Sustainability in Costa Rica!
Institution
A nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, CIEE is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization. Since 1947, CIEE has helped thousands of people gain the knowledge and skills necessary to live and work in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world by offering the most comprehensive, relevant, and valuable exchange programs available.
Locations
Live on the edge of the world famous Monteverde cloud forest, while exploring sustainable economic development (Session II), and ecological engineering (Session III). There’s no better setting to study these topics than in Costa Rica, a little country with a big reputation for protecting the environment, harnessing renewable energies, and creating secure food systems. You’ll discover many treasures during your time abroad in this special country as you explore sustainable fisheries, tourism, conservation, agriculture, or renewable energy.
Academic Calendar
- Summer Session II: Mid June to Mid July
- Summer Session III: Mid July to Mid August
For more information about the Academic Calendar please visit the
CIEE Costa Rica Sustainability web page.
Housing
While at our base in Monteverde, students live with local families, and get familiar with the daily routine of rural life in Costa Rica. Students will have the opportunity to practice Spanish, participate in family and community events, and have an insider view of the community. There is also privacy, a chance for down time, and freedom to explore the town with friends. Students have a private room, access to a shared (family) bathroom, a key for the house, and laundry service. Students are provided with breakfast, a sack lunch, and dinner. Host families can generally accommodate diet requirements and restrictions, such as vegetarianism or veganism. More specialized or restricted diets might be possible as well.
The cost of housing will be included in the invoice that CIEE sends to Appalachian and students will be billed through their Appalachian term bill.
Financial
Program Costs
Students participating on CIEE programs will be billed through Appalachian the CIEE program cost. This will replace the Appalachian tuition & fees for the term they are abroad. In addition to the CIEE costs students will also be responsible for submitting a $200 OIED Program Development Fee upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Paid to Appalachian State
| |
Semester |
| 1CIEE Program Fee |
See CIEE |
| 2OIED Program Development Fee |
$200 |
| Intl Health Dev Fee |
$60 |
1CIEE Program Fee includes the $300 CIEE confirmation deposit, tuition, housing, program excursions, and insurance.
2The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester |
| CIEE Application Fee |
$30 |
| Airfare |
$500 - $800 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$300 - $600 |
| Books and Materials |
$100 |
| Local Transportation |
$50 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| 3Personal Travel and Spending |
$200 - $500 |
1Essential living expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
3Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
CIEE Scholarships
CIEE offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2500.
CIEE Gilman Go Global
Gilman Go Global Grant is guaranteed to all qualified Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship applicants who apply for the Gilman scholarship (regardless of whether they are awarded a Gilman). To qualify, students must select a CIEE program, then submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application through the CIEE website. It provides $2,500 toward semester program costs, or $1,000 toward summer program costs. Plus, Go Global Grant recipients are guaranteed a Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grant to cover travel costs up to $2,000. (GAIN Grant amounts are based on program location and awards average over $1,500.)
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $250 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
The CIEE summer Sustainability and Environment program offers two sessions. Each session students will take a core 3 credit Environment/Sustainability course along with a 1 credit communicative Spanish language course.
For more information about the courses and structure of the program please visit the CIEE Costa Rica website.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the Costa Rica program will take a total of 3-4 credits per summer session. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to a CIEE program should complete the
CIEE application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
