While living in a student dormitory, program par-ticipants are fully immersed in the subject of tropical biology and Costa Rican cultural skills. March 22, October 15. The program, which is very competi-tive, provides students with the opportunity to do primary research in the fields of archaeology, cultural anthropology, tropical biology and ecology, and social sciences. Ability to speak, read, and understand Spanish is a prerequisite for admis-sion. Students prepare for fieldwork during this period and refine their research proposals in close consultation with faculty advisors.
Students spend about three months in the field, either on indi-vidual or group research projects.
A research seminar concludes the program, during which students complete their papers in consulta-tion with advisors. Fall or spring. A minimum of two semesters of college-level biology and one additional semester of ecology or environmental science studies and some Spanish is required. All students take tropical biology, ecology, an independent field study, and Spanish. All content-based coursework is done in English.