Study Abroad Information for Linfield Students

Semester Abroad in Costa Rica

Rowing!

• The program is located at the Centro Cultural e Historico Jose Figures Ferrer in San Ramon, about an hour from San José, the capital city.
• Visit Costa Rican national parks as part of your topical ecology course.
• Take a week-long study excursion to Nicaragua and other curriculum connected field trips.
• Earn credits toward a minor in Spanish or Latin American studies.
• Participate in a community service project, such as Habitat for Humanity or helping at a local orphange.

Costa Rica stands out as one of the most delightful countries in the world. It is a country famous for its enlightened approach to conservation with its beautiful national parks, lush tropical forests, and active volcanoes. Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949, and its former president Oscar Arias is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.  Linfield College has operated this program since 1981.

Curriculum: All courses are taught in Spanish. Download the brochure for individual classes and requirements.

Housing: For a complete immersion in the Spanish language, students stay with host families for the duration.

Quotes from Students
"My semester in Costa Rica was one of the best experiences of my life. It helped me develop my language skills, gave me the opportunity to truly experience life in other cultures, and helped me to create a new perspective of the world."
- Mike Powers

"Studying abroad was one of the most valuable experiences of my life. It facilitated interaction with Costa Ricans and helped us further in our language skills. One of the main benefits was daily interaction with our families and other locals. That was by far one of the best aspects of the program. Another benefit was the cultural experience. Living with a host family allowed us to explore the values of another culture, which is an invaluable experience. I learned a lot and now have a desire to explore more."
- Amy Rewick

"So, it's been a long, crazy, action-packed month here in Costa Rica. . .
It's amazing how much you can learn when you are completely surrounded by
another language.. . I think we can all
agree that this program is second to none.

- Aaron Larsen

Download PDF of Program Brochure

Download PDF of Information Packet

Dates are late August to mid-December. Curriculum includes classes in Spanish language, contemporary Latin American literature, tropical ecology, and Latin American history and politics.  Service learning is required as part of the program, usually working in a local orphange or on a Habit for Humanity project.
Housing is with a Costa Rican host family.

Language prerequisites A minimum of one year college-level Spanish is required at the time of application; 2 years are preferred.

Email a past participant of this program

See a Slideshow of images from this Program

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