Pura Vida: Costa Rican Adventure

Summer 2008: May 11 to May 29

Program Location

Costa Rica is a uniquely progressive country in Latin America.  In addition to having a longstanding stable democracy, Costa Ricans are developing many programs designed to balance economic growth and environmental conservation.  Costa Rica serves as a model for other tropical countries that are experiencing rapid deforestation and other forms of land degradation. Studying in Costa Rica, more than any other country in the region, will give students the chance to see not only the problems that people of the tropics are facing, but more importantly, the solutions as well.  They will see how both government and non-governmental agencies are working together to create a sustainable future for Costa Rica.

Academic Program

The course will focus on Sustainability Issues in Costa Rica.  Students will examine the global issues of growth and conservation using Costa Rica as a case study.  In Costa Rica we will visit a number of communities that are working to create a balance between the conflicting desire for urban and economic growth, and the preservation of agricultural and natural lands.  We will work side-by-side with farmers while we explore the pros and cons of eco-agriculture, and join the debate on whether these new approaches are sustainable and transferable.  We will also experience eco-tourism and adventure tourism and consider their relative impacts while we explore the wilderness of the Osa Peninsula, snorkel in the Caribbean Sea, raft the class 4 rapids of the Pacaure River and zip-line through the canopy of the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

Tentative course offerings:
GGEOG 200 Geography: The Global Dimension, 3 credits
GEOG 450 Sustainable Agriculture in Costa Rica, 3 credits
GEOG 450 Sustainability and Eco Tourism, 3 credits
GEOG 490 Special Studies in Geography, 3 credits
GEOG 491 International Studies - Capstone, 3 credits
TBD Approved alternative, 3-6 credits

Program Costs

For the current projected costs for this program, please click on the following link to the Fees for JMU Study Abroad Programs page.

Application

For more detailed instructions and to download the application, please click on the following link to the Applications and Forms section for JMU Short-Term Programs.

For More Information

For additional information about the Pura Vida: A Costa Rican Adventure program, please contact the program director:

Dr. Jack Gentile
ISAT, Geographic Science
Tel: 540-568-6173
E-mail: gentiljr@jmu.edu
Website: http://peregrin.jmu.edu/~gentilrj