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#602-292-407
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UNIVERSITY OF VERITAS - San Jose, Costa Rica
Spanish and Latin American Studies - 2010
4 weeks - $1295 / 8 weeks - $1995 / Quarter - $3795
Price Discounts Available!
The Program
The University of Veritas is a fully accredited university by the Ministry of Education in Costa Rica. The program offers a total "immersion" concept and stresses academic excellence as well as enabling students to enjoy all that Costa Rica has to offer. Founded in 1975, the university was first a private school, but is now an independent institution of higher education with over 1500 students. English elective courses are also available!
It's courses and degrees have been transferred to other universities around the world, and overall has an excellent reputation within the Latin American academic community. Foreign students earn college credit upon completing the program and having their transcript sent to their home school. The campus is located 1 kilometer West from the Presidential house in Zapote, San Jose.
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The Location
San José is the capital of Costa Rica and its San José Province is located on the central plateau of the country. Situated at an altitude of about 1170 m (about 3840 ft), it is the nation's largest city and a commercial, manufacturing, transportation, and cultural center for the surrounding agricultural region, in which coffee, sugarcane, and livestock are raised. Government activities and tourism are also important to the city's economic base. San José, which contains a mix of colonial Spanish-style structures and modern architecture, is the site of the University of Costa Rica (1843), which includes the Tropical Studies Organization and the Latin American Demographic Center; the National Library; and the National Archives.
Points of interest include the National Museum, featuring displays of art and natural history materials; a museum with exhibits of religious art and artifacts; an 18th-century cathedral; and the National Theater. Costa Rica is one of the few stable, democratic republics in Latin America, and has the highest standard of living in Central America. San Jose is the capital with almost 1,000,000 population and it boasts a spring-like climate year-around. Rain forests, unspoiled beaches, coral reefs, white water rivers, and volcanoes can be reached within a few hours by car.
Source: Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99. © 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
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Courses
All levels of Spanish grammar, composition, and conversation are offered. Courses in Spanish and English are offered.
4 hours of class offered per day, 20 hours per week, is provided in the monthly intensive program. The 12 week-Quarterly term offers 3 Spanish language courses, and one(1) Spanish Elective course taught in English or Spanish. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels are available, all with a "total immersion" concept. Students take a written and oral placement exam upon arrival, and then are placed in the proper level course. The Spanish language courses consist of 11 different courses in Spanish grammar and conversation (applied linguistics). All levels evaluate oral, listening, reading, and writing assignments.
Students who are enrolled in the 12 week-Quarterly sessions, complement their language courses with one(1) introductory course taught in English, such as Arts and Humanities, History of Latin American Architecture, Costa Rican Cultural Issues, and Photography. Again, these extra courses are taught in English and are included in the program fee. Thus, students take 3 Spanish courses and 1 Elective course. Elective course list available upon arrival check-in.
Students who are very advanced in their Spanish proficiency can take the one (1) elective course in Spanish. More advanced Cultural Elective courses are taught in Spanish, such as in Literature, Philosophy, Business and Economics, and Environmental studies. A course list will be available upon arrival and check-in.
You must take the placement test first to determine level, and be considered "Advanced" in order to take these other Spanish electives.
Spanish 101 - Basic 1
Spanish 102 - Basic 2
Spanish 100 - Basic Conversation
Spanish 201 - Intermediate 1
Spanish 202 - Intermediate 2
Spanish 240 - Intermediate Conversation
Spanish 301 - Advanced 1
Spanish 302 - Advanced 2
Spanish 340 - Expression Oral y Escrita 1
Spanish 341 - Expression Oral y Escrita 2
Spanish 304 - Business Spanish
English Electives
ARCH 311 - History of Latin American Art & Architecture
HUM 350 - Latin American Art & Culture
ETHN 310 - Selected Topics in Afro-Caribbean Studies
ECON 340 - Intro to International Economics in LA
GEB 335 - Into to International Business
ENV 300 - Environmental Impact and Social Development
ENV 304 - Tropical Ecology
ENV 319 - Tropical Marine Biology
HIS 230 - Contemporary Latin American History
HIS 329 - Costa Rican Economic Development
HIS 323 - Costa Rican Health Care System
POL 250 - Human Rights in Latin America / European History
POL 345 - International Relations in Latin America
POL 356 - International Politics in Middle East
* Spanish and Elective course descriptions available upon request.
* Elective courses only available during the 12 week - Quarterly terms.
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Academic Credit
Students earn 4 - 15 credits for completing courses. Upon completion, transcripts (Certificate) is available from the University of Veritas.....stating the courses taken, number of hours, and grade given. The monthly language courses are 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week. The quarterly term is 3 hours of Spanish and 1 elective course - also 20 hours per week. Course descriptions available upon request.
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Financial Aid
Yes, you can use your financial aid on this program. Please have your Financial Aid office e-mail us a "Consortium Agreement" to complete and sign. CSA does not offer any scholarships or financial aid, we can only assist you in using your home school's financial aid on this program.
The earlier the better, since it takes time to process. Overall, CSA does not offer any financial aid, we can only assist you in obtaining and using your aid from your home school on these programs.
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Activities
Extracurricular activities include:
* Free tropical dance lessons weekly.
* Nearby fitness center.
* Soccer team tournaments.
* Conversation Partner program with Costa Rican students.
* Typical Latin American food cooking lessons.
* Museums, Artisans Market, and other excursions.
* Weekend trips to beaches and mountain areas (not included in fee), such as the National Park
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Housing
Students stay with local host families. The host families are carefully selected and are located within walking distance. $600 per month, private room + half-board.
Private room is provided as well as two(2) meals daily. Bed linens are provided, and laundry service is also included weekly. Families are from the middle class and have hosted foreign students previously. CSA will provide you with your family-housing confirmation prior to arriving.
If you prefer to arrange your own housing, that's fine with CSA. There are student type apartments there, but you need to arrange it there.
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Dates and Fees - Price Discounts Available!
2010 Dates
WINTER QUARTER 2010
| Jan 4th - Mar 26th, 2010 |
$3795 |
Spanish & Elective Courses |
WINTER 4 WEEKS 2010
| Jan 4th - 29th, 2010 |
$1295 |
Spanish Intensive Courses |
SPRING QUARTER 2010
| April 5th - June 25th, 2010 |
$3795 |
Spanish & Elective Courses |
SPRING 4 WEEKS 2010
| April 5th - 30th, 2010 |
$1295 |
Spanish Intensive Courses |
SUMMER SESSIONS 2010
Intensive Spanish
4 hrs per day / 80 hrs per month
| 4 weeks |
May 31st - June 25th, 2010 |
$1295 |
| 4 weeks |
July 5th - 30th, 2010 |
$1295 |
| 4 weeks |
August 2nd - 27th, 2010 |
$1295 |
| 8 weeks |
May 31st - July 30th, 2010 |
$1995 |
| 8 weeks |
July 5th - August 27th, 2010 |
$1995 |
*Similar dates in 2011
Summer Break: June 28th - July 4th, 2010
FALL QUARTER 2010
| Sept 27th - Dec 17th, 2010 |
$3795 |
Spanish & Elective Courses |
FALL 4 WEEKS 2010
| Sept 27th - Oct 22nd, 2010 |
$1295 |
Spanish Intensive Courses |
WINTER QUARTER 2011
| Jan 3rd - March 25th, 2011 |
$3795 |
Spanish & Elective Courses |
WINTER 4 WEEKS 2011
| Jan 3rd - 28th, 2011 |
$1295 |
Spanish Intensive Courses |
SPRING QUARTER 2011
| April 4th - June 24th, 2011 |
$3795 |
Spanish & Elective Courses |
SPRING 4 WEEKS 2011
| April 4th - 29th, 2011 |
$1295 |
Spanish Intensive Courses |
* Similar dates in 2011 / 2012
* Fee Includes :full tuition and elective, registration, orientation, housing confirmation with a family,airport pick-up service, transcript (certificate).
Books are not included ($30 - 50).
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Holidays
Easter Break (Holy Week): March 28th - April 4th, 2010
Summer Break: June 28th - July 4th, 2010
Christmas / New Years: Dec 18th, 2010 - Jan 2nd, 2011
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Requirements
Programs are open to all adults. High school students, college students teachers, working adults, professionals, and retired persons are all encouraged to apply. Minimum age is 18. 17 years of age may apply with parental consent.
Entry
Valid Passport is required. Tourist card issued upon arrival at the airport. U.S. citizens must have onward/return ticket. For stays longer than 90 days, you must apply for an extension within the first week of visiting. For stays longer than 90 days, visitors must have an AIDS test performed in Costa Rica.
Arrival
Plan on arriving on 1-2 days prior to starting date (on weekend). Airport-pick up service is available. You may arrive a few days earlier if desired, but it will cost $20 per day if staying with a host family. Please inform CSA your flight arrival information, so the host family can meet you upon arrival at the airport.
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Country Information
Currency: Colon-CRC
Electricity: 110V AC, 60 Hz
Int'l dialing code: 506
Departure Tax: Yes
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Registration and Information
Register
online.
$95 USD registration confirmation deposit required. Please review the "How To Register" section on the CSA website. Payments can be made by money order, cashiers check, or personal check. We will e-mail you a "Confirmation Notice" with additional information shortly after receiving your online registration form. Thank you.
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OTHER PROGRAMS IN COSTA RICA
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SAN JOSE
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