DATES:
July 12 - August 10, 2013
Application Fee
$100
APPROXIMATE PROGRAM FEE: $4,540
The Program Fee includes tuition and most meals. Click on Program Fee for details.
International airfare and personal expenses are not included in the Program Fee and are the responsibility of the participant.
Application Deadline
March 29, 2013
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduate students, including students who do not attend George Mason University.
Credits
Undergraduate: Seeking approval for 6 credits in HIST, HNRS, NCLC, and TOUR.
Housing
Hotels , Homestays and one Hostel
Excursions
Too many to list!
See the itinerary below.
CONTACT: Denise Elles-Mdahuar via email or by calling 703.993.2155 or toll free at 866.468.1243. The toll free number does not accept calls from the 703 or 571 area code.
View of Granada, Nicaragua
Experience the natural beauty of Central America in this four weeks study abroad tour of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Earn 6 undergraduate credits while you explore sustainable development, culture and eco tourism. Spanish is not required but it is great opportunity to improve your skills!
Eco hotel in Costa Rica
Tentative Itinerary:
Day 1: SAN JOSE
Lecture I: History, Sustainable Culture, and Folkloric Cultural Show
Day 2: SAN JOSE
Lecture II: The History of Costa Rica
City and Museum Tour
Workshop/Lecture III: Sustainable Culture and Tourism
Day 3: SAN JOSE
Workshop/Lecture IV: Cultures of Costa Rica
Lunch at University of Costa Rica with students
Lecture V: Tourism and Culture
Development and Pop Culture Tour of San Jose
Day 4: SAN JOSE - LIMON
Workshop/Lecture VI: History of Limon
City Tour
Depart for Puerto Viejo
Day 5: PUERTO VIEJO
Workshop/Lecture VII: Afro Caribe
Visit the Talamanca Indigenous and Eco Project
Day 6: PUERTO VIEJO - HEREDIA
Rain forest tour
Workshop/Lecture VIII: ADE-Rebuilding: A Sustainable Community
Day 7:HEREDIA
Paos Volcano tour
Farming tour
Day 8: HEREDIA
Waterfall visit
Day 9: HEREDIA - ARENAL
Depart for Arenal
Workshop/Lecture IX: La Fortuna History
Lecture X: Can Sustainability Work Here?
Hot Spring
Day 10: ARENAL - COLONIAL LIBERTAD
Workshop/Lecture XI: Many Cultures of Central America
Miravillas thermal plant
La Anita ranch
Rain forest hike
Cooking class
Day 11: COLONIAL LIBERTAD - GUANACASTE
Playa Ocotal
Lecture XII: Coastal and Destination Growth in Costa Rica
Day 12: GUANACASTE
Tamarindo
Workshop/Lecture XIII: Eco System Preservation
Eco snorkel and turtle tour
Day 13: GUANACASTE
Earth University guest lecture
Liberia city tour
Day 14: GUANACASTE
Earth University student exchange
Sunset dinner and salsa lesson
Day 15: GUANACASTE
Workshop/Lecture XIV: Nicoya Culture Exploration
Pottery Tour and lecture
Day 16: GUANACASTE
Lecture XV: Costa Rica in Review- History, Culture and Tourism
Day 17: GUANACASTE
Free day
Day 18: GUANACASTE - MANAGUA
Depart for Managua, Nicaragua
Arrival and Orientation tour
Lecture XVI: History of Nicaragua
Lecture XVII: Sustainable Practices and Tourism in Nicaragua
Day 19: MANAGUA - SELVA NEGRA
Workshop/Lecture XVIII: City tour of Managua
Matagalpa Mountains and coffee farms
Day 20: SELVA NEGRA
Workshop/Lecture XIX: Differences and Similarities of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
Cloud Forest reserve
Organic Coffee tour
Day 21: SELVA NEGRA - ESTELÍ - LEON
Farming in Sebaco
Visit a cigar factory in Esteli
Maribios Volcano range
Village of San Jacinto and Fumarolic fields
Leon Historic City Tour
Day 22: LEON - LAS PEÑITAS BEACH – LEON
Workshop/Lecture XX: Nicaragua's Intellectual and Artistic Captial, Leon
Day 23: LEON - LEON VIEJO – GRANADA
Exploration: Momotombo Volcano and the archeological site of Leon Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Granada walking history tour, cultural event and dinner
Day 24: MESA VILLAGES - MASAYA – GRANADA
"La Meseta", for visits to the mesa artisan's workshops of Catarina San Juan de Oriente and Masate
Masaya Volcano National Park
Day 25: GRANDA - OMETEPE ISLAND
Ferry to the dual-volcano island of Ometepe, active cone of Concepcion
Santo Domingo Beach
Lecture XXI: UNESCO Preservation of History and Culture
Day 26: OMETEPE ISLAND
Maderas Volcano nature preserve
Cultural tour of the island with visit to native's homes
Day 27: OMETEPE ISLAND - SAN JUAN DEL SUR
Transfer to Moyogalpa for the ferry
Day 28: SAN JUAN DEL SUR
Free day
Day 29: SAN JUAN DEL SUR - LIBERIA, COSTA RICA
Transfer to Liberia, Costa Rica
Day 30: LIBERIA
Transfer to airport for flight home
Village of San Juan del Sur
Adriane Alfred is an adjunct professor from George Mason University's Recreation, Health, & Tourism Department. She has worked in the tourism industry for more than 25 years and founded an organization to teach cultural competency, Peace thru Culture. After living ten years in Central America, her unique insight and experiences in the Americas have lead her to develop two Study Abroad programs.
Dates: July 12 - August 10, 2013*
You should plan to arrive in Costa Rica for the first day of the program. You can schedule your return to the United States from Costa Rica for the last day of the program or choose to travel independently.
You have an option of flying into SJO San Jose International Airport and leaving from LIR Liberia International Airport.
Do not purchase international airfare until you are advised by your Program Officer.
Approximate program fee: $4,540
The Center for Global Education Program Fee includes:
- Tuition
- Housing - hotel accommodation for the duration of the program
- Most meals
- In-country transportation
- Travel insurance
- Pre-departure orientation
- Emergency medical insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation
Scholarships are available to George Mason students. George Mason students can click here to download the CGE Global Perspectives scholarship application. Mason students may also use financial aid to cover a program's cost. Discuss this with your financial aid counselor early in your study abroad planning process. If you are not a George Mason University student, check with your study abroad office or office of financial aid to learn more about how to cover the cost of your study abroad.
How to apply: Consult the How to Apply section for detailed instructions. Start by completing the online application. Pay the $100 application fee.
Note that all supplemental documents are required by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Contact the Program Officer for further application forms and instructions specific to your program.
*CGE reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances.