Program Profile

Country: Costa Rica

Location: Eastern part of San José, Costa Rica

Language: Spanish, English

Level(s): Undergraduate

Subjects: Art, Design, Architecture, and Film

Length: Academic year or semester

Cost:

• Direct Exchange: MSU tuition plus room and board in host country
• Study Abroad: Host university tuition and fees plus room and board in host country

Deadline: March 1 for following fall; October 1 for following spring; some exceptions may apply

Program Overview

The Universidad Veritas is located within easy access to the center of the city of San José.  It is a private university founded in 1991 and is highly esteemed within the Latin American academic society.  The university community consists of approximately fifteen hundred members including students, professors and administrative staff. Universidad Veritas specializes in art, design, and architecture, but it also offers a full course listing in all subject areas from Business to Science.  They offer fully equipped classrooms and a library, cafeteria, computer labs, a photography lab, and design workshop.  All campus areas contain wireless internet so internet is readily available in the labs or by personal laptops. 

The majority of students during the school year are degree seeking Costa Rican students.  Universidad Veritas has many international academic agreements with universities around the globe and hosts nearly 500 foreign study abroad students per year.  Universidad Veritas provides student accommodations with local families (certified and investigated) close to the university or if the student prefers they will also help to find available apartments.  These homestays are designed to fully immerse students in daily Costa Rican culture and lifestyle.

Academic Program

Universidad Veritas stresses academic excellence as well as practical and well-structured programs.  They offer three, 15 week terms per year.  Veritas offers two options for Montana State University students.  The first option is the Direct Exchange, where students enroll directly in Universidad Veritas courses. Students have the option to take courses offered in advertising design, architecture, film and television, digital animation, interior design, photography, and product design.  These courses are taught in Spanish and it is recommended that students have at least four semesters of university-level Spanish. 

For course information, visit http://www.uveritas.ac.cr/, click on "Programas Academicos."

The second option allows students to take courses offered as part of the Veritas Study Abroad Program.  These courses cover a variety of different disciplines and are taught in English and Spanish.  All levels of intensive Spanish are taught as well.  Students pay a study abroad program fee rather than MSU tuition. 

Course information is available at http://www.uveritas.ac.cr/, click on "Study Abroad Language Programs." 

Language of Instruction

Courses offered as part of the Direct Exchange program are taught in Spanish.    A variety of English courses and intensive Spanish are available at Universidad Veritas as part of the fee-based Study Abroad Program. 

Eligibility
Students must have a 3.0 GPA and have completed one year of university level studies in order to be eligible for the exchange. A minimum of four semesters of university level Spanish are recommended for the exchange.  There is no language requirement for the fee-based Study Abroad Program. 

Academic Credit
Credit will be awarded at MSU for all courses taken and passed at Universidad Veritas. The student's academic adviser at MSU, in consultation with the Office of International Programs, will determine how these credits will apply to degree course requirements. However, successful study at Universidad Veritas satisfies MSU's Multicultural/Global core curriculum requirement. Students are urged to work closely with their adviser and the office prior to departure to plan a course of studies which will maintain steady progress toward their degree.

Location
Universidad Veritas is located in the Eastern part of San José, the capital of Costa Rica. With a population of over 1/2 million, San Jose is more similar to North American cities than most Central American cities. The city offers good shopping, fine dining and an active night-life, while the Universidad Veritas is located in the city's residential area and offers a more quiet study environment.

The city's markets are colorful and vibrant, and are a home to a number of galleries and museums.  There are even still few neighborhoods in the city radiating colonial style. San José is the hub of all transportation around Costa Rica. Most people get around by bus, but there is no actual central bus terminal. Instead, there are dozens of bus stops and terminals scattered around the city, all serving different destinations.

The city is in the heart of a wide and fertile valley called the Meseta Central (Central Valley).  From San José it is a couple hours drive to the beaches facing either the Pacific or Caribbean coasts.  Costa Rica offers a diverse array of outdoor adventures including: white-water rafting, surfing, swimming, deep-sea fishing, hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and much more. Not to mention amazing sightseeing adventures to explore the abundant wildlife, tropical birds, rainforests, natural reserves, and even volcanoes.

Cost and Included Benefits
Students attending Universidad Veritas will pay tuition at MSU in a similar amount as if studying in Bozeman. Each student will be responsible for his/her own room and board in Costa Rica as well as airfare to Costa Rica. Each student should plan for additional expenses, such as domestic travel, purchase of souvenirs as well as for unexpected changes in the exchange rate.

Financial Aid
Financial aid may be used for study abroad at Universidad Veritas. Additional costs for study (e.g. travel to and from the study site) may be used in calculating student's financial aid package. Students are responsible to apply to the Office of Financial Aid.

Application
Applications are available in the Office of International Programs at 400 Culbertson Hall.

Deadline
Applications are due in the Office of International Programs on March 1st for the fall semester and October 1st for the spring semester (some exceptions may apply) to study at Universidad Veritas. 

Additional Information
For additional information on study at Universidad Veritas contact:

Hilary Papendick
Study Abroad Advisor
Office of International Programs
400 Culbertson Hall
Phone: 994-4031
E-mail: hilaryp@montana.edu

Universidad Veritas home page:

http://www.uveritas.ac.cr/

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