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The Location:
La Suerte Biological Field Station has been in operation since 1993 providing field ecology courses taught by university faculty from throughout the USA. Their field site location is privately owned and has a field manager in residence. The field site contains 700 acres containing a wealth of habitats including primary and secondary wet tropical forests, bamboo forest, swamps, marshes and pasture.
The field station is near a resettlement village and 25 minutes from the small city of Cariari. The area around the field station is dotted with banana plantations, processing plants, and cattle ranches. It is wonderfully suitable for examination of an array of ecological issues. The site itself is self-contained with cabins, a faculty house and a kitchen and dining area. In addition, there are teaching facilities, a library, and research lab area. The site has its own well (tested and safe). The cabins have showers, flush commodes, and their own septic system. It is an ideal location to experience tropical ecology.
The Program:
All students will arrive at the Juan Santamaría International Airport and stay together that night at a designated hotel. All students will then travel together via bus to the La Suerte Biological Field Station. Field activities will generally require walking, however, bus transportation will be provided for more distant activities such as visits to one of the banana plantations and processing which are located adjacent to the field station or visits to Cariari.
All students will take the course - Biology 1390: Global Ecology in Costa Rica. This 3 credit course uses ecological principles as a foundation to address major environmental problems facing the world past, present, and future. Special emphasis will be given to Costa Rican tropical concerns (i.e. agriculture, ecotourism, biodiversity, deforestation). Possible solutions to these ecological problems will also be addressed. This course will use lecture supplemented by video and field experience.
Students in this program will spend four weeks in the tropics in May 2008, experiencing an immersion in rural Costa Rica. Costa Rica will be used as a hands-on tropical reference to social, political, economic, and environmental problems facing the tropics. The Costa Rican point of reference will be contrasted against that of other countries, especially the United States.
In this intensive course students will be in the classroom or field for six to eight hours per day, six days a week. Generally, students will spend three to four hours in the field during the morning, and three hours in classroom lectures and discussions.
For more information, please contact Professor Coat or Jeff Whitehead
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Program dates for the Summer 2008 semester are as follows:
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Depart for Costa Rica
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4 May 2008 |
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Arrive in Costa Rica
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4 May 2008 |
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Program Ends / Depart Costa Rica
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30 May 2008
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Summer 2008 Program fee
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Pitt in Costa Rica Program Fee
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$1950.00 |
Fee includes:
- Tuition for 3 credits
- Housing in cabins
- Meals
- Health insurance for the duration of the program
- Bus transporation costs to/from San Jose and the La Suerte field station
Additional Expenses:
Students will need to budget for airfare, meals, books, personal expenses. Note that these prices are estimates only. Please keep in mind that personal expenses vary widely, depending on lifestyle and travel plans.
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Pitt non-refundable application fee
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$ 50 |
| Administrative Fee |
$350 |
| Airfare |
$700 |
| Additional Meals |
$100 |
| Personal Expenses |
$400 |
| Required Text |
TBA |
Students planning to extend their stay or travel extensively after the program is finished should budget more for personal expenses.
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Housing
Students sleep in cabins on the field site grounds. Each cabin contains screened-in rooms, showers (no hot water), and flush toilets. Students sleep on bunk beds (4-6 to a room) fitted with sheets, pillows, and foam mattresses.
Meals
Meals are provided in the kitchen/dining room area of the faculty house. Meals are served buffet style in a screened dining hall, and include a combination of traditional Central American cuisine and more typical North American dishes. Meals include fresh fruit and vegetables, yucca, heart of palm, bananas and other foods local to the region. Efforts are made to accommodate dietary needs.
Language
Classes will be taught in English and the field site management all speak English. English is also broadly spoken in the local community surrounding the field station. Knowledge of Spanish is useful but not necessary.
Vaccinations
The La Suerte Biological Field Station asks that all students consult their doctors or public health services regarding vaccinations and medicines for travel to Costa Rica. The field station recommends students take Aralen (chloroquine) 500 mg, 1 tablet every week starting one week before departure, continuing during the trip, and for 6 weeks after returning. The field station also recommends that students have a tetanus booster every 10 years; 5 years for puncture wounds, bites and other contaminated wounds.
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| Application Deadline and Requirements |
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Application deadline for Summer 2008:
Friday, 7 March 2008 !!!
Pitt-developed program applications are available by clicking here. If you are intending to do an internship, you must submit your internship application and your program application at the same time. Students will receive notification of admission status within two weeks after the application deadline.
Admission Requirements
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in any academic major with at least a 2.75 QPA are encouraged to apply. Juniors and seniors who have a 3.00 QPA or higher are preferred. Pitt students that do not have a 2.75 QPA will need approval from their school. If you would like to spend your final term abroad, you must also obtain special approval.
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