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Non-KU Student Brochure 2014-2015
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COSTA RICA
2014 - 2015
gRupO de kAnSAS
Join the grupo de kansas for a semester or year abroad
SAn jOSÉ,
The program was everything
that I was looking for in a
study abroad experience —
living with a host family,
classes with local students,
challenging & interesting
courses, & the ability to travel
easily and frequently.
- Mariah Byrne, georgetown university,
Fall 2012
“
”honduras
nicaragua
Panama
Costa rica
san JosÉ
honduras
Whygrupo de kansas?In 1958, the University of Kansas and the Universidad de Costa Rica began the longest running exchange in the Western Hemisphere. In the last 55 years, we’ve been proud to serve more than 2,500 students from across the U.S. as part of the Grupo de Kansas in San José. ¡Pura vida!
strong academic opportunities
The Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) is the top research institution in Central America and is a highly competitive university within Costa Rica. Grupo de Kansas participants directly enroll into classes with the best students and faculty in Costa Rica.
Our program lasts six to seven months—making it one of the longest semester programs in Costa Rica—allowing students to take full advantage of everything Costa Rica has to offer.
duration
Students on the Grupo de Kansas program get more val-ue for their tuition and fees because they spend at least six months immersed in the language and culture. Plus, our low fee also includes housing, classes, meals, excursions, and much more.
excellent value
Two full-time, on-site program coordinators work exclusively for the program in our Grupo de Kansas office, which is conveniently located on the UCR campus. They provide individual academic advising, assist with host families and housing, orga-nize airport transfers, and coordinate on-site orienta-tion.
accessible and supportive staff
Students earn three-credit hours during our one month on-site orientation program.It is designed to prepare students for life in San José and classes at UCR. It also in-cludes three excursions that highlight the natural wonders of Costa Rica.
earn credit at orientation
Our three-credit Early Start Intensive Spanish Program is a great way to practice language skills before the semester starts. Students of all levels find it helpful and enjoyable—especially be-cause they get to enjoy Costa Rica one month early!
Language preparation
The Grupo de Kansas program offers classes for almost all majors at the Universidad de Costa Rica.
did you know?
1970
2013
Academic Calendar
fall 2014 semesterEarly Start Intensive Spanish Program + Semester at UCR: June 1, 2014 - december 14, 2014
Fall 2014 Semester: July 9, 2014 - december 14, 2014
academic year 2014 - 2015Early Start Intensive Spanish Program+ Academic Year at UCR: June 1, 2014 - Late July, 2015
Academic Year: July 9, 2014 - Late July, 2015
spring 2015 semester* Please check the KU Office of Study Abroad’s website for exact dates, but approximate dates are as follows:
Early Start Intensive Spanish Program + Semester at UCR: early January - Late July, 2015
Spring 2015 Semester: early february - Late July, 2015
Costa Rica’s biodiversity, social and political stability, and friend-ly locals make it an ideal place to study abroad. As the birthplace of ecotourism, Costa Rica boasts 400 miles of coastline, active volcanoes, national parks, cloud forests, and rain forests. San José, Costa Rica's capital, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers world-class muse-ums, the National Theatre, and competitive sporting events. Our program blends the attractions of a great city with the oppor-tunity to explore Costa Rica’s natural wonders. The Grupo de Kansas program in San José, Costa Rica, offers students the unique opportu-nity to improve their Spanish and earn credit towards their major. Students prepare for their semester at UCR during a one-month Early Start Intensive Spanish program followed by a four-week orientation. Students of all majors are eligible for this program, and students can en-roll in almost any course offered at UCR.
Students interested in spending an academic year in Costa Rica can start the Grupo de Kansas program in either the fall or
spring semester.
Did You Know?
overview
Pre-departure advising sessions with KUprogram coordinator
Pre-departure materials & support
Access to KU peer advisors & past program participants
Visa application assistance
Lonely Planet: Costa Rica guidebook
Optional Group Flight
What’s included
Pre-departure
Two on-site full-time program coordinators who work exclusively for KU
Airport reception & drop-off
Tuition & UCR activity fees
On-site orientation (3 credit hours)
on-site
Official transcript
Program Evaluation
Credit transfer support
re-entry services
Housing with a host family
Three meals per day
Laundry services
Volunteer opportunities
Excursions throughout Costa Rica
Computer, internet, & printing in the Grupo de Kansas office
Host family picnic
24 hour emergency assistance from KU staff in Costa Rica & the US
Medical evacuation and repatriation insurance
on-site (continued)
Early Start + Semester Semester Early Start + Academic Year Academic Year prices $2,345 $1,610 $3,540 $2,800
$8,670 $7,970 $15,400 $14,700
$4,645 $4,295 $7,745 $7,395
Tuition
Program Fees
Estimated Additional Expenses*
* Includes airfare, passport, visa, books and supplies, local transportation, and personal expenses.
subjects offered:Anthropology, Applied Behavioral Science, Architec-ture, Art, Astronomy, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Classics, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Design, Economics, Education, Engineering, Environmen-tal Studies, Film & Media Studies, Geography, Geology, Health, Sport & Exercise Science, History, Journalism, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Marine Science, Math, Music, Nursing, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, Theatre, Urban Planning, Visual Art
Enroll directly at the Universidad de Costa Rica and take courses in a variety of subjects. Classes are taught in Spanish.
The Grupo de Kansas program is designed to help students acclimate to Costa Rica and become comfortable taking their classes in Spanish. Students spend the first few weeks brushing up on their Spanish skills, then delve into the culture during on-site orientation.
Students with 4 semesters of college-level Spanish will be required to participate in the Early Start Intensive Spanish Program. Students who have taken 5 or more semesters of college-level Spanish are encouraged to enroll in the Early Start Program, but are not required to do so.
academic
program
Reinforce Spanish skills during a one-month intensive Spanish language program.
on-site orientation
early start program
semester at ucr
Prepare for the challenges of rigorous academic work and learn more about Costa Rica’s unique culture.
The Grupo de Kansas program is open to students from any ac-credited U.S. college or university who have at least sophomore standing. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPa and at least 4 semesters of college-level spanish (or the equivalent).
eligibility:
After arriving in San José, students take a language placement test and are placed into an appopriate intensive Spanish language course. The instructors prepare students by working on Spanish grammar, Costa Rican vocabulary, conversation skills, and writing style. Smaller class sizes will allow students indi-vidualized attention and more opportunities to practice the skills they are learning. Students earn 3 credit hours of Spanish for this course (SPAN 170, 270, or 370).
Students with 4 semesters of college-level Spanish are required to participate in the Early Start Program. It is optional for students who have taken 5 or more semesters of college-level Spanish.
This unique four-week orientation provides a cultural and historical introduction to Costa Rica through lectures and excursions. Instructors will also focus on upper-level Spanish academic writing skills. Stu-dents may, among other activities, interview locals from different parts of Costa Rica, put on skits, and learn how to utilize the UCR library. Students will receive 3 credits (SPAN 371) for orientation.
Orientation excursions usually include visits to art museums, the Central Market and the National Theatre in San José, as well as day and weekend excursions. All Grupo de Kansas students participate in on-site orientation and the included excursions.
After orientation, students enroll in courses at UCR with local students, taught by local faculty. Students are eligible to take most courses at UCR if they meet the required pre-requisites. Students can take a wide variety of courses from different departments at UCR, such as Traditional Costa Rican Dance, Trop-ical Ecology, Latin American Geography, Comparative Politics, or the Natural History of Costa Rica. A full schedule of classes is available on the Grupo de Kansas website.
Students take a minimum of 12 credit hours during the semester; most students take between 4 and 6 courses. Credit and grades for all UCR courses in which students are enrolled, including orientation, will be posted on a University of Kansas transcript, which students will receive at the end of the semester.
Grupo de Kansas students are encouraged to
join UCR intramural sports and student organizations.
Did You Know?
grupo de kansas staff
- Jeff Miller, University of Kansas, Academic Year 2011-2012
Zaida Ugalde and Isabel Alcázar have both worked with the Grupo de Kansas since 1997. Their experience and knowledge of Costa Rica, San José, and UCR allows them to better advise students about all aspects of their time abroad. Zaida and Isabel work with students on matters related to academics, enrollment, student visas, volunteer opportunities, housing, and medical and non-medical emergencies. They organize the on-site Orientation that includes classes, lectures, and excursions, match host families and students, and serve as liaisons between the UCR and the University of Kansas Office of Study Abroad.
“Isa & Zaida are a pair of incredibly sharp women. Their
combined experience in helping nervous gringos acclimate to San
José comes through not only in the logistics of housing placement
and university enrollment, but also in their emotional intelli-
gence. They just had a knack for calming folks down and helping
them through uncertainties.”
Isabel Alcázar, On-site Assistant
Program Coordinator
the grupo de kansas proudly offers host
family accommodations because of the great strides students make in their lan-guage abilities when living
with locals. Host families can also help students to better understand and appreciate
the Costa Rican culture. The on-site program coordina-
tors arrange individual host family placements for each
student after vetting the families and visiting their homes. They match host
families and students based on student preferences.
Host families will provide three meals daily and can accomodate most dietary
restrictions. When possible, several Grupo de Kansas stu-
dents will be placed in the same neighborhood.
Accommodations
“My house was like a safe haven where I could practice Spanish. Most of
my improvement came from chatting with my
host mom. I also learned a lot about Costa Rican
cooking and culture.”
- Margo Bogossian, university of kansas, Fall 2012
Zaida Ugalde, On-site Program
Coordinator
Some Grupo de Kansas host families have been housing students for
more than a decade!
Did You Know?
The Grupo de Kansas staff can find volunteer opportunities for inter-
ested students. Past student volunteers have worked in an orphanage or
tutored UCR students in English. Students can also join Un Techo para
mi País, a non-profit organization that builds homes.
Before or after the Grupo de Kansas program, students may choose to
participate in a month-long volunteer program at one of the Costa Rican
National Parks through la Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en
Áreas Protegidas (ASVO).
experience more of costa rica
Punta Leona Hotel & Beach Club
Just 60 minutes from San José, the deep-blue waters of the Pacific surround Hotel Punta Leona. Set among secluded white sand beaches and spectacular rainforests, this vacation destination offers students the opportunity to visit a butterfly garden, enjoy dance classes, or go on a morning or night hike in the reserve. There’s something for everyone at Punta Leona!
Las Chucaras Hot Springs
These hot springs are on a privately owned coffee finca located just outside of San José. At the finca students learn about the entire coffee growing and production process. Afterwards, students can relax in the hot spring pool surrounded by breathtaking views of the mountainside. Students will also enjoy a delicious traditional meal.
Poás Volcano National Park & Surrounding Northeast Alajuela
Take a day excursion to visit the Poás volcano. This national park has hiking trails that lead to an ancient crater, which is now a lagoon. The mile-wide crater is the largest in the world. This excursion isn’t complete without stopping at a small soda shop for a batido de fresa made of locally grown strawberries!
Interested in Volunteering?
During on-site orientation, students will participate in a number of organized activities outside of San José. These include at least two day trips and one overnight excursion. The on-site program coordi-nators will accompany students and make travel arrangements. Past excursions have included:
- Tara ruttenberg, georgetown university, academic Year 2005-2006
If you’re looking for
an experience to
change your life and
help you realize your
dreams, study abroad
in Costa Rica and look
no further.
“
”
Credits: Cover photo: Andrew Larkin. Other photos provided by the University of Kansas, the Universidad de Costa Rica, Andrew Larkin, Duncan McHenry, Danielle Moccia, Alyssa Milner and Zaida Ugalde.
Artwork & Design:Emily Grigone
learn more
Visit our website at: studyabroad.ku.edu/Costarica Course information and application instructions can be found online.
For questions, more information, or to set up an appointment with the KU program coordinator, please contact the KU Office of Study Abroad.
Email: osa@ku.edu
Web: studyabroad.ku.edu/CostaRica
Phone: 785-864-3742
Office of Study Abroad
1410 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lippincott Hall
Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045
785.864.3742
osa@ku.edu
www.studyabroad.ku.edu
The University of Kansas
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