Costa Rica
The Center for Ecological Resilience Studies
Programs
Housing
Research
Community
Study Abroad in Costa Rica
Have you ever wanted to live on a small tropical farm, walk among the waterfalls and wildlife of tropical cloud forests, wake to the sound of tropical birds, or taste Costa Rican coffee straight from a local coffee plantation?
Whether you’re an experienced traveler or looking for your first trip to another country, studying abroad is an important component of your college career. Living abroad gives you the opportunity to explore new places and learn about different cultures, gaining important global perspectives, discovering new things about yourself, and building lifelong friendships.
Our programs in Costa Rica take place across the country’s diverse patchwork of rugged rainforests, cloud forests, sandy beaches, and agricultural landscapes. Courses and fieldwork focus on key environmental issues faced here such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, tourism impacts, pollution and waste management, as well as the struggle between economic growth and the maintenance of the functionality of fragile ecosystems. Efforts to preserve the wild beauty of Costa Rica are recognized worldwide, but climate change and increased urban development bring new and unforeseen challenges impacting biodiversity and food security. Conservation leaders, farmers, land managers, and policymakers must work together using regenerative strategies to build ecological resilience and adapt to climate change impacts. Our research in Costa Rica contributes vital data to innovative efforts that balance conservation and development.
Costa Rica
Venture into the rich biodiversity hotspot of Costa Rica. Explore cloud forests and tropical lowlands in a Central American paradise. Costa Rica provides a unique setting to study tropical ecology, conservation biology, sustainable agriculture, and the impacts of conservation efforts on ecosystems.
Programs
Semester
Ecological Resilience Studies
15 Weeks
18 Credits
Fall 2024
Sep 4 - Dec 15
In the Field
Spring 2025
Jan 27 - May 9
Filling Fast
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Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
Summer Session 1
Biodiversity and Sustainable Food Systems
4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2025
Jun 2 - Jul 1
Open
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Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
Summer Session 2
Environmental Justice from the Ground Up
4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2025
Jul 7 - Aug 5
Open
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Program Costs
- Tuition
- Room & Board
- Total
SFS offers students some really unique opportunities. Much of the semester was devoted to experiential learning. This meant hiking through the cloud forest and observing first-hand the ecological processes we had learned about in lecture. This meant conducting wildlife research on camping trips. This meant conducting our own research under the guidance of passionate and knowledgeable faculty advisors. I left SFS with a new depth and breadth of knowledge, as well as tangible projects and skills to show for it.
- Georgie, George Washington University
On a personal level, I learned how to be independent and succeed in a new setting. Aside from learning a lot in my classes, I also learned (from living at the center) about sustainable living and efforts we can make to truly make a difference.
- Laura, Brandeis University
Not only is this program run by very intelligent and personable faculty and staff, but also the students that participate in this program are one of a kind. This program attracts individuals who are concerned about the environment and desire to make a positive difference in the world, but more importantly who realize that the best change can only occur collaboratively. As a result, this program fosters an academic work and living environment like no other.
- Seamus, Bucknell University
Where You'll be Living
The Center overlooks the vibrant Central Valley, where green is the predominant color as far as the eye can see. The dorms and classrooms are nestled among orchards and gardens, while Center dog Hera keeps watch over it all. The friendly town of Atenas is a 10-minute cab ride away, offering restaurants, shops, parks, and cultural events.
- Dorm living with four-person bunkrooms
- Classroom, library, computer lab, and laundry room
- Open-air porch with hammocks and chairs
- Dining hall with scenic valley views, and on-site cooking staff
- Swimming pool, soccer field, basketball court, and pizza oven
- Outdoor classroom, greenhouses, nursery, and a vegetable garden
PRogram Costs
Study abroad is an investment in yourself – you’ll return home with new experiences, skills, knowledge, and friendships that will stay with you for the rest of your life. SFS program costs cover a variety of expenses, including:
- Pre-program advising and on-site orientation
- Tuition and research fees
- Housing at the field station and on excursions
- Daily meals and snacks
- Airport transfers (for arrival/departure)
- Field excursions and cultural activities
- Student success and wellness team on site
- 24/7 mental health and well-being support
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance
- Official transcript processing
Financial Aid
We know cost can be one of the biggest barriers to studying abroad. At SFS, we’re committed to making our programs accessible to students which is why we award a generous amount in need-based financial aid each year. Our Admissions Team has worked with thousands of students and are here to answer your questions about the SFS aid process, aid available through your home school, and funding from external sources.
SFS Financial Aid: Need-based aid packages typically consist of a combination of scholarships, grants, and zero- and low-interest loans. SFS matches Federal Pell Grant funding for students applying to an SFS semester program.
Home School Aid: Be sure to ask your home school study abroad office or financial aid office what financial aid resources might be available to support your study abroad experience.
External Funding Opportunities: Organizations such as the Fund for Education Abroad or the Gilman International Scholarship Program award scholarships to students going abroad. These can be a great opportunity to reduce the cost of your program even more.
Research
Research at the Center for Ecological Resilience Studies (CERES) focuses on the connections between conservation and development. Costa Rica’s lush ecosystems, conservation areas and national parks, communities, and farms provide a varied landscape for research on the impacts of climate change, globalization, tourism, and land use change. Our research provides valuable data for community members, NGOs, and government officials as they seek to further the sustainable development goals of Costa Rica.
Our research focuses primarily on the following themes:
- Impacts of climate change on tropical ecosystems
- Agriculture and conservation
- Combining environmental services and biodiversity conservation
- Urban and agricultural expansion and water management
- Food security
- Vertebrate ecology
- Sustainable ecotourism
- Ecological Resilience
Community
Atenas, Costa Rica
SFS is an active part of the Atenas community, where we have been based since the early 90s.
We have built long-term, collaborative relationships in the communities around the Center, and developed our research plans based on the environmental issues they and the surrounding ecosystems face. Throughout the program, students help maintain a local recycling program, teach environmental education to local students, and participate in waterways management projects.
At the end of each semester program, we share our research findings with the community, local NGOs, and the Costa Rican government.
Meet the Costa Rica Team
Víctor José Acosta Chaves, M.S.
Lecturer in Tropical Ecology and Sustainability
Meet Víctor José Acosta Chaves, M.S.
