villages, beaches, rainforests, and other attractions. Some of the field trips will include overnight stays. Planned Field Trips for the 2008 Program: Poás Volcano, Manuel Antonio National Park rainforest and beach, La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Termales del Bosque hot springs resort, Zarcero topiary gardens, National Museum, National Theater, Costa Rican Museum of Art, Gold Museum, Turubari eco-adventure park, Café Britt coffee tour. 

Meals and Accommodations

All students will stay with host families in Escazú, a thriving small town just five kilometers outside of the capital city, San José. Host families will provide students with meals and laundry service. Other meals will be provided during field trips. Most meals and all accommodations are included in the price of the program.
 

Cost and Enrollment Deadlines

The cost of the program is $1600. This price includes room and board with a host family, health and accident insurance, all field trips (including most meals and all accommodations), and all museum and park entrance fees. Not included are airfare, tuition for the Spanish Intersession course, passport application costs, airport exit taxes (approx. $26), souvenirs, personal expenses, and activities on free days. Tuition: Students will pay Fall tuition for the Fall Quarter course and Intersession tuition for the Spanish course they take in Costa Rica. Airfare and Flight Arrangements: Students will purchase their airline tickets individually; however, they and the faculty advisor will travel together to Costa Rica as a group. A flight itinerary will be provided to students by February 15, 2008. All students must select the required itinerary, and students must purchase their plane tickets, or cash in frequent flyer miles, by March 15, 2008. The faculty advisor will choose a flight itinerary based on a combination of cost, convenience, and compatibility with the program schedule. All efforts will be made to choose a reasonably priced itinerary. Program Payments and Deposits: An initial refundable deposit of $200 and program application is due no later than January 15, 2008. A second, non-refundable payment of $500 is due by March 1, 2008. A final, non-refundable payment of $900 is due by September 1, 2008. Wright State University Financial Aid is applicable to this program. Small study abroad scholarships are also available through the University Honors Program. Please make deposits and payments by check, payable to Wright State University. Deposits and applications will be accepted beginning January 7, 2008. Students meeting the eligibility requirements will be admitted to the program in the order that their applications and deposits are received. A maximum number of 12 students will be admitted to the program. Students whose applications are not one of the first 12 will be placed on a waiting list in the order that their applications and deposits are received.

Orientation

In addition to the intensive ten-week orientation in the UH 201 course, the UCIE office and the program co-directors sponsor a pre-departure orientation. 

About the Professors

Robert E. Rubin (Bobby), Lecturer in English and Modern Languages, teaches English composition, ESL, Spanish, and linguistics. He has lived and studied in Costa Rica and has travelled to Costa Rica about twenty times during the past twenty-two years, leading seven groups of students to Costa Rica since 1995. Bobby has taught at Wright State since 1991.