Costa Rica

Off-campus study is an opportunity open to sophomore, junior and senior students with appropriate academic preparation, motivation, and interest in the relevant area.  Students in all major fields may participate in off-campus programs:  some programs have distinctive curricular strengths, but all are designed to enable students with a variety of interests to benefit from the experience of living and studying in a different cultural setting.

If you are interested in learning more about the Costa Rica Program please feel free to contact Dr. Susan Willson who serves as the on-campus, program faculty coordinator.   

COSTA RICA PROGRAM CALENDAR

Fall 2013 Dates

Arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica: July 10

Program Ends: December 16

To be eligible for the Costa Rica program, students must have

Students participating in the Costa Rica program pay regular St. Lawrence University comprehensive fees. The comprehensive fee covers tuition, room and board, airfare to San Jose, orientation, and program field components.

If you receive financial aid, your normal financial aid is applied. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you would like information about additional loans for extra costs associated with studying on this program.

The fee does not cover:

Participating students live with local families, based on lifestyle and interests expressed in the housing questionnaire. The homes are carefully chosen, all having been visited and inspected. Students eat all their meals with the host families. Each student will have a private room. The purpose of the homestay is to give students the opportunity to experience and participate in the daily lives of urban Costa Ricans.

While participating in the program, students have several opportunities to become actively involved in the community through Community Service/volunteer opportunities. Current placements include: Voluntariados ADVO, working on trail management, camping maintenance and environmental interpretation at the national parks; Habitat for Humanity/Costa Rica; Hogarcito María Ulloa, working with children who are in the process of being adopted; teaching English to UCR students; and Arías Peace Foundation.

Students accepted to the San José program receive orientation material from the University of Kansas while they are still at St. Lawrence. They also will have a couple of on-campus orientation meetings with SLU faculty to help them prepare for the program.