Study in Costa Rica for a Semester!
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
Monteverde has been at the forefront of field study in environmental protection since the 1960s, when it began attracting scientists to marvel at its biodiversity. As a result, Monteverde is the ideal place to study ecology, conservation, sustainability, and agriculture, and explore ways to protect its future, live more sustainably, and educate others to do the same.
Come to Monteverde and custom your study abroad term on the Open Campus Block Program. Take one, two, or three six-week blocks, select your courses from a wide range of subject areas. Stay in Monteverde the entire time or spend other blocks at our Global Institute locations in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, London, Madrid, Merida, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Santiago, Shanghai, and Sydney.
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Two Blocks (Mid-August to early November or Late September to Mid-December) Three Blocks (Mid-August to Mid-December)
- Spring Semester: Two Blocks (Early January to Late March or Mid-February to Mid-May) Three Blocks (Early January to Mid-May)
For more information about the Academic Calendar please visit the
CIEE Costa Rica STEM & Society web page.
Housing
Students will stay with local families to fully immerse themselves in the local culture or at the Monteverde Biological Station (placement will be determined by courses that students register for). The program will provide all students with 3 meals per day no matter their housing placement.
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
| Spring 2019 |
Two Blocks |
Three Blocks |
| 1CIEE Program Fee |
$9900 |
$14,850 |
| 2OIED Program Development Fee |
$200 |
$200 |
| Intl Health Dev Fee |
$60 |
$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
| |
Two Blocks |
Three Blocks |
| Airfare |
$600 - $800 |
$600 - $800 |
| Meals |
$200 - $500 |
$300 - $600 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$600 - $800 |
$800 - $1200 |
| Books and Materials |
$200 |
$300 |
| Local Transportation |
$200 |
$300 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
NA |
NA |
| Passport |
$150 |
$150 |
| 3Personal Travel and Spending |
$500 - $800 |
$800 - $1000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Students are encouraged to maintain a US based health insurance plan while abroad (to exempt out of AppState insurance students must follow the App exemption process - proving that they have insurance coverage for the entirety of the semester.
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 Gain Travel Grant
The Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Travel Grant helps cover airfare ($750 to $2000) to and from all CIEE program locations for students who demonstrate financial need. PELL students are guaranteed a GAIN Travel Grant if they submit their Scholarships Application by October 15 for January and spring programs, or by April 1 for summer and fall programs. GAIN Travel Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
Qualified applicants for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship are GUARANTEED a CIEE Go Global Grant and a GAIN Travel Grant, regardless of whether they receive the Gilman Scholarship. That’s a program cost reduction and funding toward airfare! Students must submit their Scholarships Application by October 15 for spring programs, or April 1 for summer and fall programs to be guaranteed a grant. Award amounts are up to $2500 for semester programs and $1000 for summer programs.
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 Costa Rica STEM & Society program offers a set list of courses. Enriching academic study tours, excursions, and other special activities are designed around each academic track. It all adds up to a uniquely flexible, immersive, and challenging academic experience.
STEM and Society
Introductory Biology I with Lab
Global Change and the Environment
Conservation Biology
Principles of Environmental Science
Language, Literature and Culture
Beginning Spanish
Survival Spanish
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 in the Two Block option will take a total of 12 credits (4 classes). Students participating in the Three Block option will take a total of 18 credits (6 classes). 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.
