Description

Central America is a region of great historical, cultural, and biological diversity, with approximately 40 million people who inhabit Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua sharing much in common. Governed in Spanish colonial times as a single unit, today they are separate countries sharing similar economic pursuits. While in the past they may have been characterized as coffee or banana republics, today their economies continue to grow more diverse, as the region takes on the twenty-first century challenges of building justice and prosperity in the context of globalization. As Costa Rica continues to grapple with issues such as poverty, public health, and environmental conservation, Ticos (as Costa Ricans like to call themselves) are committed to universal health care, social programs, and democratic government. Over the years, Costa Rica has always stood somewhat apart from the historical dramas of Central America, making it a fascinating comparative case and a safe observatory on developments in nation-building and sustainable development in this region so closely tied, both politically and economically, to the United States.

Since 1974, the ACM Costa Rica: Latin American Culture & Society program has prepared students to explore Central America and beyond through an intensive and extremely effective Spanish language program, as well as coursework and independent study projects that further develop language skills, while deepening understanding in particular fields of student interest. Field trips within Costa Rica give students an appreciation for the country's astounding biodiversity, and for the cultural and historical elements that contribute to the nations distinct path within Central America. A highlight of the program is a two-week experience of rural life in Costa Rica, where students live with campesino families and gain new perspectives on the challenges of rural development while making great strides in Spanish proficiency.

Throughout this fall semester program, students live with host families in San José near to the Universidad de Costa Rica and the ACM center in San Pedro. In addition to the rural stay, the program schedule offers ample opportunities for independent travel to Costa Rica's beautiful beaches, mountains, and forests. While all ACM courses are offered as an integral part of our program in the ACM center, a cooperation agreement with the Universidad de Costa Rica gives students access to cultural and sports facilities, and the UCR's proximity to the program center makes it possible for students to get a taste of Latin American student life.

Highlights

*Academics*

Learning objectives

The fall ACM Costa Rica: Language, Society, & the Environment program aims to help students comprehend the many dimensions of life in Latin America and understand the broad questions, challenges, and opportunities faced by societies in this region.

The program has three sets of learning goals:

* To develop Spanish language proficiency to the advanced level;
* To develop broad understanding of Latin American society and intercultural literacy through cultural immersion; and
* To deepen knowledge of Latin American development, environmental, and cultural issues through coursework, first-hand experience, and field inquiry.

Course offerings build on the framework of a liberal arts education and focus on analyzing Latin American culture, politics, and environment, as well as Spanish language acquisition. Courses are discussion-centered, enrollments are small, and faculty work closely with students. A two-week rural stay gives students first-hand experience participating in and studying the work of local communities. The housing arrangements, with host families both in San José and in the countryside during the rural stay, enhance the immersive aspect of the program, as do excursions to sites in and around San José.

When students return to campus after the fall Costa Rica program, they should have the skills in language, intercultural literacy, and field inquiry to arrive in or study a new country - especially in Latin America - and to engage with the major issues of the day with cultural understanding and experiential sophistication.

*Language requirement*

Second-year level college coursework in Spanish, taken in the year prior to the start of the program, is recommended. ACM will review applications on a case-by-case basis and may recommend that a student arrange to refresh or augment his/her level of Spanish prior to the start of the program.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Inquire for more information

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 25

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Transcript
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-3 weeks after deadline has passed

ACM - Associated Colleges of the Midwest's Mission Statement

The Associated Colleges of the Midwest, a consortium of residential liberal arts colleges, aims to strengthen its member colleges as leaders, and exemplars, in liberal arts education through significant, innovative, and sustainable collaborations. One key component of ACM is to provide exemplary liberal arts learning through a wide variety of off-campus study programs. Almost all of ACM's off-campus study programs around the world are open to students from any college or university.

Year Founded

1958