Maxcy International House Abroad: Costa Rica
Maymester 2013
Experience the breathtaking natural beauty of the Costa Rican rainforest
while learning about the importance of sustainability and ecotourism in a
country that contains only 0.25% of the world’s landmass but 5% of its
biodiversity. Find out where your breakfast comes from as you tour plantations of coffee and bananas, crops that have long supported Costa Rica’s
economy, and then look into the future with a tour of Intel Costa Rica’s
manufacturing facility. Learn the meaning of Pura Vida, immerse yourself
in Costa Rican culture, and explore how politics and social values affect the
economy of Central America.
The Maxcy International House Abroad Program in Costa Rica is designed
to demonstrate the diverse cultural, political, and historical elements that
influence the economies of Costa Rica and Central America, from agribusiCosta Rican Rainforest ©www.discoveryadventures.com
ness to ecotourism. Students will depart in May 2013 on a two-week study
abroad course, beginning in the central Costa Rican city of Heredia and subsequently including the following activities: a visit to Poás
Volcano National Park; an overnight excursion at a rainforest eco-lodge in San Ramon, incorporating hiking and a canopy tour; a service-learning project with Costa Rican children; tours of several industries critical to the Costa Rican economy; and a day in the beautiful coastal town of Puerto Viejo.
*Please note: Specific itinerary items are subject to change.
This course is intended to bring the residents of Maxcy International House together for a shared study abroad experience. Students
will also travel with a USC faculty member and a program assistant from the Study Abroad Office, who will be available for the entire
duration of the program. The faculty leader for the program will be Dr. Lee Walker, Principal of the International House at Maxcy
College, who is an expert on Central America and Latin American political economy with an extensive research history in Costa Rica. There is no language prerequisite for this program, and “Survival Spanish” training will be provided at the beginning of the program. Preference is given to undergraduate residents of the International House at Maxcy College with a minimum 3.0 GPA; however,
other USC students will be considered if space is available.
Courses and Credits
Students will earn three credits for POLI 391M: The Political Economy of Central America. Check with your academic advisor to see
if credit earned may be used to fulfill general education, major or minor requirements. The class will include pre-departure preparation
sessions during the Spring semester.
Course Description
This course focuses on how Central American societal values influence land management and governmental policy decisions, opening
with a brief introduction to the economic, political, and cultural history of Central America and paying particular attention to the relationship between political power and land ownership and use. The course explores the role that the agro-economy plays in the political
development of Central American countries, as well as the diversification of the economic and political structures of these countries as
they transition from economic domination by the agricultural sector. Students will examine the agricultural sector and visit Britt Coffee
Plantation and Dole Banana Plantation, two crops on which the Costa Rican economy was built. The course will then survey the manufacturing sector with a visit to Intel-Costa Rica, the model of the transformation of the Costa Rican economy from an agricultural to a
more advanced service-based economy. Students will also examine the tourism sector and visit several sites that exemplify Costa
Rican leadership in the eco-tourism sector, and tie it all together with visits to governmental ministries that oversee all three major economic facets.
Study Abroad Office, Legare College, Suite 321, Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: 803.777.7557 ♦ E-mail: [email protected] ♦ Web: www.studyabroad.sc.edu
Living Arrangements
Students will be housed in shared-occupancy hotel rooms throughout the program.
Travel Dates
May 16-31, 2013*
*Subject to change based on flight availability
Costs
The travel fee for this program is $3525* and includes: round-trip airfare from Charlotte, NC to San Jose, Costa Rica; shared accommodations; daily breakfasts and other meals per the itinerary; local transportation and entrance fees per the itinerary; ground support
staff for all itinerary items; and guest lectures per the itinerary.
*Subject to change based on enrollment and currency fluctuations. Contact the Study Abroad Office for additional information on the
program fee.
Travel Fee Does Not Include
USC tuition for three credits and technology fees ($1314*); some meals; personal expenses; gratuities; airport tax; passport/visa fees;
optional excursions; or mandatory overseas medical insurance. Students must register for POLI 391M: The Political Economy of Central America during Maymester.
*Tuition and technology fees are accurate as of 8/30/12.
Scholarships
Honors College students, Capstone Scholars, and Carolina/McNair/Lieber Scholars and Finalists are eligible to compete for $2,000
Passport Travel Grants, which can be applied toward the cost of the Maxcy International House Abroad program. Applications and
additional details can be found online on the Scholarships and Financial Aid section of USC’s Study Abroad website:
www.studyabroad.sc.edu. Applications for the Passport Travel Grant are due to the Study Abroad Office by 5:00pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012.
The Beyond Boundaries Award is a financial award of $2000 or more to be used to help fund a summer or Maymester study abroad
experience for students from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. Traditionally underrepresented students include, but are not limited to, the following: those with significant financial need, students from ethnically diverse backgrounds, students
with disabilities, first-generation college students, students from majors underrepresented in study abroad, and students in the USC
Gamecock Guarantee program. Applications and additional details can be found online on the Scholarships and Financial Aid section
of USC’s Study Abroad website: www.studyabroad.sc.edu. Applications for the Beyond Boundaries Award are due to the Study Abroad
Office by 5:00pm on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Applications
To apply for the Maxcy International House Abroad Program in Costa Rica, please follow the instructions that can be found on the
Forms and Applications page of USC’s Study Abroad website: www.studyabroad.sc.edu; click on the link for Global Classroom Programs. Complete applications are due to the Study Abroad Office no later than Monday, December 3, 2012. Students will be notified
of their acceptance by email prior to the start of the Spring semester classes.
For more information or to apply for the Maxcy International House Abroad Program in Costa Rica, contact:
Study Abroad Office
Legare College, Suite 321
Ph: 803-777-7557
Fax: 803-777-7559
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.studyabroad.sc.edu
Dr. Lee Walker
Principal of the International House at Maxcy College
[email protected]
Footnotes
For more information about Costa Rica and the sites you can visit, go to the
Costa Rica Tourism Board website at http://www.visitcostarica.com/
Study Abroad Office, Legare College, Suite 321, Columbia, SC 29208
Phone: 803.777.7557 ♦ E-mail: [email protected] ♦ Web: www.studyabroad.sc.edu