The Arts and Design Courses with Locals semester program at the Veritas University is open to students at the high-advanced Spanish level. Students will choose a total of 4 courses from the following categories: Courses with Costa Ricans, Language Modules, and/or General Electives. Students may choose any combination to complete their 4 choices as long as scheduling permits; however, students MUST take at least one course with locals. The Language Modules are 4 weeks long, while the General Electives are 12 weeks. All courses with locals last for the entire semester. For an extra fee, and if schedules allow, students may take a fifth course. Students who do not place into the high-advanced level on the mandatory Veritas University placement exam will not be eligible for this program and must switch into the Spanish Language, Liberal Arts and Environmental Studies program.

Students may also add a San Jose Intensive Month program to a Semester/Year program in Costa Rica for a discounted price.

The Business, Spanish Language and Latin American Studies program is designed to be a focused program for students wanting to study Spanish language, international business, international communications and environmental studies. Additionally, students at the advanced Spanish level will be able to enroll in courses with locals in a wide variety of fields.

This program offers Spanish language courses, courses instructed in English with ISA students and courses with locals instructed in Spanish. ISA courses will have approximately 15 students per class, while courses with locals may vary more. Students must place at the advanced level to be able to enroll in courses with locals. Electives courses are typically 45 hours each, while language courses are 45 – 120 hours. Students are placed into a language level based on the number of semesters/quarters of college-level Spanish previously taken. Please note that some courses with locals may be instructed in the evening.

Gap Year students are also eligible for this program. For more information, click here.

This program is open to students at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of Spanish proficiency. It is designed for students wishing to expand their knowledge of Health Care practices abroad while improving their Spanish. Throughout the 12-week program students may participate in up to three 80-hour Spanish language courses and must take at least one Health Care elective course instructed in English. This program provides students with the opportunity to gain both classroom and practical, hands-on communication experience. Students may also enroll in the regularly-offered trimester courses to complete their maximum enrollment number of four courses. A placement exam will be taken to determine language level.

Language courses are held in the morning while elective courses are held in the afternoon. There may be weekend or afternoon field trips associated with Health Care courses.

During this 12-week program students will complete the following:

• 1 80 contact hour Spanish Language course
• 1 eight week internship
• Either one or two electives (48 or 60 hour courses) - these electives can be instructed in English or in Spanish*

*Please note that if a student elects to take only one elective it must be one of the 60 hour electives.

• Business
• Education
• Marketing
• Political Science
• Social Work

Students must be at the advanced level of Spanish proficiency by the time the internship begins. Because students will complete one intensive language module before they start their internship, this program is open to high intermediate level Spanish students and higher.

Students will be placed into organizations and businesses such as the following (please note these are just examples):

• Architecture Firm
• Hotel
• Law Firm
• Travel Agency
• Day Care Center
• Orphanage
• Public Schools
• Film Production Office
• Graphic Design Office
• Foreign Affairs Offce
• International Relations Organization
• Elderly Care Center

Please inquire with the Costa Rica Site Specialist, Justin Maniar, regarding the placement process and specific placement information. jmaniar@studiesabroad.com

Students must submit the following to be accepted into the program:
1) A letter of intent - indicating in what field the student would like to be placed, previous experience, goals, etc.
2) Resume/CV

Students may complete up to three courses of college level Spanish as well as additional electives in various fields during one twelve-week session in Costa Rica. Several of the electives offered are taught in Spanish (for advanced level Spanish speakers), and others are taught in English. Another great advantage of this program is that language courses are four weeks long. Students can complete an intensive Spanish language course in four weeks and then move on to a higher level Spanish class. Students are entitled to enroll in a total of four courses (combination of electives and four-week language courses). All classes are at Veritas University with American and other international students. A placement exam is required to determine language level.

* Students may also add a San José Intensive Month program to a Semester/Year program in Costa Rica for a discounted price.