This Program is part of a Contextualized Learning Community; Students selected to participate in the program must register for the following courses:

• EVR 1001: Introduction to Environmental Science (3 credits)**
• SPN 1170: Spanish Study Travel (3 credits) - Elective

*Students should be mindful of the minimum credit hours needed in order to be considered full/part time enrolment.

**This course satisfies Biological Sciences and/or General Education requirements. Honors students will be able to participate as Honors by Contract upon approval by the Honors College.

Note: All students should visit an Academic Advisor prior to applying to a Faculty-led Study Abroad program as to review their class standing, part/full time status, graduation date and how the course(s) offered in the program fit or affect a student’s educational plan.

This program is open for students at least 18 years of age with a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher. This program is open to students of all programs of study.

Broward College degree-seeking students will be given priority for application and admission into this program.

All interested students should visit an Academic Advisor prior to applying to a Faculty-led Study Abroad program as to review their class standing, part/full time status, graduation date and how the course(s) offered in the program fit or affect a student’s educational plan.

TRAVEL DATES: July 14 -25, 2020

Deadlines:
Application & deposit -$550 Due: December 2, 2019
Payment 2 - $1,550 Due: January 27, 2020
Final Payment - $1,000 Due: March 31, 2020
Copy of Passport and Physician's Statement Due: March 31, 2020

PROGRAM FEE: $3,100.00

Costs Included: airfare, accommodations, all programed activites, three meals a day, all in country ground transportation, entrances to cultural and natural sites, airport exit fee and international emergency travel/medical insurance

Costs Not Included: BC tuition and fees, books & supplies, passport, visa costs (may apply to non-U.S. citizens).

Payment Deadlines:
Application & Deposit- $550 Due: December 2, 2019
Payment 2- $1,550 Due: January 27, 2020
Final Payment - $1,000 Due: March 31 , 2020
Passport & Physician’s Statement Due: March 31, 2020

Program deposit and payments: Contact a faculty leaders for instructions on making payments at a BC Cashier's office.

BC degree-seeking students who are looking to defray the program cost should check out the Faculty-Led Travel Grants and the study abroad scholarships & funding page regarding grants and scholarship opportunities that may be available to them!

​​In order to apply, students must contact faculty leaders Prof. Claudia Sahagun or Dr. Nilo Marin via email and participate in a short interview prior to submitting any application paperwork.  Once approved to move ahead with the application, the student will submit the following to the faculty leader:

• Broward College Faculty-Led Program Application
• Color copy of Passport (personal information page)
• Broward College Physician's Statement     

Program deposit and payments: Contact a faculty leader for instructions on making payments at a BC Cashier's office.

As part of the application and acceptance process, students must read the student handbook.

Do you have questions about the application process or want to find out about funding and scholarship opportunities? Contact the study abroad office at abroad@broward.edu !

Faculty leaders teach the courses connected to this program and travel with the students abroad. For more information regarding the program, please contact the following faculty leaders:

Professor Claudia Sahagun
Foreign Languages
Central Campus
(954) 201-6404
csahagun@broward.edu

Dr. Nilo Marin
Biology/ Environmental Sciences
Central Campus
(954) 201-6407
nmarin@broward.edu

Passport: A passport is an official government document which validates a traveler’s identity and country of citizenship.  Students, regardless of nationality, who are interested in studying abroad MUST have a passport valid for at least 6 months after their return date in order to do so.  For U.S. citizens, information on applying for a passport is available on the U.S. Department of State website.

Visa: A visa, different from a passport, is a government document placed in the individual's passport which authorizes them to request entry into the host country for a limited duration of time for business, pleasure, study, or other. 

U.S Citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter Costa Rica for stays less than 90 days. Non-U.S. citizens should contact the study abroad office for more information about their specific case.

International Students: F-1 international students attending Broward College who are interested in participating in a study abroad program should first speak with a Designated School Official (DSO) through the International Admissions Office to discuss their immigration status and any special circumstances they may need to consider prior to applying for the program.

Health Considerations
Vaccinations: ​There are no required/mandatory vaccinations  to travel to Costa Rica unless recommended by a physician or specific health conditions of a participant. All participants should be up to date with all routine vaccinations.  For country-specific health and immunization information visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official Website.

Physical Activity:

Physician's Statement: All participants must submit a complete and signed physician's statement/release prior to program start date.

Safety and Travel Considerations:
The United States established diplomatic relations with Costa Rica in 1851, following its independence from Spain and the later dissolution of a federation of Central American states. The United States and Costa Rica have a history of close and friendly relations based on mutual respect for democratic freedoms, free trade, and other shared values. Costa Rica’s own history and record on the environment, human rights, and advocacy for the peaceful settlement of disputes give it a weight in world affairs far beyond its size, and Costa Rica and the United States often share similar positions (votes) in international fora.

It is estimated that approximately 120,000 private American citizens, including many retirees, reside in the country and more than a million American citizens visit Costa Rica annually.

The U.S Department of State offers country information pages to assist international travelers. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.  Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to decide whether traveling to that country is right for you.

Please review Costa Rica's country information page for country-specific information.

For more information about health, safety, emergency preparation and travel considerations please review the Faculty-led Study Abroad Student Handbook.

​Program Specific Policies

• The cost of plane tickets will not be refunded after being purchased.
• Once reservations and accommodations are paid, refunds are no longer available.

BC Study Abroad Policies - as stated on the Faculty-led student Handbook

Once a student has departed for the program, a refund will not be issued. If there is a documented medical issue or emergency situation, a written request may be submitted to the Study Abroad Office, which will consider a partial refund on a case-by-case basis.

Students are expected to review the Student Code of Conduct and understand themselves that participating in a Broward Study Abroad program means that they agree to adhere to College policies, and demonstrate conduct accordingly.

Students violating this conduct code or demonstrating other disruptive, illegal, or inappropriate behavior may be dismissed from the program at the discretion of the faculty leaders or Broward College administration. Should the offense occur while abroad, the student would be solely responsible for any and all related travel expenses for their return to the United States. In such an event, students would be ineligible for a refund for any portion of the program.