Summer in Costa Rica
Learn the meaning of "pura vida" this summer
Study abroad for a summer in San José, Costa Rica, to improve your Spanish, take fascinating courses in English, and check out all that this amazing country has to offer. You’ll live with a local “Tico” family and truly immerse yourself in Costa Rican culture. Enjoy an amazing campus setting at Universidad Veritas, a local, private university with an impressive approach to sustainability. Study Spanish language exclusively, or study Spanish and another course from a variety of topics (mostly locally focused) in English or Spanish.
What to Expect:
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Language: English and Spanish
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Average Courseload: 1-4 Courses (3-16 US credits)
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GPA Requirement: 2.5
Highlights:
- Great base for exploring the mountains, jungles, volcanoes, and beaches
- Study on the lush, sustainable campus of a highly ranked private university in San José
- Cooking classes, dance classes, and sports events to help you meet your local and international classmates
- Choose from a wide variety of courses taught in English, from business to tropical ecology to photography
- Small, engaging Spanish classes for all language levels
Program Details
Universidad Veritas
Located minutes from the heart of San José, Universidad Veritas is considered one of the best private universities in all of Central America. Students flock to the Universidad Veritas for its art, design, and architecture programs, but the university offers so much more.
You can take courses in a range of topics, such as Costa Rican culture, environmental studies, or political science. Study in English or Spanish depending on your needs. If you’re looking to improve your Spanish language skills, Veritas’ Spanish language program is for you. Enjoy small class sizes that give you one-on-one attention, whether you’re a beginner or an advanced Spanish speaker.
Veritas offers many cultural, artistic, and athletic activities so you can dive deep into the local culture. You can improve your Spanish outside of the classroom with a Costa Rican language-exchange partner. You can join on-campus activities, such as dance or cooking classes and intramural sports. With 1,500 Costa Rican students and over 500 students from around the world, you’ll benefit from a close-knit but cosmopolitan campus. Expand your understanding of Costa Rican culture through local excursions or volunteer opportunities.
Founded in 1976, Veritas is the first private university in Costa Rica.
Accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Education and authorized by the National Council of Private Higher Education (Consejo Nacional de Enseñanza Superior Privada, or CONESUP)
Areas of study with 3 to 7 classes available
- Communications
- Business
- Health
- Humanities
Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.
Areas of study with 8 or more classes available
- Art & Design
- Natural & Applied Sciences
- Spanish
Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.
Summer in Costa Rica at Universidad Veritas offers varied courses that help you earn credit toward graduation while gaining fluency in Spanish. Veritas is a great place to learn more about Costa Rica’s history, culture, environment, politics, and more!
Sessions
Session 1 courses focus more on creative arts, health and wellness, and Spanish.
Session 2 courses focus more on general STEM, social sciences, and business.
Choose Session 1, Session 2, or do both!
Each session allows you to choose 1-2 courses for a total of 3-8 credits. Choose from:
- Elective (3-4 credits)
- Intensive Spanish course (4 credits)
Electives
Electives are available in English and Spanish. Note: Just because a course is listed here does not mean it is guaranteed to run. It is best to get 2–3 elective classes approved before you go abroad. This way you will have plenty of classes to choose from and some flexibility in setting up your schedule.
For a breakdown of which electives are offered for each term of the 2023 calendar year, please click here.
For a breakdown of which electives are offered for each term of the 2024 calendar year, please click here
For descriptions of English and Spanish Elective courses, please click here.
Spanish Language Courses
You can use the Spanish course list from previous terms as a good indication of what to expect, as they don’t typically vary too much from year to year.
Course approval for Spanish language courses: Spanish Placement Exam
When selecting a Spanish-language course, choose the one whose description best reflects your current abilities. Once you’re accepted into the program, we will send you instructions for taking a two-part online placement exam so that Veritas can begin to assess your level of Spanish. Following the online (written) placement exam, you will be assessed orally by staff in Costa Rica via an online platform, allowing you to be placed in the most appropriate language level before you arrive in Costa Rica. Language courses are taught in blocks. At the end of each block, you will be tested and then have the opportunity to move to a higher level.
Note: You do not need to take the placement exam if you want to take basic/beginner level Spanish.
Why Life in San José
San José is the bustling capital of Costa Rica and the place to learn about the country’s fascinating culture. Food, art, and people flow in from all directions. Likewise, you can use the capital as your launching point to discover the rest of this friendly country. Beautiful national parks, picturesque mountain villages, and relaxed beach towns are nearby and easily accessible. Spend your weekends exploring volcanoes, zip-lining through the jungle, or visiting a sloth sanctuary.
As a CIS Abroad student in San José, you’ll get to know local Costa Ricans (aka Ticos), who have a friendly, laid-back demeanor. Local classmates will show you the meaning of pura vida. Being minutes from the heart of the Costa Rican capital, you can explore the city with ease. Imagine sipping some of the best coffee in the world and nibbling on a churro with friends at a local café.
Chepe, as the city is known locally, is famed for its National Theater, busy market life, and easy-to-use public transportation. There are plenty of international restaurants, ranging from Lebanese to Italian, in addition to local sodas, where you can eat large helpings of gallo pinto, the delicious national dish. Visitors and residents adore the street food in San José or grabbing a cheap and cheerful meal at Mercado Central. After class, you can head to one of the many local theaters, concert venues, cinemas, or salsa clubs. Then, spend the evening with new friends in the Plaza de la Cultura watching the pigeons and a marimba band. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Live The Local Life
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National Theater
Enjoy the tour and learn all about the history and architecture of this gem of San Jose!
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Coffee, coffee, coffee!
Try some of the world's best coffee in one of the many coffee shops around town, or take the Coffee Tour, where you'll learn about the history of Costa Rica and coffee production in the country.
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Art City Tour
Take advantage of this one night where all the museums in San Jose are open to the public (that's right, they're free!!). You'll also have a chance to see some amazing dance and music performances, as well as buy designer products made by locals!
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Volunteering
Take part in a volunteer project and give back to the community. Paint a school, work with children, or visit Territorio de Zaguates, a local dog sanctuary home to over 900 lucky dogs! Take some time to go play with the pups in this Dog Heaven and help out the organization.
Homestay in San Jose
Location
You’ll really immerse yourself with a homestay! Our experienced homestay families are fully vetted to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for you. Most of the host families (95 percent) offer single rooms and are located within walking distance of the university, although students can also use public transportation. Students typically say that living with a local family was their favorite part of traveling abroad.
Meals
You’ll need to buy your own lunch (it’s super easy to get it on campus), but your host family will cook you both breakfast and dinner. What better way to experience true Tico cooking!?
Inclusions and Amenities
- Bed linens
- CommuteWalkingPublic Transportation
- Laundry
- Meals
- Private Room
What's Included
Inclusions
Program fees are in US dollars and include the following:
- Full-time tuition and fees
- Homestay
- Breakfast and dinner
- Medical and accident insurance
- CIS Abroad support services before, during, and after the program
- Academic advising
- Financial aid counseling
- Assistance with travel arrangements
- Predeparture orientation
- Airport pickup
- Universidad Veritas orientation
- On-site support
- On-campus internet access
- Weekly laundry
- One day and one weekend excursion
- Universidad Veritas official transcript
- The Local Life cultural program
Welcome & Orientation
On your first day in Costa Rica, you’ll have a chance to walk and get to know your new city. See important landmarks in downtown San Jose, such as the National Theater and Gold Museum, and enjoy the welcome lunch where you’ll try some local goodies! During orientation you’ll learn all about excursions, your home stay, and what to expect of your time in Costa Rica.
Farewell & Re-Entry Program
Though you’re not an astronaut returning from space, re-entering your home culture after being abroad can be shocking to the system. We’ll walk you through some of the things to expect, rehash your time abroad so that you can remember the highlights and, yep, we’ll feed you again as part of our farewell to Costa Rica.
Program Excursions
Monteverde Cloud Forest and Zipline Tour
Overnight ExcursionThe mountainous area of Monteverde is dense with tropical rainforest. At an altitude of over 1,000 meters, the trees capture cloud moisture, often giving the area 100 percent humidity. In this reserve, you’ll see the staggering environmental diversity from skywalks and bridges suspended 60 meters up in the canopy.
Tamarindo
Full weekend excursionLocated on the northwest Pacific coast, Tamarindo Bay is ideal if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or some down time on the beach. Swim, surf, sail, kayak, or jet ski in the ocean — or ride horses on the beach! Plus, you can watch an amazing Sunset.
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall
Overnight ExcursionTake a hike down to the La Fortuna Waterfall, where you’ll be able to swim in the cool water, and enjoy the view of Arenal, which is a perfect cone volcano.
Site Director
Travel Tip:
Dont limit yourself to the more popular tourist spots. There are tons of lesser known places that are beautiful and rich in culture where you can really experience what Costa Rica is all about!
Travel Tip:
Dont limit yourself to the more popular tourist spots. There are tons of lesser known places that are beautiful and rich in culture where you can really experience what Costa Rica is all about!
About:
Lisa was born in Costa Rica and has lived in the United States on several occasions. She is an alumni of Veritas University, where she majored in photography, and is currently pursuing her bachelors degree in Tourism and Hotel Management. She is passionate about travel, and has had 10 years of experience leading study abroad groups all throughout Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. In her free time Lisa enjoys going to art exhibits, watching movies, dancing and learning new languages. She speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese, and is currently learning French.
Your Support Staff
Don’t overplan. Have a place to stay, pick a few major things you want to do, and then just get lost in the beauty of it all. If you plan too many activities, you miss out on stumbling into the most wonderful things that you’ll never forget.
You’ll be supported every step of the way!
Advising
Kaylee Klinger, our student advisor and 2x CIS Abroad alum, can help match you with a program that fits your academic and personal objectives. It’s not always an easy choice, but you can’t go wrong! Once you’ve decided, we’ll guide to you submit an online application.
Enrollment
Once you’ve submitted your initial application and the fee, you’ll be assigned a Program Enrollment Coordinator. We’ll work closely together to guide you through the enrollment process and prepare you for a life-changing experience!
Dates & Prices
ADVISOR TIP: Please WAIT to book flights until you have received confirmed dates in your acceptance paperwork. Dates posted here are subject to change.
- Application Deadline: Mar 15 (Estimated)
- Arrival: May 25 (Estimated)
- Departure: June 29 (Estimated)
- Price: $4,590 - $5,390 (Estimated)
- Application Deadline: Apr 15 (Estimated)
- Arrival: July 6 (Estimated)
- Departure: August 10 (Estimated)
- Price: $4,590 - $5,390 (Estimated)
- Application Deadline: Mar 15 (Estimated)
- Arrival: May 25 (Estimated)
- Departure: August 10 (Estimated)
- Price: $7,990 - $9,190 (Estimated)
Price range:
The lower price includes one course per session: an elective course
The higher price includes two courses per session: an elective course and a Spanish course
As with all study abroad programs, you should count on a few additional expenses.
CIS Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.