Information for term Sustainability + the Environment
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenWatch your Spanish skills bloom in Monteverde as you dig into today’s pressing environmental issues. Take four required content courses focused on environmental studies and sustainability, as well as a Spanish language course at your placement level at CIEE Monteverde. Learn in the classroom and field, and travel within Costa Rica to places that most visitors never see. You’ll be rewarded with unique and life-changing experiences, new knowledge and skills, and inspiration to carry the sustainability movement forward. All courses are complemented with CIEE co-curricular activities and excursions beyond Monteverde to enhance classroom learning and provide intercultural understanding.
Follow our Travels:
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EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES
and learn about how they impact communities and biodiversity
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INTERN WITH A LOCAL LEADER
and apply the principles of conservation and sustainability to real-life situations
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species of plants and trees
3,021 -
Natural Wonders of Costa Rica including the Monteverde Cloud Forest
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inhabitants
6,700
Location & Culture
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The Destination
Located in northwestern Costa Rica, Monteverde lies along the continental divide at the crest of the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain chain, which is blanketed by a cool, wet cloud forest extending down into the Atlantic lowlands. The cloud forest provides a striking contrast to the deciduous forest on the Pacific side.
The CIEE Monteverde is located in the San Luis Valley, which is embedded in a farming community and close to a major eco-tourism destination.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
- Visit remote communities and protected areas within Costa Rica.
- Meet local people and business owners to get a firsthand look at a range of environmental protection projects.
- Discover local foods, legends, and customs as you visit unique villages.
- Be mentored by a resident expert and help solve a local sustainability challenge.
Program Blogs
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Daily Life
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Housing
Students stay in shared rooms with en suite bathrooms.
During excursions, the group stays in simple lodges. -
MEALS
Three simple, but hearty meals are provided daily.
Monteverde, Costa Rica Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE MONTEVERDE
Located next to the Monteverde Cloud Forrest
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B
Getting Around
Students get around by foot and take buses and taxis.
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Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
This demanding program is designed for energetic, outdoorsy students who are committed to fully immersing in academics, local culture, and nature. Successful students are those committed to working hard, playing hard, and expanding their comfort zone. Students learn in the classroom and field, and travel within Costa Rica to places that most visitors never see. You are rewarded with unique and life-changing experiences, new knowledge and skills, and inspiration to carry the sustainability movement forward.
There is a wet laboratory, an 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.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Additional Requirements
Major in environmental studies/science. Have completed two college-level courses in natural sciences, environmental studies, or agriculture.
Recommendations
Some college-level Spanish recommended.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
Students must take 5 required courses including Spanish language and an Internship.
- 3 CIEE Biology/Environmental courses
- 1 Spanish language course
- 1 Internship
Program Credit
Total credit: 17 U.S. semester credits/25.5 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE Biology courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits, 60 contact hours unless otherwise noted
- CIEE Spanish language courses: 4 U.S. semester/6 quarter credits, 60 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 25 seminar hours, 110 placement hours
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
With a full schedule every day, students have little or no opportunity for independent travel or activities. The program is demanding – and highly rewarding. Fall Schedule: mid-August to late November. Spring Schedule: Early February to mid-May.
Class Format
Students learn with other CIEE participants in small, dynamic groups, taking five classes that are designed specifically for this program. For Spring 2022, Spanish language learning begins online, and fills the first 2 weeks of the program. In-person Spanish instruction continues for a short period once on-site. Learning happens through lectures, fieldwork, excursion, interviews, small group work, and discussions. Because of the focus on critical thinking, assignments and exams are writing intensive. Classes are held Monday through Saturday. Courses taught at CIEE Monteverde are for CIEE students only. Instruction is supported and augmented online by our learning management system, Canvas.
Grading
Students are assessed with traditional evaluation tools – tests, reports, essays, participation, and oral presentations – and given a standard letter grade of A-F.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English and Spanish
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
All students take a Spanish Language class, at an appropriate level (as determined by a placement evaluation) from the list below. For Spring 2022, the Spanish language classes will be taught in a hybrid format that includes both online and in-person study. For the first 2 weeks of the program, Monteverde SE students will join Monteverde TEC students in intensive online Spanish study, prior to arrival in Costa Rica, covering the material in the syllabi presented below and valued at 3 U.S. credits. Once in Costa Rica, SE students will continue, for a short period, in-person classes, covering an additional credit worth of instruction, material, and study. Participants should be attentive to the scheduling of the placement tests and the online class schedule, all of which will be communicated well in advance of the program start date.
Spring 2022 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Biological and Physical Sciences
Languages and Cultural Studies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
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.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Ritzmann Tropical and Marine Ecology Scholarships
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & 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.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2022 14 weeks | Nov 1, 2021 | Feb 7, 2022* | May 14, 2022* | |
| Fall 2022 14 weeks | May 1, 2022 | Aug 15, 2022* | Nov 19, 2022* |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
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, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Hector Castaneda
Instructor
Hector Castaneda has a doctorate from the University of Florida in Interdisciplinary Ecology.
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Karen Masters
Center Director
Karen Masters has a doctorate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
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START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience! -
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CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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