On Spanish for Law Enforcement in Costa Rica, you’ll learn career-oriented Spanish while also taking a criminal justice–related course taught in English. This 5-week program takes place during the second summer session at Universidad Veritas, a private university in San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica.
GPA Required: 2.5. If you find your GPA is lower than the requirement, do not despair! Use the "Contact An Advisor" button on this page or call us to let us know your situation. We'll do all we can to find the right program for you.
How to choose your courses
Now for the fun part! As part of the application process you will be required to complete the CISabroad Course Selection Worksheet found in the CISabroad Application Page. The following instructions will guide you through the steps of choosing your courses for each of our summer programs.
Course load: 2 courses (8 US credits)
Course approval for Spanish language: placement exam
When selecting a Spanish-language course, choose the one whose description best reflects your current abilities. Keep in mind that you don’t need to know any Spanish to participate in this program. Once you’re accepted into the program, we will send you instructions for taking an online placement exam so that Veritas can begin to assess your level of Spanish. Then, on the first day of classes at Veritas, you will have an oral examination to determine the ideal course level for you.
Course approval for English electives
Before you go abroad, it is best to get more than one elective class approved. This way you will have some choices and some flexibility in setting up your schedule.
Course descriptions and catalog: Choose one Spanish-language course and one English elective.
Spanish-language courses
SPN 151 Español Básico para Agentes Judiciales y Patrulla Fronteriza (Basic Spanish for Law Enforcement and Border Patrol)
This 5-week course is designed for law enforcement professionals with no Spanish experience. Through simulations, you will acquire the language skills you need for basic communication with native speakers.
SPN 251 Español Intermedio para Agentes Judiciales y Patrulla Fronteriza (Intermediate Spanish for Law Enforcement and Border Patrol)
This course is designed for law enforcement professionals who have taken a minimum of 100 elective hours of Spanish as a second language. Through simulations of specific situations, you will deepen your knowledge of law-related Spanish and increase the competency of your communications with native speakers.
SPN 351 Español Avanzado para Agentes Judiciales y Patrulla Fronteriza (Advanced Spanish for Law Enforcement and Border Patrol)
This course is designed for law enforcement professionals with advanced Spanish who need to raise their competency. The goal is to leave you capable of communicating more effectively and fluently with native speakers and their families.
English elective courses:
COMM 3200 Intercultural Communication and Competence
This course introduces the field of intercultural communication, enhances your intercultural competence in your work and relationships, and explores the shaping of worldview. You’ll examine theoretical aspects of culture and worldview; communicative and intercultural competence; intercultural contact and entry processes; issues of diversity and commonalities among human beings; and implications and applications for work settings and for yourself as a member of multicultural groups.
POL 3220 Migration Issues: the Costa Rica Case
This class studies the construction of migrants as others, the management of their image by media, and elements pertaining to human rights and citizenship for immigrants in Costa Rica as compared to the United States. The objective is to visualize the construction of cultural identities and to explore its effects on intergroup encounters and societal perspectives on migration.