San José
THE CITY
San José is Costa Rica’s capital and largest city, with a population of 340,000 people, of a country widely considered to be the most progressive and welcoming in Central America. As the economic heart of Costa Rica, it sees around 1 million people pass through the city and is the 6th most popular tourist destination in Latin America, showing evidence of how important this city is to not only the country but the region as well.
As a former colony of Spain, San José was founded in 1737, and has been influenced heavily by the Spanish, most notably in the language. However, after Costa Rica became an independent state in 1821, San José was made the capital and became a hub of prosperity, attracting workers from all around the region, especially those in the coffee trade.
Today, San José is a large city composed of barrios (neighborhoods), each of which offer something uniquely beautiful to the city’s vibrant atmosphere. Spend time soaking up the culture in the downtown or the afternoon walking around Barrio Amon, the neighborhood made famous for its colorful, vine-covered buildings and little cafés. You could follow this by spending the night dining at some of the best restaurants in the country in the lively Barrio Escalante or visit the cinemas such as Cine Magaly in the Barrio La California. There really are endless possibilities in San José.
Costa Rica’s climate is generally categorized on a wet-dry season basis. The daily temperature generally stays between 65 F and 85 F all year round, with precipitation varying greatly by the time of year. The rainy season, which is considered to take place between May and November, generally sees about a 30% chance of rain on any given day, whereas in the dry season (December to April) it’s much less at around a 9% chance per day.
San José is ideally located for a wide variety of activities suited for the many young people who visit and live there. Fútbol (soccer) is the country’s most popular sport, and San José is home to three professional soccer teams. In addition, activities such as hiking and cycling are also hugely popular and are very accessible throughout the city.
Program Overview
ASA partners with Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica. Universidad Veritas offers a wide range of courses within sustainability, art, design, marine biology, zoology, social justice, psychology, business, communication, international studies, Latin American culture, history, and politics. Optional Spanish language courses and a certificate program are available as well. Click on the Academics tab for a list of course options.
ELIGIBILITY
UNIVERSIDAD VERITAS - San José, Costa Rica
Summer/Semester/ACADEMIC YEAR
18 years of age prior to program start
2.5 GPA (Students below 2.5 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.)
Passport. Your passport must be current and valid for 6 months past your program end date. An application can be submitted without a current passport if you have applied for an expedited passport.
Language requirement: None. Program open to any Spanish level.
Official transcript from your college or university.
Completed ASA Application.
For Application Deadlines, please click the Cost & Dates tab.
ACADEMICS
Veritas offers a wide range of courses taught in English as well as Spanish language courses.
The first list has the full syllabus for each course and the second list has number of credits and the terms courses are typically offered. Course lists are tentative and subject to cancellation if enrollment minimums are not met.
ART 2100 Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice
ART 2130 Mural Painting and Public Art
COMM 3070 Creative Conflict Resolution
COMM 3100 Communication for Development & Social Leaders
COMM 3200 Intercultural Communication & Competence
ECON 3403 Introduction to International Economics in Latin America
ECON 3500 Introduction to Circular Economy
ENV 2500 Introduction to Genetics: Current Applications
ENV 2800 Permaculture for a Regenerative Culture
ENV 3005 Environmental Impact and Social Development
ENV 3020 Molecular Marine Biology
ENV 3044 Tropical Ecology
ENV 3100 Tropical Birds (Tropical Ornithology)
ENV 3120 Land Vertebrates of Costa Rica
ENV 3150 Tropical Botany: Useful Plants
ENV 3160 Conservation Biology of Endangered Marine Species
ENV 3170 Freshwater Ecology (Limnology)
ENV 3190 Tropical Marine Biology
ENV 3200 Marine Mammals of Costa Rica: Biology and Conservation
ENV 3740 Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptations
ENV 4030 Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
ENV 4040 Sustainable Development and Environmental Awareness
ENV 4100 Biotechnology and Sustainability
ETH 3100 Selected Topics in Afro-Caribbean Studies
GEB 3000 Introduction to Project Management
GEB 3120 Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking
GEB 3350 Introduction to International Business
GEB 3500 Ecotourism: The Costa Rica Case
HHD 1020 Physical Therapy and Rehab Exercises for Common Sport Injuries
HHD 1050 Holistic Health Approaches
HHD 1070 Health and Nutrition: a sustainability approach
HHD 1150 Introduction to Anatomy
HHD 2500 Introduction to Human Physiology
HHD 3070 Conflict Resolution and Health Care
HIS 2302 Contemporary Latin American History
HIS 3130 Sustainability and Resource Management in the Ancient World
HIS 3290 Human Development in LATAM
HIS 3293 Costa Rican Health Care System and Tropical Medicine
HUM 2100 Introduction to Video Creation
HUM 3000 Contemporary Latin American Film
HUM 3150 Indigenous Ecology and Sustainability
HUM 3513 Costa Rica Colloquium: History and Culture
MGMT 3020 Renewable Energy and Resource Management
MGMT 3030 Creative Leadership Skills
MKTG 3010 International Marketing Management
MKTG 3150 Sustainable Consumption & Production
PHIL 3100 Philosophy and Integrated Thought of the Classical World
PHOT 2100 Ecological Photography
PHOT 2130 Cultural Photography
POL 2500 Human Rights in Latin America
POL 3100 Costa Rican Tradition: Peace and Democracy
POL 3220 Migration, Globalization and Social Change
POL 3420 Costa Rican Environmental Policy
POL 3450 International Relations in Latin America
POL 3500 International Human Rights Protection Mechanism
PSY 2200 Health Psychology
PSY 3050 Cultural Psychology
SOCY 3050 LGBTQ Diversity and Sexual Identity in Latin America
SPN 3000 Introducción al análisis literario (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 3020 Lecturas Selectas de la Literatura Latinoamericana (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 3050 Fonetica y Fonologia (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 3070 Introduccion a la Traduccion (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 3420 El Cuento Centroamericano (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 3520 Dialectos Latinoamericanos (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 4110 Escritoras Contemporanea Costarricenses (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 4330 Tópicos Selectos en la Literatura Española (Taught in Spanish)
SPN 4390 Literatura Latinoamericana en el Cine (Taught in Spanish)
SUSD 3000 Sustainable Lifestyles: Nine Dimensions of Healthy Living
SUSD 3100 Gender and Sustainability
SUSD 3160 Systems Thinking and Sustainability
THEO 3150 Major World Religions
| Course | Fall | Spring | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ART 2100 Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| ART 2130 Mural Painting and Public Art | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| COMM 3070 Creative Conflict Resolution | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| COMM 3100 Communication for Development & Social Leaders | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| COMM 3200 Intercultural Communication & Competence | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| ECON 3403 Introduction to International Economics in Latin America | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| ECON 3500 Introduction to Circular Economy | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| ENV 2500 Introduction to Genetics: Current Applications | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| ENV 2800 Permaculture for a Regenerative Culture | no | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3005 Environmental Impact and Social Development | yes | yes | yes | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3020 Molecular Marine Biology | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3044 Tropical Ecology | yes | yes | yes | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3100 Tropical Birds (Tropical Ornithology) | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3120 Land Vertebrates of Costa Rica | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3150 Tropical Botany: Useful Plants | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3160 Conservation Biology of Endangered Marine Species | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| ENV 3170 Freshwater Ecology (Limnology) | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3190 Tropical Marine Biology | yes | yes | yes | yes | 4 |
| ENV 3200 Marine Mammals of Costa Rica: Biology and Conservation | yes | yes | no | no | 4 |
| ENV 3740 Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptations | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 4030 Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems | yes | no | yes | no | 4 |
| ENV 4040 Sustainable Development and Environmental Awareness | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| ENV 4100 Biotechnology and Sustainability | yes | yes | no | no | 4 |
| ETH 3100 Selected Topics in Afro-Caribbean Studies | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| GEB 3000 Introduction to Project Management | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| GEB 3120 Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| GEB 3350 Introduction to International Business | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| GEB 3500 Ecotourism: The Costa Rica Case | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| HHD 1020 Physical Therapy and Rehab Exercises for Common Sport Injuries | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| HHD 1050 Holistic Health Approaches | yes | yes | yes | yes | 4 |
| HHD 1070 Health and Nutrition: a sustainability approach | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| HHD 2500 Introduction to Human Physiology | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| HHD 3070 Conflict Resolution and Health Care | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| HIS 2302 Contemporary Latin American History | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
| HIS 3130 Sustainability and Resource Management in the Ancient World | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| HIS 3290 Human Development in LATAM | yes | no | yes | no | 3 |
| HIS 3293 Costa Rican Health Care System and Tropical Medicine | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| HUM 2100 Introduction to Video Creation | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| HUM 3000 Contemporary Latin American Film | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| HUM 3150 Indigenous Ecology and Sustainability | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| HUM 3513 Costa Rica Colloquium: History and Culture | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| MGMT 3020 Renewable Energy and Resource Management | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| MGMT 3030 Creative Leadership Skills | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| MKTG 3010 International Marketing Management | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| MKTG 3150 Sustainable Consumption & Production | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| PHIL 3100 Philosophy and Integrated Thought of the Classical World | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| PHOT 2100 Ecological Photography | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| PHOT 2130 Cultural Photography | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| POL 2500 Human Rights in Latin America | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| POL 3100 Costa Rican Tradition: Peace and Democracy | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| POL 3220 Migration, Globalization and Social Change | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| POL 3420 Costa Rican Environmental Policy | yes | yes | no | yes | 4 |
| POL 3450 International Relations in Latin America | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| POL 3500 International Human Rights Protection Mechanism | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| PSY 2200 Health Psychology | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
| PSY 3050 Cultural Psychology | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| SOCY 3050 LGBTQ Diversity and Sexual Identity in Latin America. | yes | yes | no | yes | 3 |
| SPN 3000 Introducción al análisis literario (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| SPN 3050 Fonetica y Fonologia (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
| SPN 3070 Introduccion a la Traduccion (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
| SPN 3420 El Cuento Centroamericano (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
| SPN 3520 Dialectos Latinoamericanos (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| SPN 4110 Escritoras Contemporanea Costarricenses (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| SPN 4330 Tópicos Selectos en la Literatura Española (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| SPN 4390 Literatura Latinoamericana en el Cine (Taught in Spanish) | yes | yes | no | no | 3 |
| SUSD 3000 Sustainable Lifestyles: Nine Dimensions of Healthy Living | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| SUSD 3100 Gender and Sustainability | yes | yes | yes | no | 4 |
| SUSD 3160 Systems Thinking and Sustainability | yes | yes | yes | no | 3 |
| THEO 3150 Major World Religions | yes | yes | yes | yes | 3 |
HOUSING
ASA offers home stays with local families in San Jose.
Host 1-2 students
Individual rooms and shared bathrooms
Meals included (breakfast & dinner on weekdays; breakfast, lunch, & dinner on weekends)
Laundry included
Wifi internet access
Located in safe neighborhoods near campus
HOUSING FAQ
+ Can I room with a friend?
Yes, in most cases we are able to accommodate you if you request to live with a same-sex friend or friends. Mixed gender roommate requests can sometimes be accommodated as well (but you will not be sharing a room). Please keep in mind that roommate requests must be mutual, so be sure your friend requests you back! You will complete a detailed Housing Questionnaire after being accepted to the program, and on this form you can give us the name(s) of those you want to live with.
+ When will I find out where I’ll be living?
ASA will notify you of your living arrangements via email approximately 1-2 weeks before the start of your program. You will receive a detailed description of your housing and the location, and if there are other ASA students in your housing, we will include their names and email addresses.
+ Will I have a roommate?
Rooms are single occupancy. Some homestays host more than one student at a time (typically 1-2 students per homestay) so while there could be other students in your housing, you will have your own room.
+ WHAT IF I DON’T LIKE MY HOST FAMILY?
If it is a problem with the homestay and not a language or cultural misunderstanding, ASA will move you to a different homestay right away. We have on-site staff in every city who are there to help students with any issues they encounter while abroad, and who check in periodically with students throughout their stay to ensure all is well.
+ WILL MY HOST FAMILY SPEAK ENGLISH?
It is possible they will speak some English but there’s no need to worry! Living in a homestay is the best way for you to learn Spanish and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you will improve. They've hosted international students before so they understand that you are there to learn their language and want to help you.
+ What should I bring with me?
A detailed list of what to bring (and what not to bring) will be included in your ASA pre-departure handbook, which will be emailed to you about a month before your program begins. Please consider bringing a small gift for your host, such as a candle, kitchen towel, chocolates, etc.
+ Are Meals Included?
Homestay accommodation includes breakfast and dinner.
+ WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE?
The food is great and will be typical of your host country. Be prepared to try new things! If you have any food allergies or dietary needs, please let ASA know as soon as possible and we'll be happy to advise you on your options.
+ How Far Will I Live From School?
Please rest assured that we place a high priority on location, and all ASA students live within a reasonable distance from their classes!
Accessibility & Inclusion
Diversifying study abroad is a priority for ASA. Detailed information for underrepresented groups considering Costa Rica is below. You should also check out Diversity Abroad’s Costa Rica Travel Guide.
If you have questions or concerns about how any of your identities may impact your study abroad experience, please call us at 617-327-9388 or email hello@academicstudies.com.
+ Culture & Ethnicity
Costa Rica is comprised of a mix of ethnic groups, with the largest being those primarily of European descent (83%), followed by those primarily of African descent (7%), and smaller populations of Indigenous (2-3%) and Asians (1-2%), predominantly of Chinese descent.
Black haircare products and salons/barbershops are available in Costa Rica, particularly around San Jose and in Limon. There is a Black Expats in Costa Rica Facebook Group you can join for tips and networking.
In 2012, the governments of China and Costa Rica partnered to create a Chinatown in the Paseo de los Estudiantes district in San Jose in part to recognize the contribution of Chinese immigrants to Costa Rica.
+ Disability Accommodation
According to Wheel the World, The Law of Equal Opportunity for People with Disabilities makes it mandatory for all public and private establishments to provide accessible services for all in Costa Rica. Lonely Planet named Costa Rica the best accessible travel destination in 2021.
We encourage you to open a dialogue with us so we can assess accessibility in housing and academic spaces.
The U.S. State Department has advice for international travelers with disabilities at this link.
+ Food
Please notify us about any special dietary needs with as much advance notice as possible, so we can assess whether your needs can be accommodated within a homestay family.
Resources for dietary needs for allergies, religious beliefs, or other preferences below. We strongly encourage you to order food/allergy translation cards to help communicate your needs while abroad.
- Celiac/Gluten-Free: PuraVidaMoms.com Gluten-Free Guide
- Halal: List of Halal Restaurants in San Jose
- Kosher: List of Kosher Restaurants in Costa Rica
- Vegan: LiveFriendly.com Vegan Guide
- Vegetarian: CostaRica.org Vegetarian Guide
+ Financial Aid & Money Matters
Costa Rica is generally more affordable than other study abroad destinations given the lower cost of living and cheaper flights from the United States.
ASA allows payment deferral until your institution releases your Financial Aid, and we offer payment plans upon request to students who need it. More information on billing and payment can be found here.
ASA also has several scholarships you can apply for within our program application. Students who receive a Pell Grant as part of their Financial Aid package are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship.
+ First Generation
ASA provides hands-on support throughout the entire process. This includes housing, course registration, flight and arrival logistics, and student visa guidance. While you're abroad, our on-site staff is available to support you 24/7. They coordinate social and cultural activities and offer guidance on the local culture, to give you and your support system peace of mind throughout your program. We also have an online orientation for parents/families/support systems at this link.
+ Gender Identity & Sexuality
We welcome students with any gender identity and sexuality on all of our programs. Veritas offers a course on LGBT Diversity and Sexual Identity in the Americas.
- Same-sex activity, marriage, and adoption are all legal in Costa Rica.
- Manuel Antonio hosts a Pride parade every year.
- Transgender people are able to change their legal name on documentation so that it matches their gender identity and changing sex assigned at birth is allowed.
Check out the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association Guide here.
+ Mental Health
Students with a range of mental health conditions can successfully study abroad. If you take any medications, please review the U.S. State Department recommendations for traveling abroad with medications.
ASA is happy to talk to you about what resources are available for any mental or physical health needs you have. Please reach out to us at 617-327-9388 or hello@academicstudies.com. Having advance notice of what your needs are will allow us to identify resources to support you, such as therapy or ongoing medical care to allow you to be successful. Any ASA team member is a safe person to share things with!
With your ASA program, you'll also have a paid subscription to mindhamok, a 24-7 service designed to support study abroad students’ mental, physical and social wellbeing. mindhamok's curated online and live resources give you tools to help you succeed. You can use mindhamok to: Request an appointment with a coach/therapist; Live chat with a coach/therapist about concerns such as roommate issues, relationships, etc.; Discuss homesickness, culture shock, or adjustment concerns; and much more.
Prior to departure, there's a mandatory mindhamok online orientation, where you can ask questions about health and safety, culture, or anything on your mind. mindhamok, coupled with ASA's on-site staff, give you the tools and support you need to succeed.
+ Non-Traditional Students
ASA welcomes all degree-seeking undergraduate students on any of our programs. We are happy to talk through any component of your identity (e.g. age, marital status, parental/caregiver status, military affiliation, et al.) that may affect your ability to participate on a program. You can reach ASA at 617-327-9388 or hello@academicstudies.com.
+ Religion
While Roman Catholicism is the official religion, the Costa Rican constitution recognizes freedom of religion and there are several active Protestant denominations as well as mosques, synagogues, Hindu temples, and Buddhist centers throughout the country. Roughly 13% of Costa Ricans do not practice any religion. More detailed information on religion in Costa Rica can be found here.
excursions
Semester programs include 2 overnight excursions. Summer programs include 1 overnight excursion. Destinations may vary by term. Past terms have included trips to:
Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna - You will have the opportunity to tour a local sustainable farm, relax in the area's hot springs, and do activities such as horseback riding and hiking in the rainforest.
Manuel Antonio National Park - Contains three beautiful beaches, casual forest trails, and a dense rainforest with three-toed sloths, endangered white-faced capuchin monkeys, and hundreds of bird species.
Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
Veritas offers Experiential Learning, Internships, and Volunteering opportunities. Community engagement and internship placements give students the opportunity to put into practice what they learn in the classroom, practice their Spanish skills, and contribute to the efforts for sustainable human development in Costa Rica. Placements are determined based on student’s interest, language proficiency, and research skills and experience, as well as the host institution’s needs. To find out what opportunities will be available during your time abroad, please email hello@academicstudies.com.
COST & DATES
Billing Information and Cancellation Policy
Price Breakdowns / Estimated Costs of Attendance
Please wait to book a flight until you receive arrival instructions from ASA.
Universidad Veritas
| DATES | PRICE | APPLICATION DEADLINE | PAYMENT DEADLINE | PROGRAM CODE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 Early Jan - Early April | $11,600 | Oct. 1, '23 | Oct. 30, '23 | CRS24 |
| Summer 1 Late May - Late June | TBA | TBA | TBA | CRSU1-24 |
| Summer 2 Early June - Late June | TBA | TBA | TBA | CRSU2-24 |
| Fall 2024 Late Sept. - Mid Dec. | $11,600 | April 15, '23 | May 15, '23 | CRF24 |
| Spring 2025 Early Jan - Early April | TBA | Oct. 1, '24 | Oct. 30, '24 | CRS25 |
WHAT’S INCLUDED
ROOM & BOARD: Costa Rican homestay with daily breakfast and dinner and 1 load of laundry per week included.
TUITION at Universidad Veritas for the maximum number of credits or courses indicated on the program course offerings page. Enrolling in more than the maximum number of credits/courses (if permitted by the host institution) will result in an additional fee.
ACADEMIC CREDITS: Students who receive pre-approval from their home institution can transfer the credits they earn to their home institution.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT: Final transcript is issued by the Universidad Veritas. Upon completion of the program, ASA will provide one free shipment of your final transcript to your U.S. institution.
EXCURSIONS: Semester and quarter programs include 2 overnight excursions. Summer programs include 1 overnight excursion. Locations to be decided.
INTERNET ACCESS: Students will have free Internet access at their host institution and in their program housing.
AIRPORT PICK-UP: Group ground transportation is provided from San José (SJO) airport for students who arrive on the official arrival date, by the designated time.
SITE DIRECTOR: Students will have an on-site director to assist them with any academic or cultural difficulties they may encounter.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: Comprehensive international medical insurance is included. Click here for details on benefits and coverage.
VISA ADVISING: Students are ultimately responsible for obtaining their visa (if required for their term), but ASA will provide detailed, helpful information upon acceptance about which visa students will need and how to go about applying for one. Please click here and scroll down to “Student Visa Information” to find out if a visa is required for your program.
PRE-DEPARTURE HANDBOOK & ON-SITE ORIENTATION
SUBSCRIPTION TO SAFETURE SAFETY-ENHANCING MOBILE APP
SUBSCRIPTION TO MINDHAMOK: a 24-7 service designed to support your mental, physical, and social wellbeing throughout your program. You can find out more about mindhamok in our Pre-Departure Guide for All Programs
Not Included
Round trip airfare and travel expenses to and from the program location
Books, materials, lab fees
Local transportation
Personal expenses
Lunch on weekdays
Meals on excursions
Visa (if required), Airport Departure Tax
Transportation from the airport if the student does not arrive on the official arrival date by the designated time
Transportation back to the airport at the end of the program
For academic year students and those enrolling in more than one session, housing and other ASA services and benefits are not provided during the break between sessions.
If you need a budget or Costs of Attendance click here.