What's Included

Designed for American students, this program at the Instituto San Joaquín de Flores offers student unparalleled insight into the biodiversity of Costa Rica and the country’s efforts to promote sustainability. Students will experience firsthand the beauty of Costa Rica’s flora and fauna while interacting with “ticos” (as Costa Ricans refer to themselves) within their host families, during a 4-week internship placement, and while enjoying cultural activities.

What's Included?

Highlights

Pre Departure Services

Advising

@api Online System

Orientation Materials and Resources

Access to International Phone Plans

API Alumni Network

Social Networking

Scholarships

On Site Services

Airport Reception

API Center

On-Site Orientation

Excursions

Tuition

Medical and Life Insurance

Resident Directors

Social and Cultural Activities

Welcome and Farewell Group Meals

Volunteer Opportunities

Tutoring

Housing (including meals and laundry)

Language and Culture Tools

Re-Entry Services

Re-Entry Materials and Support

Post-Program Evaluation

Transcript

Alumni Network and API Ambassador Program

Reflection Sessions

View all opportunities and amenities

Application Requirements

Minimum 2.7 G.P.A.
Open to high school graduates
Open to students with a minimum of one year of college-level Spanish or the equivalent
Completed API application
One letter of recommendation
Official transcript, most recent grade report, or high school diploma
Entry requirement: valid passport with supporting documents
Partner scholarship available (up to $2,500!)

Dates & Fees

Session	Program Dates	Program Cost	Application Deadline	Payment Deadline
Fall	Aug 19, 2021 - Dec 18, 2021	$18,300	Jun 10, 2021	Jul 1, 2021
Spring	Jan, 2022 - May, 2022	$17,900	Oct 10, 2021	Nov 15, 2021

*Please note that the Spring Semester session will not be offered in 2021.

Excursions

API students in the Sustainability and Environmental Studies program participate in extensive academic field trips and excursions designed to expose them to as much of Costa Rica’s biodiversity as possible. The following is a listing of potential excursions for this API San Joaquin de Flores program. API may need to modify the excursions offered in a given term due to travel restrictions or health and safety concerns.

Biodiversity Day Trips

Students will participate in 6-day trips to visit volcanoes, grasslands, high forests, mangroves, and an indigenous reserve. Possible sites to be visited include: Paso de Las Lapas, Finca de Rodeo, Volcan Poás, Sarapiquí, and Cerro de la Muerte.
Biodiversity Weekend Trips

Students will participate in 3 overnight trips to 3 distinct types of rainforest. Possible national parks to be visited include: Parque Marino Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, and Parque Nacional Los Quetzales-Monteverde.
Intensive Two-Week Travel Period

Students will explore a variety of sites in the Central Valley as well as the Pacific Coastal region prior to starting courses. Cartago, one of the sites to be visited, as Costa Rica’s first capital until 1823 and is home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Angels “Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles” or “La Negrita.” Students visit the most important sites in the city, as well as the Orosi Valley, founded by the Franciscan monks in 1561. It is home to the country’s oldest church still in continuous use, built in 1735.
Cartago

Cartago was Costa Rica’s first capital until 1823 and is home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Angels “Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles” or “La Negrita.” Students visit the most important sites in the city, as well as the Orosi Valley, founded by the Franciscan monks in 1561. It is home to the country’s oldest church still in continuous use, built in 1735.
Nicaragua or Panama - International Excursion

Costa Rica and Nicaragua have a lot of things in common but also many differences. During this international trip students will be in contact with the nicaraguan culture as they will try their typical food and be around their people. Students will also learn about history by visiting Granada city and islands, Masaya and San Juan del Sur

Bocas del Toro was the last piece of land discovered by Columbus on his 4th journey to the New World. This is our international destination. During this excursions students will get the chance to dolphin watch, snorkeling on beautiful coral reefs and swim on the Caribbean sea.
Depending on the session, students will participate in either the Nicaragua or Panama excursion.
San José

Students will spend one night in the historic capital of San José and will visit local attractions such as the Museo Nacional, the Museo de Oro Precolombino, and the Museo de Jade.
Volcán Arenal & Fortuna

Arenal Volcano National Park is located in central Costa Rica. The park is surrounded by rainforests and cloud forests with waterfalls and hot springs (heated by the volcano) nearby.
One day trip to ZooAve

Within the park you will find beautiful botanical gardens and more than 125 species of animals, among them birds, mammals and reptiles that have been rescued and, due to health or behavioral reasons, cannot be fully rehabilitated for reintroduction into their natural habitat. The large enclosures are naturally designed to offer these animals quality of life and enrichment

Biodiversity Day Trips

Students will participate in 6-day trips to visit volcanoes, grasslands, high forests, mangroves, and an indigenous reserve. Possible sites to be visited include: Paso de Las Lapas, Finca de Rodeo, Volcan Poás, Sarapiquí, and Cerro de la Muerte.
Biodiversity Weekend Trips

Students will participate in 3 overnight trips to 3 distinct types of rainforest. Possible national parks to be visited include: Parque Marino Puntarenas, Parque Nacional Tortuguero, and Parque Nacional Los Quetzales-Monteverde.
Intensive Two-Week Travel Period

Students will explore a variety of sites in the Central Valley as well as the Pacific Coastal region prior to starting courses. Cartago, one of the sites to be visited, as Costa Rica’s first capital until 1823 and is home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Angels “Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles” or “La Negrita.” Students visit the most important sites in the city, as well as the Orosi Valley, founded by the Franciscan monks in 1561. It is home to the country’s oldest church still in continuous use, built in 1735.
Nicaragua or Panama - International Excursion

Costa Rica and Nicaragua have a lot of things in common but also many differences. During this international trip students will be in contact with the nicaraguan culture as they will try their typical food and be around their people. Students will also learn about history by visiting Granada city and islands, Masaya and San Juan del Sur

Bocas del Toro was the last piece of land discovered by Columbus on his 4th journey to the New World. This is our international destination. During this excursions students will get the chance to dolphin watch, snorkeling on beautiful coral reefs and swim on the Caribbean sea.
Depending on the session, students will participate in either the Nicaragua or Panama excursion.
Cartago

Cartago was Costa Rica’s first capital until 1823 and is home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, Our Lady of the Angels “Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles” or “La Negrita.” Students visit the most important sites in the city, as well as the Orosi Valley, founded by the Franciscan monks in 1561. It is home to the country’s oldest church still in continuous use, built in 1735.
San José

Students will spend one night in the historic capital of San José and will visit local attractions such as the Museo Nacional, the Museo de Oro Precolombino, and the Museo de Jade.
Montezuma
Description currently unavailable.
One day trip to ZooAve

Within the park you will find beautiful botanical gardens and more than 125 species of animals, among them birds, mammals and reptiles that have been rescued and, due to health or behavioral reasons, cannot be fully rehabilitated for reintroduction into their natural habitat. The large enclosures are naturally designed to offer these animals quality of life and enrichment

Program Details

What You’ll Study

TOTAL CREDITS - 12-14 semester credits (including internship credit)

Intensive Travel Period

Students will spend the first two weeks of the program (prior to beginning formal classes at the Instituto) traveling to a variety of sites within Costa Rica’s central valley and exploring one of Costa Rica’s renowned national parks and beaches.

Academic Session

Once the academic session begins, students will continue to explore the biodiversity of Costa Rica and complement classroom discussions by participating in three-weekend excursions throughout the country and six-day trips.

Internship Experience

The program culminates with the completion of a 4-week internship, upon which students receive a certificate that can be presented to their home university for credit evaluation. Students can choose to focus on one of the following themes:

Turtle protection
Rehabilitation of wild animals
Species cataloging
Protected areas conservation
Beach cleaning

Most students will not stay in SJDF during the internship period, but will most likely be working and staying in national parks or other natural areas.

TRANSCRIPTS

API students receive a transcript of their coursework from U.S. – accredited Fairfield University upon completion of the program. The Instituto San Joaquín de Flores will issue students a certificate of their internship hours.

Julia Nelson

Julia Nelson will be your Program Manager and prepare you to go abroad!
Esteban Lopez

Esteban Lopez will be your Resident Director in San Joaquin de Flores and a resource for you on-site.

Courses

COURSE OFFERINGS

Name: Zaengle
Price range: $

Students will complete coursework with a cohort of other U.S. students at the Instituto San Joaquín de Flores. All students will take either an intermediate or an advanced-level “Spanish for Environmental Studies” course. The language course will be paired with three additional courses taught in English, each equivalent to 3 U.S. semester credits.

Español para intermedios

En este curso se profundiza sobre aspectos gramaticales del español. Se aprende y utiliza vocabulario más específico, y se efectúan lecturas para mejorar la comprensión de lectura y la conversación en español.

Asimismo, la clase tendrá un énfasis particular en aspectos relacionados con el medioambiente y la sostenibilidad, con el objeto de brindar apoyo al resto de las clases del Programa. Por consiguiente, el eje transversal de esta clase será el medioambiente, por lo que, en cada sesión, se tocarán puntos relacionados con la naturaleza, la sostenibilidad, la biodiversidad, el manejo de recursos naturales, el calentamiento global, etc.