Tropical Ecology and Resource Management in Costa Rica is a truly unique course taken both online and in person at Universidad Veritas, an academically robust private university in San Jose. Your classroom will be the country itself, in all its natural beauty! Much of your class time will be spent exploring the ecology of Costa Rica hands-on, so get excited about studying ecology, environmental studies, flora and fauna, conservation practices, and Costa Rican attitudes toward the environment. This course is available both in the winter (December/January) and the summer (June/July).
Bimodal classes at Universidad Veritas are taught in a unique way. You will take the first 2 weeks of class online, covering introductory material and other information that will be helpful for the onsite portion of the class. Then you will travel to Costa Rica for 2 weeks of field study specific to the course.
How to choose your courses
Course load: 1 course, 2 weeks online and 2 weeks in Costa Rica (3 US credits)
Tropical Ecology and Resource Management*
Learn about the interaction between humans, flora and fauna, and the environment from a country on the forefront of positive environmental change. You’ll earn 3 US credits in 4 weeks (2 weeks online in US and 2 weeks in the field in Costa Rica). The course is taught in English.
*Note: In the summer, you can combine this course with the July Spanish-Language Intensive. All your online coursework is completed in Costa Rica. You’ll earn 7–8 US credits in 6 weeks (4 weeks of Spanish, during which online coursework is completed, followed by 2 weeks of field experience).
Program objectives
Tropical Ecology and Resource Management in Costa Rica is the perfect way to study the interrelations of tropical flora and fauna, as well as natural resource management, preservation, and sustainable development. Through study of marine ecosystems, tropical biodiversity, and integrated coastal management, you’ll see the relationships between humans, plants, and animals and the fragility of these environments. It’s a unique opportunity to learn about tropical environments by experiencing them in person.
The purpose of this program is to expose you to:
• Concepts and issues related to the development and conservation of tropical ecology
• Costa Rican ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental issues through field trips and fieldwork in 3 types of forest, volcanic zones, coral reef mangroves, and estuaries.
• Ecological conservation and its importance
Online Content
1. Global Interactions on Earth: Life on the Ocean and on Land and Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions
2. Ecology: Basic Concepts in Ecology
3. Anthropogenic Interventions: Pollution, Deforestation, and Conservation