Description
Take part in this hands-on tropical biology field study and conservation
program based at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in the mountains
of northwestern Costa Rica. The Tropical Ecology and Conservation
program includes field trips to reserves to gain exposure to all
major ecosystems in other regions of Costa Rica and a rural-family
homestay experience. This program is designed for students
with biology-related majors who seek intensive, sophisticated tropical
field and course work in Costa Rica from both theoretical and taxonomic
perspectives. All biology courses are taught in English.
Curriculum
With its setting in the natural classroom of the forest, the program
provides you with a unique, integrated experience involving class
work, field study, lab work, and observation. Semester program students
enroll in Humans in the Tropics, Tropical
Diversity, Spanish, Tropical
Community Ecology, and Independent Study
in Biology. Summer courses include Agroecology,
Tropical Biology, Independent
Study, and Spanish Conversation.
The small, rigorous courses with a biological focus are offered
for CIEE students only and incorporate extensive travel and research.
The required courses combine classroom-based academics with field
study. You should expect an academically intense experience, and
be willing to learn in a variety of settings, including classrooms,
beaches, waterfalls, and treetops. Instruction
in English by US and Costa Rican faculty. Typical credits: 17 for
fall or spring semester; 10 for summer session.
Eligibility & Application
Open to sophomores and above with a 2.75 GPA. Fall or spring semester
applicants need to have completed two semesters
of college-level biology; summer session applicants need one semester
of college-level biology. For both semester and summer programs,
one additional semester of ecology or environmental science and
some college-level Spanish is recommended.
Application deadline for fall semester or summer session is March
15; spring semester is October 15.
Academic Fit with a University of Minnesota Degree Plan
With good academic planning this program can fit well into
the degree plans for many majors.Search for courses that fulfill Liberal Education
Requirements or submit a course you want to take for review. Study Abroad
in Your Major advising sheets explain why study abroad is important for a
major, indicate what the department wants students to consider when selecting
a program, and provide academic planning hints. This program may appear as a special
recommendation on an advising sheet. If your major is not listed, talk to an adviser—this
program may still fit your academic, career, and professional goals.
Estimated Cost Students from the University of Minnesota participating
on this program are charged a program fee that is inclusive of the cosponsored
program's fee and a University of Minnesota fee to cover the cost of application
processing, advising services, orientation, course registration, grade transfer
and posting for resident credit, assistance with financial aid, and international
health insurance. This administrative fee ranges from $500 to $1,500 and varies
by program. The cosponsored program's portion of the program fee can be used to
assist in estimating cost and is available at the program site linked below. In
most cases, airfare, field trips, meals, and personal expenses are additional.
An adviser in the Learning Abroad Center can help you find complete cost information.
See Financial Resources
to find resources about comparing costs.
Financial
Aid & Scholarships Most financial
aid may be applied to study abroad. In addition, University of Minnesota students
are eligible for more than $500,000 in study
abroad scholarships. Visit the financial
resources web page for additional information on using financial aid and scholarships
for study abroad.
Students on this program may also apply for CIEE's
scholarships. A limited number of fee
reductions are available for select CIEE sites.
Program Contact For further information or questions about studying
abroad as a University of Minnesota student, please call 612.626.9000 or 888.700.8636,
email UMabroad@umn.edu or visit our online
staff directory.
For specific program questions, contact the program directly.
More Information
For more information, visit CIEE
Costa Rica's program web page.
All questions and concerns
regarding this website should be directed to the webmaster at
globeweb@umn.edu
