Dornsife FLP: The EcoCulture of Costa Rica: Experiencing Ecotourism and Sustainability in Monteverde, Costa Rica (SPAN 499)

*Undergraduate applicants only, graduate students are not eligible*

Syllabus 

Program Information

This course aims to explore the ecological culture of Costa Rica, by studying the Centro American country’s history, and various cultural and societal forms that promote the conservation of natural resources and sustainable practices. Through this program, the students will be able to learn more about Costa Rica’s history, culture, and they will be able to experience how Costa Ricans live their ecoculture in the rural area and wildlife sanctuaries of Monteverde. Monteverde is an area full of eco-lodges, and sustainable farms, and home to the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

In this program, the students will experience 3 weeks in Costa Rica. We will arrive by plane (LAX-San Jose) in San Jose, the capital, on Saturday, July 22 via air, and there we will stay at the Wyndham Garden Hotel for 6 nights. From there, we will move to the area of La Fortuna / Volcan Arena by bus (program) and will stay at hotel Magic Mountain for 2 nights. From there we will move by bus (program) to the town of San Luis in Monteverde (a Cloud Forest area) and we will stay there for two weeks in homestays, from Sunday, July 30, until Tuesday, August 8. For the last two days of the program, we will move by bus to the area of Manuel Antonio Park and we will stay at hotel Parador from Wednesday, Aug 9 – Friday, Aug 11. We will flight back to LAX on Friday, Aug 11.

Contact Information

Faculty Director: Ivette Gomez

Email: igomez@usc.edu