Study Abroad | San Jose
Fall 2026: Academics

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 403/ENV4030

Instruction Language: English

This course will examine agricultural and food systems from a ecological systems perspective. After establishing a foundation of basic ecological concepts (relationships and interactions between abiotic/non-living and biotic/living components of an ecosystem), different applications of these concepts to agricultural systems will be investigated. Consumption and production issues related to food system sustainability will be analyzed, and students will explore their own role in the food system. Field trips will provide opportunities for direct observation of (and interaction with) different approaches to food production and distribution in Costa Rica.

Course Code: Cultural Studies 310/ETH3100

Instruction Language: English

This course examines a particular topic, theme, issue, or problem concerning the Black experience in Costa Rica and Central America. Sample offerings could include Central America and ethnic politics, history and Culture, Blacks in Central American governments, Contemporary Black literature, or History of the Black experience in Costa Rica.

Course Code: Art 210/ART2100

Instruction Language: English

This course is designed for the beginner to help the student find personal meaning in works of art and develop a better understanding of the nature and validity of art as visual and space language (line, shape, volume, light, space, time, motion, color, and texture). This means that you will learn about the essentials of art through experience and experimentation. Through determination and an open mind, you will increase your creativity and discover more interesting ways to understand and judge the visual arts. Emphasis is on the diversity of form and content in artwork. Upon completion, students should understand the basics of art materials used and have a basic overview of the history of art and how art represents its society, especially, Latin American culture. The class meets for 48 contact hours.

Course Code: Art 213/ ART 2130

Instruction Language: English

This studio art course introduces theoretical and practical aspects of large-scale painting, murals and public art. The course includes a practicum in large-scale media and experimentation of early and contemporary techniques including drawing, fresco, painting, aerosol and various industrial materials. The objective of this course is for students to develop an understanding about some of the social roles of art and the impact of murals in communities, based upon its historical and contemporary applications. The course will enable students to control scale, color, specific techniques and safety measures aimed at public spaces. Students will incorporate a Service Learning component by either conducting a collective workshop with children from a rural location, or actually painting a collective mural as a donation to a community. The students with fine arts backgrounds will help with the complexity of the final collective project, but the course does not require previous painting knowledge.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 316/ ENV 3160

Instruction Language: English

This course aims to highlight the importance of conservation biology in managing endangered marine species, emphasizing recent conservation efforts for umbrella species such as sea turtles and sharks in the Pacific waters bordering Costa Rica. Marine ecosystems of the eastern tropical Pacific provide a baseline for species of high commercial interest that meet the global demand for food. However, several marine species are threatened by unsustainable human activities such as overfishing and the destruction of habitat. We will develop a critical understanding of conservation biology, emphasizing the general concept of biodiversity and examining present-day case studies that focus on scientific investigations to answer critical aspects of the history of life, recovery programs, species management, community conservation and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Students will also be introduced to a wide range of practical activities by visiting field stations and “natural laboratories” throughout Costa Rica.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 312/ENV3120

Instruction Language: English

Students will gain insight into various biological characteristics of the groups of land chordates in the country. Costa Rica has an immensely rich animal biodiversity, with an influence from both North American and South American fauna, and is a world-renowned hot spot for animal research and conservation. Emphasis will be given to the study of Costa Rican species, but others will be discussed as well.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 320/ ENV3200

Instruction Language: English

This course is an introduction to the biology of marine mammals of Costa Rica, including whales, dolphins, manatees fur seals and sea lions. Topics covered include the evolution, physiology, behavior, and ecology of marine mammals. Particular attention is paid to current topics in the management and conservation of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in Costa Rica within marine protected areas or with local coastal communities. Field work will focus on basic ecological monitoring techniques and primary care on marine mammals strandings.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 319/ENV3190

Instruction Language: English

This course focuses on the biology and ecology of tropical marine ecosystems. The course studies the balance between ecosystems and human stress and demands on the constant changing marine environment. Students must enroll in both the lecture course and the laboratory.

Course Code: Business 350/GEB 3500

Instruction Language: English

The course addresses the economic importance of ecotourism for the Costa Rican national economy, the stimulation of grassroots, community ecotourism projects, and the role of ecotourism in securing environmental protection. The advances and limitations of ecotourism will also be explored.

Course Code: Business 312/GEB 3120

Instruction Language: English

This course seeks to understand the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship on global and local economies as well as patterns of innovation and their impact on cultures and business environments. The content will also include discussions and investigations about important elements of entrepreneurship such as stages of a business, sources of funding, exit strategies and key skills for entrepreneurs.

Course Code: Business 335/GEB3350

Instruction Language: English

Today, more than ever, the average individual can feel the interdependence of countries within the global economy and the impact on our daily lives. The clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the price we pay for a gallon of gasoline are daily reminders that we live in a global economy. What is also apparent is the direct link between business and politics and the impact one has on the other. This course will focus on political, cultural, strategic, and structural issues in conducting global business in both developed and developing economies. The course will combine both theoretical concepts and practical applications of operating in a global environment. Moreover, because issues in this environment change rapidly, we will focus on current events by using national and international publications. This is a practice-oriented course designed to help students achieve an understanding of how commerce is conducted in an increasingly global supply chain. We will utilize case studies, discussion of current events, student research, and class discourse to understand international trade’s fundamental mechanisms. By the end of the course, you will walk away with explicit knowledge of how business is conducted in the international forum and further develop basic analytical skills essential to good business case analysis towards gaining the knowledge and a practical understanding of the issues and solutions leading to success in international business.

Course Code: Communications 307/ COMM 3070

Instruction Language: English

A multicultural, gender sensitive course is designed for students who wish to learn strategies and techniques in thought and behavior transformations for conflict resolution. The course focuses on techniques to bring about positive focused changes through continuous experiences in community building and self-improvement. The course is based on the Alternatives to Violence Project; a program started in NY State in the seventies. Fundacion CEPPA, Center for Peace Studies, has implemented this program in Costa Rica, Switzerland and other Latin American countries since 1990. Using a participatory and interactive methodology, emphasis is made on the following themes: Self-esteem and self-care, communication skills, cooperation, community building and conflict resolution, including mediation, bias awareness and cultural diversity. Mandatory fieldwork sessions will be conducted at a school, a communal group or a penal institution.

Course Code: Communications 320/ COMM 3200

Instruction Language: English

This course introduces the field of intercultural communication, enhances the development of intercultural competence, and explores implications and applications towards shaping one’s cultural identity and worldview. The course also examines 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 oneself as a member of multicultural groups. This course is a part of social psychology, cultural-historical psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 317/ ENV3170

Instruction Language: English

Water is a vital resource for human beings. It is also a limited one, which has suffered degradation, while demand is ever growing. Freshwater ecology, otherwise known as limnology, helps us to understand the physical, chemical and biological properties of inland aquatic environments (wetlands, lakes, rivers, mangroves and reservoirs). This course emphasizes the problems and conservation efforts related to water resources. Through field trips and laboratory work, students will learn methods for monitoring aquatic environments.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 304/ENV3044

Students will learn about the interactions between earth and land and how this interactions or processes affect our life and the stability of the planet. Emphasis will be given to the study of the most relevant tropical ecosystems such as: tropical rain forest, cloud forests, coral reefs and mangroves. Field trips to selected environments will provide on site examples of some of the issues learned through class work and readings. All field trips are mandatory. The class meets for 60 contact hours.

Course Code: Economics 340/ ECON3404

Instruction Language: English

Examines Latin American policies that affect the international economy, with attention to trade barriers, economic nationalism and regionalism, international political economy, exchange market intervention and international transmission of economic perturbations.

Course Code: History 329/HIS3290

Instruction Language: English

In this course, we will learn about the multidimensional concept of Human Development, established by the United Nations, inspired by the conceptual ideas of the economist Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen. Focused on the Latin American region. The course will show the new development perspectives, breaking the paradigm that this can only be achieved through economic growth. We will study how Human Development seeks more holistic growth, considering health, culture, education, and the environment. To understand this new development approach, we will trace the thought changes in the historical framework from post-World War II to the present. We will track the thought evolution of evaluating development strictly economic approach to human development as the key to improving living conditions. Also, we will learn how the human development index (HDI) helps evaluate the progress many countries around the world have achieved using this new approach. We will focus on the HDI of Latin America, so we will analyze the opportunities and challenges the region has related to the quality of life and wellbeing of its inhabitants.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 302/ ENV3020

The course focuses on the use of molecular markers based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to highlight the importance of conservation genetics and the implications on a global scale to manage marine species in danger of extinction. Activities and conferences will be carried out at the Biomolecular Laboratory (BIOMOL). In addition, students will experience field activities to understand some controversial conservation issues related to the endangered trapezoidal marine species in Costa Rica, such as sea turtles and sharks, gathering Tissue samples and later performing hands-on activities in the laboratory such as DNA extractions, PCRs, electrophoresis, and introduction to bioinformatics analysis. At the end of the course, students will know how to apply molecular biology techniques in addressing problems regarding the conservation biology of endangered marine species in Costa Rica.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 374/ ENV3740

Instruction Language: English

Course Code: Politics 342/ POL 3420

Instruction Language: English

In this course, we will explore the dynamics of environmental management, history, policy, politics and ACTION in Costa Rica and beyond. We will study environmental history and policy at a regional and national level, and will explore the emergence of Costa Rica’s cutting edge environmental politics and government commitments (the greening of the public sector, carbon neutrality and others). We will look back at Costa Rica’s conservation history and critically review its sustainable development model, and will explore the “state of the nation and region” in regard to environmental indicators (land use methods and statistics, deforestation and reforestation data, contamination and waste indicators). We will identify the individuals and organizations taking authentic action in environmental protection, and will take a close look at how government policy translates into practice by reviewing case studies of community and grassroots action in forestry, organic farming, recycling, cooperatives and women’s environmental groups. Lastly, we will address some of central issues and challenges facing these activities and the resulting environmental conflicts.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 404/ENV4040

Instruction Language: English

This course considers current worldwide problems in natural resources management and conservation, and their effects on sustainable development efforts in tropical countries. Current issues that condition the possibility for development such as poverty, global warming, deforestation and potable water will be analyzed. It presents a multidisciplinary approach to environmental issues that pertain to the concept of sustainable development and its applicability.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 305/ENV3005

Instruction Language: English

This course covers major environmental problems and issues confronting modern society. Students will examine ecosystems, population patterns and dynamics; use and misuse of resources; population and environmental quality; environmental citizenship and economic incentives and Costa Rican initiatives in eco-tourism

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 250/ ENV2500

Instruction Language: English

This course is an introduction to genetics, focused on its applications for current issues related to the diagnosis of human diseases, paternity, taxonomy, ecology, conservation, agronomy, and the environment. After having gained a general understanding of the concepts related to genetics, students will perform research projects in Costa Rica, which will then be presented and discussed to learn what types of questions science can answer using genetics as a tool. Field trips and laboratory practice will provide an opportunity for students to study how samples are collected, processed and analyzed.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 280/ ENV2800

Instruction Language: English

Permaculture analysis is addressed beginning with a conceptualization as the “permanent culture” (and beyond) and as the sustainable and resilient, intelligent, regenerative design, emphasizing its applications to urban agriculture systems, including intangible energies. The environmental and social aspects of sustainability, the importance of integrality and interdisciplinarity, the need for systems designed in terms of efficiency and resilience, and the implications of the values and principles promoted by permaculture on a personal and community level are studied. The course aims to provide students with basic skills to identify improvement opportunities in current systems and propose efficient, regenerative, and productive solutions for them, or initiate design proposals from scratch, both in the field and in the city. Also, it facilitates the development of primary analysis capabilities through Permaculture and the ability to integrate essential elements for the construction of a design proposal through Permaculture. The scientific method and the elaboration of projects throughout the entire course are applied. Capabilities of analysis, design, and problem-solving are gathered. A project directly related to communities is prepared to apply real improvements to cities, towns, families, and other types of human congregations and organizations. The Veritas garden is used as a living laboratory, which allows deep observation, analysis, and organization of ideas for successful design.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences310/ ENV 3100

Instruction Language: English

This course will introduce the major topics in ornithology, with an emphasis on the Neotropical avifauna. The major topics of the course include those unique features that make Neotropical avifauna a highlight among bird studies, including its evolutionary relationships, a very high species diversity in the Neotropics, and the natural history of Costa Rican birds. With its 900+ species of birds, Costa Rica is a unique country as an introductory Neotropical ornithological and birding experience. The two field trips will introduce the main groups of birds present in Costa Rica, their behavior, and skills to identify them.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 306/ ENV3060

The objective of the course is to learn about the 6 species of wild cats found in Costa Rica, their natural history and the current challenges to ensure their conservation. The student will also be able to know different researches focused on feline conservation in the country. The contents of the program will be developed in conjunction with field trips so it has a high practical component.

Course Code: Environmental Sciences 315/ ENV3150

Instruction Language: English

This lecture/field course will provide students with a general overview of tropical plants. Students will gain insight about basic botanical concepts and be able to explore a variety of ecosystems, their plants, and the multiple and complex ecological interactions that can be found in these areas. Costa Rica is a tropical country with immensely rich biodiversity and for this reason a very representative area to these studies. Emphasis will be given to the most common plant families in Costa Rica, but others will be discussed as well.

Course Code: Health 102/HHD 1020

Instruction Language: English

Physical therapy ranks in both Costa Rica and the USA as one of the most desirable careers. Physical Therapists play essential roles in today’s health care environment. They contribute, along with all health care providers, to maintaining, restoring, and improving movement. They also contribute to overall activity and health, enabling individuals of all ages to have optimal functioning and quality of life. During this course, the student will learn the history of Physical Therapy (PT), PT core values and principles, mechanical principles applied to the human body, an introduction to exercise therapy, massage therapy and physical therapists’ approach after a stroke.

Course Code: Film 210/HUM 2100

Instruction Language: English

This course will provide the essential tools to produce video projects for a wide array of purposes: from social media posts to fiction or documentary pieces, considering the different stages of audiovisual production. The objective of this course is for students to create a project which reflects both an original idea and a clear understanding of the practical and conceptual aspects of video creation. The course will enable students to develop an original screenplay, define and organize the required resources to produce the project, record it and edit it. Technical aspects (such as camera, lighting, and sound) will be studied theoretically and then put into practice in the campus’ film production facilities. Additionally, the student’s projects will be partially produced during class hours in collaboration with their classmates. *Use of a DSLR camera is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Course Code: Health 307/ HHD 3070

Instruction Language: English

This course will introduce basic concepts of alternative medicine. Health service delivery today encounters frequent conflicts, disputes, and other difficult situations, many of them derived from larger changes occurring in the health systems of the world. These conflicts include differences due to multiculturalism; the appropriateness and quality of care; gender issues; power disputes and providers and recipients over institutional and funding policies. Violence, its effects and costs will be part of this course, particularly under the WHO definition and perspectives. Costa Rican health care systems will be part of the course. This interactive, hands-on course offers a framework to integrate professional experience with functional communication and mediation skills. Students are encouraged to explore and develop their leadership into progress on matters of public health importance. Mandatory fieldwork sessions will be conducted at a medical facility, community or school.

Course Code: History 323/HIS 3293

Instruction Language: English

The course focuses on the history and development of the public health care system within the context of the Costa Rican sociopolitical and economic situation. It also gives a strong emphasis on how the system works and points out not only the strongholds of the systems, but also it´s weak points. Also, it is of fundamental importance to understand Costa Rica as a tropical country. Students will research about the existing relevant tropical diseases.<br/>

Course Code: Health 105/ HHD1050

This course introduces basic concepts on holistic health, encompassing a general overview of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (T/CAM). Its main aim is to acquaint the student with current holistic health praxis, obtaining a general panorama about a wide range of current alternative/complementary practices. Through this course each student will have a better overview of the holistic health perspective and the efficacy of some of their practices in order to open doors for a future deepening in these subjects and open an option for inter-professional practices. Also, students will explore and evaluate different holistic approaches and philosophies in order to improve personal health and wellbeing. Moreover, students will be able to build their own comparison with their general health concepts –usually from the Western medicine (WM, also known as allopathic or conventional medicine). Some of the topics included are Homeopathy, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Acupuncture, Herbal and Nutritional Therapies, Massage, Chiropractic, Electromagnetic Therapy, Breathing, and Energy, among others.

Course Code: History 230/HIS2302

Instruction Language: English

This course is a survey of the main events in Latin American history after its independence. Topics include the historical causes and effects of the independence, some of the main issues on social, economic and political problems, and the main historical leaders in modern Latin America.

Course Code: Literature 411/SPN 4110

Instruction Language: Spanish

Pre-Requisite SPN301 The course addresses the major female literary production in Costa Rica. It focuses on the analysis of themes present in the various texts and their relationship with the national reality.

Course Code: Literature 300/SPN 3000

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course introduces students to the study of literature in Spanish and presents the basic tools to create a commentary or literary analysis. Students will acquire the terminology and critical methods that will enable them to explain texts in an informative way.

Course Code: Literature 302/SPN 3020

Instruction Language: Spanish

Select Readings: Latin American Literature This survey course provides a panorama of outstanding classical and contemporary works, authors, genres or major literary currents in Latin America. Authors include Borges, Loynaz, Mistral, Neruda, Paz, Rossi, Garcia Marquez and Carpentier. Taught in Spanish. Prerequisite: 2 years of college Spanish.

Course Code: Literature 439/SPN 4390

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course studies some of the most important film productions based on Latin American novels and short stories. Prerequisite: 2 years of college Spanish.

Course Code: Literature 433/ SPN 4330

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is a panoramic of Spanish literature from its beginnings through to the first half of contemporary literature. It presents a general vision of each period into which Spanish literature is divided and discusses its main characteristics. Students will also study the texts that most typically represent the authors of each period.

Course Code: Management 303/MGMT3030

Instruction Language: English

Provides the opportunity to learn about and practice the skills required for managerial excellence. These skills include leadership, negotiation, conducting performance appraisals, delegation, effective communication, interviewing and making hiring decisions and effective human resource management.

Course Code: Marketing 301/ MKTG3010

Instruction Language: English

This course is designed to give the student an understanding of international marketing in terms of both the challenges and opportunities. The course assumes that students are familiar with basic marketing terms and have a basic to mid understanding of marketing concepts. The course will examine the concepts related to international marketing, while students analyze case studies and propose ideas through assignments to attain the objectives of the course.

Course Code: Philosophy 310/ PHIL 3100

Instruction Language: English

This course overviews the thoughts and selected concepts in major eastern and western philosophical movements and systems from ancient to the middle age periods. Students will reflect on certain topics such as mind-body, Concept of God, knowledge of self and others, predestination and free will, cause and effect, and other fundamental ideas in classical knowledge. This is a theoretical-practical course, and it seeks to clarify the following question: How to apply the most relevant philosophical concepts and thoughts common to several philosophical systems in the eastern and western classic world to analyze and understand different human issues?

Course Code: Photography 213/PHOT2130

Instruction Language: English

Practical exercises and field trips students will apply the theoretical information provided in lectures to consciously explore Costa Rican culture. The focus of the projects is the creation of photographic images in black and white. The class meets for 48 contact hours. Enrollment in this course may require an additional fee. For more information, please contact your Program Advisor.

Course Code: Photography 210/ PHOT 2100

Instruction Language: English

In this course, students will gain a general understanding of the possibilities and stages of digital photography as applied to ecological exploration. Through practical exercises and field trips, students will gain the basic skills needed to consciously create and manipulate digital photographic images, while exploring Costa Rican ecological systems.

Course Code: Politics 310/ POL3100

Instruction Language: English

This course is a general survey of Costa Rican society’s complex social and political heritage, examined through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary view, focusing on the historical development and present-day dynamics of the economy, society, polity, natural resources, and culture. This course analyzes the Costa Rican culture’s growth through its history, studying the development of those elements related to the values of peace and democracy, which have become the standard-bearers that identify this society. Emphasis is paid to how these basic principles are enriched, highlighted, and respected in different periods of history, to the point of becoming firmly entrenched in society’s value systems. Special attention will be given to new peace, democracy, environment, economic and political trends, population, and the emergence of old and new paradigms and ideological movements.

Course Code: Politics 305/ POL 3205

Instruction Language: English

This class studies the concept of human rights as it is known and protected in the United Nations System. These different organizations make the UN System and their relationship together. The class starts with a general introduction to Human Rights and the United Nations Organizations paving the path to mechanisms and instruments making part or related to United Nations Organization. Then, we will briefly examine each organization, section, and system called the UN System and its mission, vision, and area of expertise. After constructing the concepts for the class, the course will emphasize a practical understanding of how the well-known UN central bodies, including charter-based and treaty-based bodies, work. In so doing, a significant part of the class will be role-playing by students under the supervision and facilitation of the professor. The course is designed to open a space for students to experientially learn the function of the United Nations System and the mechanisms by which human rights are intended to be protected in international law. This course suits students from various degrees, such as international relations, political science, international organizations, human rights, international law, or any other students interested in and enthusiastic about knowing more about how the UN works and what it does.

Course Code: Politics 250/POL2500

Instruction Language: English

A particular emphasis will be given to the case of Costa Rica, giving students an opportunity to explore the development of human rights in the following areas: women’s rights, children’s rights, HIV/AIDS, the CAFTA agreement and labor rights, indigenous groups and human rights, disability and age issues, and the prison environment.

Course Code: Politics 322/ POL3220

Instruction Language: English

This class studies the different types of migrants during Globalization, the concept of ¨otherness¨ and its relation with migration. In addition, the course explores cultural identity related to migration, the different forms in which migrants interact with the local culture (its dynamics and results), and elements about human rights and citizenship in immigrants’ cases. The class starts with a general introduction to foundations paving the way for understanding the theoretical bases of migration and the human rights of migrants. Then, the course explores otherness and exclusion and what it is like to not be like "the majority" in Society – or what it expects its members to create a dynamic of exclusion. The class will continue to study attitudes of xenophobia towards migrants taking off from cultural identity and elements; a political, social, and economic analysis of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, and extra-regional migrants in Costa Rica. Also, the class will discuss different types of migrants. There will be some case studies of actual cases as a part of a practical exercise during the class sessions using existing immigration law and Costa Rica regulations.

Course Code: Politics 345/POL3450

Instruction Language: English

This course will review the history of International Relations between the US and Latin America, highlighting the most critical facts that mark the Region’s politics for the current era. We will analyze tensions between sovereign rule and foreign hegemony, class struggle and oligarchical domination, the rise and fall of Imperialism and military interventions, corporate banking, national and foreign investments. We will study examples of diverse economic systems, conservative ethnic and cultural resistance to change, and totalitarian, liberal, and socialist revolutionary change. This includes the historical background of human settlements in the Western Hemisphere, Pre-Columbian Tribal and Imperial societies, the formation of modern Nation-States, and the complex International World Organizations. This also includes current events like the Cold War, military dictatorships, and other Latin American political phenomena, such as integration, migration, and their effects on drugs, terror, and US politics. The course will close with an evaluation of the popularity of governments in the Region, present-day relations with China and Russia, and globalization in the global scenario.

Course Code: Psychology 305/PSY 3050

Instruction Language: English

This course introduces students to psychology that examines the influence of culture upon human behavior and cognitive processes. “Culture” is defined as the shared norms, values, and behaviors of groups and the individuals in those groups. We will focus on cultural factors in self-concept, gender roles, motivation, cognition, emotions, relationships, and social values. Our exploration will be based on psychological theories, research, student/teacher presentations, and field experiences.

Course Code: Psychology 220/PSY2200

Instruction Language: English

The World Health Organization defines health as being “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Based on this definition, the concepts of health and illness have changed. Nowadays, health care professionals have to tackle the health from a bio-psycho-social concept. For this reason, it is extremely important for health care professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, just to mention some) to have general information about Health Psychology, which studies how biology, behavior, and social context influence health and illness. In this way, health care professionals can have an integral approach to the patients under their treatment. This will discuss some of the most common topics related with Health Psychology and pertinent to practice in the health care professions.

Course Code: Society 305/SOCY3050

Instruction Language: English

This course will study the LGBTQ+ community and related social issues in the Latin American Context. Special attention will be given to the Costa Rican case study where sexuality, identity, expression, health, community, family, and other social, political and lifestyle issues will be discussed. This course offers students one of the only opportunities to study LGBTQ+ Latin American dynamics and issues. It is one of the first of its kind in the region and a pioneering offer for study abroad students in the Costa Rican setting. This is a young, but growing field of study in Latin America and defiantly one that deserves much attention, especially as the Latin American region is home to some of the most homophobic countries in the world and at the same time undergoing radical change in terms of its acceptance of the complete spectrum of sexuality and identity expression. This course has three main objectives: 1) students will be invited to explore LGBTQ+ Latin American community issues, 2) to appreciate how particular countries are advancing in relation to equality before the law while studying the social groups pushing for change, and 3) to critically assess present day contexts that are struggling with recently developed anti-discriminatory frameworks.

Course Code: Spanish 410

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is for high advanced level students who want to further develop their written skills through different composition practices and techniques. The course studies complex and difficult syntax topics. Special attention is given to stylistics and composition structure.

Course Code: Spanish 310

Instruction Language: Spanish

Pre-requisite SPN 301. This course is based on acquiring the skill of self-correction. Students will acquire higher levels of diction and fluency through exposure to oral contexts, idiomatic language and the varieties of Spanish spoken in different Spanish-speaking nations. This course develops skills in reading, discussion, analysis, self-correction, and research. Emphasis is given to pragmatic production and students must be prepared to spend a minimum of 2 extra hours per day for assignments.

Course Code: Spanish 301

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is based on grammatical analysis, expansion of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions through readings, and student compositions at a complex level. The objective is for students to acquire a high level of communicative Spanish that will permit them to express their opinion and thoughts on complex and controversial subjects.

Course Code: Spanish 302

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is for students who want to polish their oral and written skills. Students should have a high linguistic level and full knowledge of grammatical structures in order to work on polishing stylistics. Students will practice narrative constructions, reactions on non-expected contexts, how to report compiled information. The course also covers important aspects about myths, beliefs and other cultural issues in Latin America.

Course Code: Spanish 341

Prerequisite: minimum of four semesters of college Spanish. This course is designed for health personnel that have an Advanced background in Spanish and who need to improve their linguistic competency in order to interact with their Spanish speaking patients and their families. The goal at the end of this course is to be able to communicate in an effective and fluent form with Spanish speaking patients and families.

Course Code: Spanish 141

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is designed for the purpose of giving health personnel, who do not have any previous Spanish experience, the tools necessary for interacting with and interviewing simulated Spanish speaking patients. During the four weeks of the course the students will acquire the linguistic knowledge and skills that will permit them to communicate at a basic level with simulated Spanish speaking patients.

Course Code: Spanish 151

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is designed for the purpose of giving general law enforcement professionals, who do not have any previous Spanish experience; the tools necessary for interacting with and interviewing simulated native Spanish speakers. During the four weeks of the course the students will acquire the linguistic knowledge and skills that will permit them to communicate at a basic level in simulated situations with Spanish native speakers.

Course Code: Spanish 210

Instruction Language: Spanish

Pre-requisite SPN 202. This course is aimed at students of an Intermediate 2 level of Spanish who are interested in exercising their communicative skills. Likewise, although the four skills will be considered, it is intended to develop mainly oral skills, with emphasis on pronunciation and listening. Grammatical aspects previously studied will be taken up, which will be practiced in real and everyday contexts. The aim is for students to research, analyze and discuss various topics.

Course Code: Spanish 320

Instruction Language: Spanish

Prerequisite SPN 301. This course introduces relevant topics and issues in the development of Latin America’s cultural heritage. Students will develop an understanding of intellectual, artistic, social and historical perspectives in Latin America, with emphasis on Costa Rica.

Course Code: Literature 352/ SPN 3520

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course explores the social history of language as a way of understanding the linguistic mechanics that operate in different social contexts of speech. Focus is placed on the varying dialects of different Latin American countries, examining the morphology, phonology and lexicography of cultural elements. Students will also look at ways in which dialects are used strategically to enrich the use of Spanish language. Taught in Spanish. The class meets for 48 contact hours.Prerequisite: AIFS students must have at least two years of college-level Spanish and must pass a placement test for the advanced level in order to take regular University courses

Course Code: Spanish 101

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is an introduction to Spanish for beginners with no previous knowledge of the language. Students will develop basic linguistic skills necessary in order to communicate in common situations. The course covers basic grammatical structures, vocabulary, communicative expressions and frequent situations in settings such as restaurants, stores, buses and others. Emphasis is given on understanding, speaking, reading and cross-cultural perspectives.

Course Code: Spanish 102

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is for students who have completed a minimum of 60 contact hours in Spanish studies and already have a command of elementary grammatical tenses. Students will advance on their previous experiential knowledge and further develop their oral, reading, written and listening skills. Students will expand their vocabulary and language usage in order to facilitate interaction with the Costa Rican environment and be able to express themselves in the past.

Course Code: Literature 305/ SPN 3050

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course provides methods and tools of descriptive linguistics applied to phonetics and articulation.

Course Code: Spanish 201

Instruction Language: Spanish

Students in this course should have a good communicative command of usual everyday situations and a structural command of the present tense. The objective of this course is to develop the student’s skills with the emphasis on oral and written presentations and more complex grammatical structures. Students should develop a good command of all past indicative tenses.

Course Code: Spanish 202

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course emphasizes the discourse enrichment on contexts related to description and simple narrations. The contents include vocabulary building and detailed work with the subjunctive mode and other complex grammatical structures. Students will also learn idiomatic expressions used in Costa Rica.

Course Code: Spanish 241

Instruction Language: Spanish

Pre-requisite two semesters minimum of College Spanish. This course is designed for health personnel that have taken a minimum of 100 elective hours of Spanish as a second language. The goal of this course is to deepen the knowledge of medical related Spanish and increase the competency of communications in specifically simulated situations with Spanish speaking patients.

Course Code: Spanish 251

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course is designed for law enforcement professionals that have taken a minimum of 100 elective hours of Spanish as a second language. The goal of this course is to deepen the knowledge of law related Spanish and increase the competency of communication in specifically simulated situations with native Spanish speakers. Students from law enforcement areas can also enroll in afternoon electives.

Course Code: Literature 307/ SPN 3070

Instruction Language: Spanish

Course Code: Spanish 340

Instruction Language: Spanish

This course focuses on advanced communication and presentation skills. Students will work on communication techniques and efficient oral expression in formal contexts.

Course Code: Spanish 304

Instruction Language: Spanish

Pre-requisite SPN 301. This course is for students with an advanced level of Spanish, who wish to learn general information about the development and processes of some of Costa Rica’s main entrepreneurial settings. By the end of the course, students will have a general knowledge of business vocabulary and usual business practices in Costa Rica. The course contents are complemented by a few field visits to some of Costa Rica’s developing businesses.

Course Code: HDD 3000

Instruction Language: English

This course builds upon the results of the Global Survey on Sustainable Lifestyles (GSSL), established in the 2011 document Visions for Change: Recommendations for Effective Policies on Sustainable Lifestyles, which incorporates the voices of 8,000 young adults from 20 different countries. With half the world’s population under 30 years of age, Visions for Change stresses the importance of listening to youth and provides valuable insight into how to build sustainable lifestyles (SLs) with a youth-centered focus. Sustainable lifestyles, which promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, represent an essential component of sustainable development. In September of 2015, the United Nations General Assembly approved the post-2015 development agenda, Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a plan of action for people, the planet, and prosperity over the next 15 years, and includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that provide a holistic framework and the basis for the development of SLs. The main objective of the course is to give youth a voice and work together to better understand and educate young adults, therefore empowering them to create their own positive versions of SLs and become agents of change.

Course Code: Marketing 315/ MKTG 3150

Instruction Language: English

This course provides the student with an introduction to the concept of sustainable consumption and production (SCP), recognized by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in 2012 as being "one of three general objectives and indispensable requirements for sustainable development [and that] fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development". It was at this conference that the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns (10YFP) was adopted.

Course Code: Sustainable Development 315/SUSD 3150

Instruction Language: English

This course provides the student with an introduction to systems thinking, within the context of sustainable development and specifically causal feedback loops and the need for a change of perspectives in a globalized, post-pandemic world, facing climate change. It examines systems thinking theory in a fun and dynamic manner with practical examples taken from everyday life to gain a greater understanding of systems dynamics. The students will learn to discover, understand and appreciate the systems of which we are part, how we function (or don’t) within them as individuals and as a society, and hone our skills so our involvement in systems dynamics – whether at the personal, international or global levels – can contribute to more positive outcomes over time. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted in 2015 at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly provide the backdrop to the course.