When people think of paradise, Costa Rica often comes to mind. Known as the jewel of Central America, the country's idyllic beaches, lush jungles, tropical climate and friendly people have made it an extremely popular tourist destination. What many students don't realize, however, is that Costa Rica also makes an ideal study abroad location, with its vibrant economy, well-developed higher education system and vast array of unique study opportunities due to its commitment to conservation and human rights.

Costa Rica has a well-developed education system at all levels with one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 96 percent. The country provides four state-funded and well-regarded universities: the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), the largest and oldest university, the Universidad Nacional (UNA), the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) and the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED). The country also has a wide range of private institutions such as the Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas (INCAE), the EARTH University, the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), the Universidad Latina, the Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología (ULACIT) and the Universidad Veritas. Interestingly, Costa Rica is also home to the University for Peace, which was established in 1980 by the United Nations to promote peace and understanding throughout the world. Costa Rica's commitment to peace began in 1948 when it abolished its army and in 1949 became the first country in the world to ban it constitutionally. Costa Rica is also home to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

In addition to offering students an opportunity to study traditional subjects, Costa Rica also provides a rich context for students to pursue targeted studies. The coffee industry, for example, and its impact on the country's economy provides an interesting subject for business and economics majors. Accordingly, in recent years the study of sustainable development has become increasingly popular in Costa Rica. The International Center for Sustainable Human Development (CIDH) is a nonprofit, multidisciplinary, educational and applied research organization based in San José. The center partners with various U.S. institutions to offer programs such as sustainable development studies. These students explore the country's multifaceted development and examine how growth can be accomplished in healthy, maintainable ways that protect the environment and promote human rights.

The famed biodiversity of Costa Rica makes it ideal for a variety of biological, wildlife and environmental studies. Roughly the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica boasts an astounding six percent of the world's biodiversity, including more than 850 types of birds, 1,200 orchid varieties, 600 categories of butterflies and 237 species of mammals. More than 25 percent of the territory in the country has been designated as protected or managed. This includes national parks, biological reserves and national wildlife refuges. Costa Rica also has an astounding 800 miles of coast line and a variety of aquatic ecosystems, making it an ideal place for students interested in marine biology.

While it is known for its natural beauty, Costa Rica also contains a variety of modern, cosmopolitan cities including its capital, San José, which serves as a terrific study abroad location for theater and dance majors. The San José National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer a full schedule of plays, musicals and orchestra performances. Students in search of downtime in-between classes and beach visits will find plenty of entertainment, including sidewalk cafés and museums. The Gold Museum, for example, displays gold artifacts uncovered from ancient Latin American civilizations.

Not only is San José the cultural capital of the country, it is also a hub for the country's economy. Many high-tech global companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Intel and Proctor & Gamble have built offices in Costa Rica due to its position in Central America as a stable democracy with an excellent education system. In recent years, Costa Rica's economy has shifted away from its agricultural roots and focused on tourism (particularly ecotourism), microprocessors, electronics and plastic products, among others.

Students in Costa Rica will also benefit from immersing themselves in the culture of the friendly Ticos. The area was originally inhabited by a variety of indigenous groups that mixed over time with European immigrants. The strong Spanish influence can be seen in the country's language and its architecture, while the indigenous influence can be seen in the local cuisine and handmade ceramics commonly sold in roadside stands throughout the country. A love of democracy and peace is very important to the Costa Rican identity as demonstrated through the abolition of the country's army. Thus, students studying in Costa Rica will find a welcoming environment, populated by citizens who encourage tolerance and diversity.

When people think of paradise, Costa Rica often comes to mind. Known as the jewel of Central America, the country's idyllic beaches, lush jungles, tropical climate and friendly people have made it an extremely popular tourist destination. What many students don't realize, however, is that Costa Rica also makes an ideal study abroad location, with its vibrant economy, well-developed higher education system and vast array of unique Costa Rica study opportunities due to its commitment to conservation and human rights. While it is known for its natural beauty, Costa Rica also contains a variety of modern, cosmopolitan cities including its capital, San José, which serves as a terrific study abroad location for theater and dance majors. The San José National Theater and the Melico Salazar offer a full schedule of plays, musicals and orchestra performances. Students in search of downtime in-between classes and beach visits will find plenty of entertainment, including sidewalk cafés and museums. The Gold Museum, for example, displays gold artifacts uncovered from ancient Latin American civilizations.

Resources

Costa Rica Embassy, Washington D.C: http://www.costarica-embassy.org/
The University for Peace: http://www.upeace.org
Centro Internacional para el Desarrollo Humano (CIDH) (International Center for Sustainable Human Development): http://www.cidh.ac.cr/
Universidad de Costa Rica: http://www.ucr.ac.cr/
Costa Rica Tourism: http://www.visitcostarica.com/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP
Study Abroad Scholarships: http://www.StudyAbroadFunding.org

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