Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San Ramón
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
Subject Areas
Anthropology Cultural Studies Food Science and Nutrition Health Sciences History Latin American Studies Nursing Political Science
Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Housing
Host Family
Language
English
Oct 04, 2023
Aug 21, 2023
15 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

USAC invites students interested in pursuing health, ecology, and conservation biology studies to come study abroad at the Sede de Occidente campus in San Ramón at the University of Costa Rica. The Life Sciences, Spanish and Culture Studies program is offered for the summer, semester or full academic year term. Looking to hear the rest of the details? Explore the USAC website.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

LGBTQIA+ Support

There are LGBTQIA+ friends, colleagues, and allies throughout the world. However, cultural understanding of gender identity and sexuality does vary from country to country. USAC has compiled a lot of resources to help you through that learning process.

Accessibility Support

USAC is dedicated to working closely with students with disabilities to ensure the best study abroad experience possible. You may request reasonable accommodations after your initial application is complete. We routinely receive requests for scheduling, material, and environmental accommodations for the classroom setting, which may include assistive technology, scribes and readers, printed material, and interpretation.

Impact

Sustainability

Environmentally-conscious students choose USAC because many of our programs are held in some of the most sustainable countries in the world. There are options to take coursework in sustainability and the environment, as well as field trips and studies where students can leave a lasting impact on their host country.

Program Highlights

  • Study upper division science or honors courses in an ideal location for ecology, biology, and health sciences, in small groups with field experience.
  • Participate in independent research, internships, or volunteer in field-related institutions.
  • Get hands-on experiential learning about local flora and fauna in field study courses.
  • Explore interesting, beautiful areas of Costa Rica on field trips.
  • Enjoy a small town atmosphere with easy access to the cultural, historic, and urban highlights of San José, and to the Pacific coast.

Scholarships

USAC logo

USAC Scholarships and Financial Aid

USAC awards over $2 million in scholarships and discounts each year to assist students with their study abroad expenses.

Value
$500 - $5,000

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating
based on 23 reviews
  • 5 rating 91.3%
  • 4 rating 8.7%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.25
  • Support 4.75
  • Fun 4.95
  • Housing 4.95
  • Safety 4.45
Showing 1 - 8 of 23 reviews
Default avatar
Mia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

USAC- SAN RAMON, COSTA RICA

This experience gave me so much insight into what I want to do when I graduate college. The love that I felt and experienced during this adventure was incredible. Whether is was my amazing host mom or my amazing friends I met through this program my love for the Spanish language, the Spanish culture, and travel overflowed!!

I always felt supported and knew that everyone in the program wanted me to have an amazing, life-changing experience! When I traveled to other places I always felt safe and knew that I had a support system in San Ramon to help me figure out the issues I had with transportation or just general confusion. Costa Rica is such a small country that it is easy to travel during the weekends and see all the cool attractions it has to offer!

I will be forever grateful for this program!!!

Pros
  • The culture
  • The Nature
  • The People
Cons
  • The bugs
  • Not accessible
  • Heavy Course work
30 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Karina
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I had an amazing overall experience

To start off I was placed in the most wonderful host family. They were extremely welcoming and treated me as one of their own. I was able to have my own bedroom and bathroom for privacy and alone time when needed. Other than that outside of the classroom I spent all my time with my host parents and grew extremely close to them and their entire family. The food was amazing and I was fully immersed in both the language and culture on a daily basis. I learned so much about myself as a person here.

Pros
  • Delicious and diverse food
  • Beautiful scenery, wildlife and environment
  • Kind, welcoming people all around
Cons
  • Can be a little unsettling as a woman getting used to the machismo culture if you have never been exposed before
  • Very humid but you do adjust with time
  • Everyone wakes up early so without ear plugs, expect your mornings to be just as early as everyone else’s
37 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I'm totally moving back someday

My host mother was one of the kindest people I've ever met! She truly was a Grandma-Away-From-Home for me, taking me under her wing as though I were her own kid. I've made some lifelong friendships, both with fellow students and locals, which allowed me to truly assimilate into the Tico lifestyle! The coordinators and teachers were extremely supportive and went out of their way when I expressed interest in graduate school at the UCR, even setting me up with a campus visit!
As the title suggests, I'm totally moving back someday.

43 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maya
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Pura Vida

I am so beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad through USAC! This program gave me the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and to fully immerse myself in a different culture and diversity. This brought me to be open minded in learning cross cultural skills and gain intercultural competency early in life. Revealed another part of the world using a lens that is calibrated more discreetly than how it would be seen with my own eyes within the U.S. Costa Rica is an extraordinary tropical country where everyday I was able to learn and explore the huge biodiversity culture. Also I like to mention, that this country has an amazing universal healthcare system therefore I recommend if you or someone close to you is interested in both health science and biodiversity I highly insist on going to study abroad in San ramon, Costa Rica through USAC! Because they were able to prioritize a combination of academic opportunities and the ability to learn culture, langange, and diversity. Pura Vida!

Pros
  • cross cultural skills and gain intercultural competency
  • Building connections
  • Learning a new language!
Cons
  • Cultural shock
  • Homesick
  • culture barrier
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Katherine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

USAC Costa Rica

I had the most amazing semester abroad in Costa Rica!!! It's hard to point out one thing that was my favorite because every experience I had, every trip I went on, every meal I ate just kept getting better and better. One of my favorite aspects was staying with a host family, I think that is something everyone who wants to go abroad should look for in a program, as I learned so much about the language and the culture of the country. This location is perfect for all types of people as there is so much to see - you can relax at one of the many beautiful beaches on the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, you can hike through rain and cloud forests, and see volcanoes all while seeing many different types of tropical animals and plants right up close.

Pros
  • Beautiful country! There is so much to see and do
  • The food was very healthy and cheap
  • The people of CR are so nice and understanding
Cons
  • Traveling around the country was difficult - only public buses
67 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life-Changing!

Studying Abroad wasn't something that I thought I would be able to do in college. Between the Covid-19 pandemic, an intense college course load, and financial constraints, I had given up on studying abroad being a feasible option for me. However, when I received an email about the Summer Session offering in San Ramon it was like the stars aligned. It was the perfect program timeline to fit with my classes, I was able to obtain scholarships and financial aid, and it had everything that I was looking for in a program.
My time in San Ramon was spent immersing myself in the Tico culture, learning a new language, trying new foods, making life-long friendships, and learning every day. One of my favorite parts of my experience was learning about the Costa Rican health care system. One of my professors was an Emergency Room doctor in San Ramon, and through him, I was able to learn about tropical diseases, shadow at the local hospital, and visit a child care clinic in town. It was extremely rewarding to learn from a professional in the field as well as observe for myself.
My time spent with my host family was also one of my favorite parts of the experience. It can be absolutely terrifying to live with strangers, especially when they speak a different language. However, they were so accommodating and welcoming and it truly made me feel like a part of San Ramon to be with them.
I also can't forget about the incredible new experiences I had. I was able to learn how to surf, dance in traditional styles, kayak in bioluminescent waters, see amazing waterfalls and volcanoes, hike through one of the most biodiverse forests in the world, and so so much more. Costa Rica will always have a very special place in my heart, and I can't wait to go back someday!

Pros
  • Host family
  • Outdoors
  • Good for pre-health majors
Cons
  • A LOT of rain
  • Safety concerns
68 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Daine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

Costa Rica would be a beautiful destination to visit anytime in your life with the gorgeous wildlife and nature and the carefree, pura vida culture, but this study abroad opportunity gave me a unique lens to see the country through that I would not trade for anything. The USAC staff was welcoming, hardworking, knowledgable, and caring and made sure we took advantage of the best things to do in Costa Rica. The classes were enriching and the professors were very passionate. The host stay was really the icing on the cake as it gives you a look into the Tico culture and allows you to make connections with people that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend this study abroad experience!

Pros
  • Amazing Nature
  • Welcoming and relaxed culture
  • Delicious fresh food
Cons
  • Insects- bring a good insect repellent
  • Rain- if coming during the rainy season, bring and umbrella and rain jacket
69 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Chyna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Program!!

Had a great experience and I would love to travel there again soon! You will meet a lot of new friends and have an amazing time traveling and discovering new things. There are unique views and foods to try while you’re studying. We went on new adventures every weekend because it was inexpensive and easy to get around on the bus or the ferry. I would definitely suggested to learn Spanish since it will benefit you in the long run. Great county and a great and unique experience. Give Costa Rica a try!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Try to learn Spanish and make sure to have a safe place to carry your expensive items like a Fanny pack!
96 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi Trinity, That will depend on the school you attend and the classes you have to take for your Nursing Major at your school. We recommend meeting with your academic advisor on your campus and your study abroad office to learn exactly how specific classes and credits will transfer back. If you have further questions you can email us at studyabroad@usac.edu Thank you! Sara