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Study Abroad

costa-rica

Shift your education into high gear with a once in a lifetime experience in Latin America’s oldest democracy, a country with no military, dedicated to international peace, human rights and sustainable development, Costa Rica.

Every year, the peace studies class (PEAC 200) travels to Costa Rica through the study abroad program. Information sessions are usually held in the fall semester and applications need to be completed by February.

Cost (Maymester 2013):

  • Tuition, airfare, room and board ($4,700). This is one of the least expensive study abroad courses at Radford University.

Academic credit:

  • PEAC 200 satisfies College Core A requirement for “Global Perspectives"
  • Can also be taken as Topics in Social Work.

We will tailor the activities to the interests of the group.

All students and the teacher stay with Costa Rican families in the small town of Cuidad Colón, 45 minutes from San Jose, all within walking distance of one another in this small, pretty town.

Experience real Costa Rican culture and adventure.

Visit active volcanoes, hike through primeval rain forests, experience huge waterfalls, take a boat through jungle canals, swim in both the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Past meetings, discussions and seminars

  • Three lectures and discussion on peace in Central America at National University.
  • Discussion with Dr. Rodrico Carazo, former President of Costa Rica, in his home.
  • Discussion and slide show at the UN University for Peace about the work of the university.
  • Visit and discussion with prominent peace leader, Elinore Dettinger, at her home in the Orosi Valley.
  • Talk and discussion with Dr. Anna Arroba, director of an NGO for women’s health and alternative medicine.
  • Guided tours of the Gold Museum and Jade Museum in San Jose.
  • Talk and discussion with three directors of alternative agriculture NGOs in Costa Rica.
  • Guided tours within Earth University and slide show on the work of the University.
  • Talk and discussion with cultural leader Patricia Diaz on Costa Rican culture, at her home.
  • Talk and Discussion with environmental leader, MA Sergio Guillen, about “Environmental Peace Building.”
  • Visit to a peace class in a primary school near San Jose where the children study peace-making.
  • Workshop on peace with Celina Garcia, well known peace educator in Costa Rica and Central America.
  • Participation in workshop on non-violent communication in the San Sebastian Jail, led by Celina Garcia.
  • Participation in conference on “Migrations in Central America,” learning about immigration and other issues.
  • Talk and discussion with media leader, Dr. Carlos Sandoval, about the media in relation to peace-building.
  • Personal meeting with Dr. Oton Solis, candidate for President of Costa Rica about the dynamics of peace in CR.
  • Discussion and talk with the international group GAMA on the Earth Federation Movement and world peace.

Past activities, visits and adventures

  • Everyone had a great time doing home-stays with their Costa Rican host families.
  • Tour of the neighboring small towns and of the capital city of San Jose.
  • Visit to the farm and “peace mountain” of Dr. Robert Muller, former UN Asst. Secretary General.
  • Visit and guided tour of the famous and beautiful National Theater of Costa Rica.
  • Visit and tour of the colonial capital city of Cartago.
  • Visit to several exquisite old Catholic Churches.
  • Visit to the beautiful Orosi Valley and have a fine lunch in an outdoor restaurant overlooking the valley.
  • Visit to Turu Bari Adventure park for doing the zip lines, the “superman,” and other adventures.
  • Visit to the bohemian southeast town of Puerto Vieho, stay in a beach house there.
  • Snorkel in the Caribbean over an underwater reef with exotic fish.
  • Drive along the gorgeous Pacific Coast and swim in the Pacific. Lunch there is a ship made into a restaurant.
  • Lunch and at an ecological organic farm in the mountains and take a tour of the farm led by the owner.
  • Private tour of “tropical gardens” full of animals and exotic plants and stay overnight in cabins in these gardens.
  • Visit to a huge jungle national park, with boat access only, on the northeast coast.
  • Walk the Caribbean beaches at night to see a giant Leatherback sea turtle laying its eggs.
  • Visit to Volcano Poas and hike the trails near the top.
  • Stay overnight in a hotel in the north-central region and swim in its natural hot springs hidden in a jungle ravine.
  • Visit to the famous active volcano, Arenal and beautiful Lake Arenal. See the windmill farms near the lake.
  • Ride horses into a huge ravine and hike down the ravine to a 70 foot waterfall to swim.
  • Visit to a coffee and cocoa farm and tour the farm on horseback.
  • Dinner in an elegant nightclub overlooking San Jose, with traditional folk dancing.