MSU Study Abroad Summer Programs

DEADLINE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL SPACES ARE FILLED OR UNTIL MID-APRIL. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, PLEASE CONTACT SALLY O'NEILL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SPACES ARE LIMITED.

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica

Universidad Veritas

Dates: May 27-June 29, 2012

Language: Spanish and English

Eligibility: Both MSU and non-MSU students

Level: Undergraduate/ Graduate

Subjects: Beginning to Intermediate Spanish, Medical Spanish, Culture and History and Social Health Care and Medicine

Prerequisites: 2.5 GPA, interview by program coordinator

Course: Choice of one Spanish course, plus one other specialty course (6 or 7 credits total) (see choices below)

Application Deadline: February 10, 2012 (priority), Rolling Admissions until program capacity is reached. Get your applications in ASAP, as there is a huge interest in this year's program and spaces are filling up rapidly. (Applications available below)

Applications:

Cost: $3450 (excludes airfare)

Financial Aid can be used towards this program (see more below)
Financial Aid inquiries for non-MSU students must be made to their respective institutions.

Lodging: Home- stay with local family--practice your Spanish every morning and night with your family; eat traditional foods; see how Costa Ricans really live!

Tentative Time- line / Program Dates: Click here for updated time- line

Feb. 10th : Application, non-refundable $200 deposit (turn in to the Office of International Programs)
Week of February 13th: Applicant interviews
Week of February 27th- Notification of acceptance
Mid - Late March: First group meeting - turn in all mandatory forms (*Non-MSU students not required to attend meeting and will be sent a summary of meeting discussion through e-mail)
March-April- Mandatory Health and Safety meeting with Catherine Ebelke MSU (Health Center) *Non-MSU students will be sent Health and Safety info through e-mail
April 9th-- Program fee due to MSU Registrar's Office (pay before departure; you will be billed directly; no refunds after start of program)End of April: Final pre-departure meeting (Location TBA) (*Non-MSU students not required to attend meeting and will be sent a summary of meeting discussion through e-mail)
April 20th: Airline ticket information
May 27th (on or before): Arrive in San Jose-move in with families
May 28th: Orientation at Universidad Veritas, San Jose city tour
May 29th: Afternoon classes begin/ Program begins
June 1-3- Included Excursion
June 5th: morning Spanish classes begin
June 29th: Program Ends (return home or travel on your own)

**FORMS FOR ACCEPTED APPLICANTS**

To participate in this program you must download, complete and submit the following forms:

FERPA MSU International Programs2012 (due by first orientation meeting)
Health History form (due by first orientation meeting)
MSU_participation_agreement (due by first orientation meeting)
MSU_International student_ID (due by first orientation meeting)
Health Insurance Minimum Form (for your information)
Course Selection Form(due by first orientation meeting)
Home-Stay Form (due by first orientation meeting)

If you are on Financial Aid, take the following documents for determination of your award:

Financial Aid Budget- Costa Rica 2012

Financial Aid Form for Study Abroad 2012

Financial Aid Supplemental Form Study Abroad- 2012

If you have been accepted into the program, please download and review the following health and safety documents:

MSU COSTA RICA HANDBOOK 2012

General Costa Rica information (PDF, 454 KB)

Safety and Security (PDF, 81 KB)

Jet Lag (PDF, 117 KB)

Food and Beverage Precautions (PDF, 84 KB)

Insect Protection (PDF, 29 KB)

Traveler's Diarrhea (PDF, 262 KB)

Safety Advice

**Mandatory meeting for travel safety- please attend one of these meetings at one of the times indicated: Health and Safety Meeting

You must also submit the following by the first and second group meetings as indicated in time-line:

2 passport-sized photos ( write name on back)
Copy of university ID (CAT Card for MSU students, and Student I.D. Card from Home Institution for non-MSU Students)
Copy of passport (photo page)
Copy of airline ticket showing dates of departure and return

Checklist

Packing Recommendations

Advice about what to pack for your time abroad.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Academic Program
Explore Costa Rica, a place where cloud forests, beaches, rivers and volcanoes provide a backdrop to Universidad Veritas. This exciting MSU summer program at Veritas is starting it's 5th year in 2012 and allows students to take Spanish 101, 102, 201, 220, 323/324 or medical Spanish classes as well as one of two other courses: Costa Rican History and Culture and Health Care Professional course that compares Costa Rican health care systems to the U.S. There is also a possibility for students to enroll in Film if there is enough interest.

All programs include practical, hands-on experiential learning. Pick the course that fits your interests and major! Just think: Spending 5 weeks in Costa Rica studying and living with a local family will allow you the time to really get to know the amazing diversity of landscape, people, and culture.

Click here to view a video from the 2011 summer program group in Costa Rica

Click here for on-site staff information-Veritas University

Typical Day

Morning: Choose a Spanish Class--(click on course to see syllabus)

Afternoon: Choose a theme course (3 MSU credits; field trips included with each)

(click on course to see syllabus)

*NEW*: 1st weekend Excursion to Manuel Antonio National Park, included in cost of

program

Optional Day/Weekend Excursions:

San Jose City Tour
Jungle Canopy Tour
Turtle Island Tour
Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Tour
Cable car through the Rainforest (Braulio Carillo National Park)
Weekend Beach Excursions
Volcano and Cloud Forest Reserve trips
River Rafting
Bungee Jumping

Financial Aid
The full cost of this program, including airfare, may be used in calculating financial aid. Students considering financial aid should contact the Financial Aid Office immediately. Non-MSU students should contact their University's Office of Financial Aid to request a Consortium Agreement for study abroad programs through MSU. You can download and print the Summer Programs Financial Aid Information Sheet (14KB) in Acrobat (PDF) format. Visit the MSU Financial Aid Office web site at: www.montana.edu/wwwfa. Click here to view and print the most updated financial aid budget for this program. You should take this form with you to Financial Aid to help determine your disbursement.

Program Payment Information

Montana State students will be charged by MSU Student Accounts according to the standard paperless billing system. To view your bill, please go on-line to:

www.montana.edu
Click on My Info
Click on Enter Secure Area
Login using your student ID and your PIN
Click on Student Services
Student Records
Web Bill/Attendance Confirmation
Choose the appropriate term

Non-MSU students will receive a bill from the Montana State University business office and will send payment to that office at:

102 Montana Hall

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 59717

Phone: (406) 994-2701

Note: There is also a possibility that all Non-MSU students will be able to make full payment online. Information on online payments coming soon!

*Payment for all participants is due by April 9, 2012

Refund Policy

The $200 deposit for the program is non-refundable as of the application deadline of mid-February. There is no refund for the program cost after April 9, 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take a look at the Program Handbook.