Information for term January in Monteverde
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenPut on your hiking boots and spend January in the progressive mountain community of Monteverde studying Sustainable Development for the Tropics, surrounded by the region’s breathtaking natural scenery. Coursework is taught in English at the CIEE Global Institute - Monteverde and is complemented with immersive co-curricular activities designed to increase intercultural understanding.
Follow our Travels:
Unique Experiences
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Learn how tourism
can bring more than new people to a community. As a student, you’ll explore environmental, economic, and social impacts of this powerful force, and come away a more enlightened traveler in the process!
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Travel to a stunning national park
situated squarely in the renewable energy region of Costa Rica. Learn about the controversy that surrounds geothermal energy development and biodiversity conservation.
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Visit the Monteverde
Cloud Forest Reserve, rich with plants and dripping with mist. This resource is critical not only for the economy of Monteverde but also for the hundreds of plants and animals that call this wet world ‘home’.
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acres of cloud forest
23 -
species of birds
400 -
annual tourists
250K
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Monteverde is a small, international community, nestled along the edge of the cloud forest in the Tilarán Mountains. Drawn to the area’s spectacular beauty and opportunity to see quetzals and monkeys, tourists now contribute the principal revenues to the zone, although coffee plantations and dairy farms still dot the landscape. Recent opportunities for economic development, possibly at the expense of nature and peacefulness, have ignited heated debates among a highly engaged, informed, and active community.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Travel to northwestern Costa Rica to the epicenter of renewable energy production to visit solar, wind, and geothermal plants. Hear from the energy experts about how Costa Rica aims to become carbon neutral.
- Hike in the world-famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and observe cloud forest plants and animals. Insiders will tell you about how these protected areas both conserve biodiversity and contribute to the economy.
- Visit local businesses involved with tourism and learn from residents about their opinions on the good, the bad, and all the rest of tourism development.
- Take a day trip to a local sustainable farm and enjoy a meal of 100% organically-grown food, direct from the fields.
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Daily Life
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Housing
Homestays: While at our base in Monteverde, students live with Costa Rican families. Host families have been carefully selected, experienced with CIEE students, and are generally located in Santa Elena or Cerro Plano. You will have a private room, access to a shared bathroom, a key for the house, and laundry service.
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MEALS
All meals are included in the program fee. Students are provided with breakfast, a sack lunch, and dinner. Host families can generally accommodate diet requirements and restrictions, such as vegetarianism.
Monteverde, Costa Rica Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE Monteverde
in Cerro Plano de Monteverde is located within easy walking distance of the center of Monteverde and Santa Elena, where students reside with host families.
Like what you're seeing so far?
Program Details
Click to OpenWhat you need to know
The program detailsThe January in Monteverde program is an intensive introduction to environmental sustainability issues facing many tropical, developing nations. Emphasis is on the sustainability of renewable energies and the tourism industry. Courses are taught by qualified instructors at the CIEE Global Institute – Monteverde.
CIEE Global Institute – Monteverde is located on an extensive 153-acre campus that includes forest and farms against a backdrop of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Facilities include classrooms, residence halls, and recreational areas in a natural setting. There are wet, dry and GIS laboratories, a herbarium, plus organic gardens to support a wide array of STEM studies and research opportunities. An extensive trail system through forest and fields, links classrooms to a botanical garden, animal stables, and coffee and vegetable production areas.
Academics
Click to OpenEligibility
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OVERALL GPA
Students need to have a GPA of at least 2.5.
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Two college-level courses in the natural sciences, environmental studies, sustainability, or agriculture
Curriculum
Program Credit
Total credit: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits
Course Credit
CIEE course: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
Language of Instruction
English
Requirements
All students take the required CIEE course.
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
Dates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
- Tuition
- Housing
- All meals are included.
- Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
- Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
- Two- day orientation - an introduction to Costa Rican culture, your academic program, and the city, plus practical information about living in your host city.
- Full-time program leadership and support in your host city
- Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
- Excursions and/or Study Tours
- Insurance and other travel benefits, with CIEE iNext
- 24/7 emergency on-site support
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.
No Hidden Fees
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2020 | Nov 1, 2019 | Dec 30, 2019 | Jan 20, 2020 |
$950
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Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $303 ** Housing = $300 *** Insurance = $47 Total Fees = $950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $50 International Airfare = $700 † Local Transportation = $40 Books & Supplies = $20 Personal expenses = $100 Total Estimated Costs = $910Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes all meals † round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.
Looking for funding?
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Karen Masters
Director
Karen Masters has a doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.
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Priscilla Palavicini
Instructor and Coordinator
She's been working with CIEE Costa Rica since 2010 in different capacities, and currently she's coordinating and teaching the high school programs.
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Hector Castaneda
Instructor
Hector Castaneda has a doctorate from the University of Florida in Interdisciplinary Ecology.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
2
CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
3
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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