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The School for Field Studies (SFS) Costa Rica - Sustainable Development Studies (Semester) (Outgoing Program)

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  • Locations: Atenas, Costa Rica
  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: The School for Field Studies (SFS) 
  • Dates / Deadlines
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Tufts Department Sponsor: Tufts Global Education Areas of Study: Anthropology, Biology, Botany, Earth Science, Ecology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Geography, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Sciences, Tourism, Zoology
Housing Options: Dormitory Minimum Required GPA: 2.8
Language of Instruction: English, Spanish Program Type: External Provider Program, Internship Abroad, Study Abroad
Class Level Eligibility: Freshman, Graduate Students, Junior, Other, Senior, Sophomore
Program Description:

SFS COSTA RICA: ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE STUDIES (SEMESTER)

sfs costa rica


PROGRAM DETAILS

  • Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Credits: 18 semester-hour credits
  • Prerequisites: One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science, 2.7 GPA, 18 years of age
  • Application Deadline: Fall: May 1st. Spring: November 1st. Early applications encouraged
  • Financial Aid: All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans


OVERVIEW


Go off the beaten path and experience resilience in action. Spend a semester in Costa Rica, home to rainforests, volcanoes, rushing waterfalls, and a laid-back culture that reflects the national motto: “Pura Vida.” Immerse yourself in the country’s many national parks, farms, and tropical ecosystems full of incredible biodiversity. Design and conduct a rigorous field research project and learn how Costa Ricans are creatively addressing conservation and development issues. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
  • Explore the cloud forests of Monteverde, home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, to study tropical ecology, resilient land management, and community development efforts. 
  • Take an expedition to Panama’s Chiriquí Highlands, a lush, forested region of volcanic peaks, coffee and vegetable farms, and perpetual spring-like weather. 
  • Go behind the scenes at local farms to learn how Costa Ricans have successfully combined agriculture and conservation.  
  • Engage in the Center’s sustainable food efforts – gather fresh mangoes from campus trees, visit the chicken coop to gather eggs, harvest kale from the garden, master composting, and more. 
  • Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings.

SFS students live and study at the Center for Ecological Resilience Studies. The Center is an active farm overlooking the vibrant Central Valley, where green is the predominant color as far as the eye can see. Dorms and classrooms intermingle with orchards and gardens, while Center dog Hera keeps watch over it all. The friendly town of Atenas is a 10-minute cab ride away, offering restaurants, shops, parks, and cultural events.

RESEARCH THEMES

  • Climate change and tropical ecosystems
  • Agroforestry and conservation
  • Permaculture
  • Bird communication
  • Urban ecology
  • Sustainable ecotourism
  • Carbon sequestration
  • National park management
 

CORE SKILLS

  • GIS
  • Species identification
  • Habitat and biodiversity assessment
  • Tourism impact assessment methods
  • Basic Spanish language
  • Research design and implementation
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Research presentation
 

LEARN MORE

REQUEST INFORMATION

APPLY NOW


CONNECT WITH SFS

Visit the SFS website
Email admissions@fieldstudies.org
Follow SFS on Instagram and Facebook
Read updates from the field on the SFS Blog
Watch student videos on YouTube and Vimeo



Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Spring 2026 02/01/2025 03/01/2025 TBA TBA
Fall 2025 02/01/2025 03/01/2025 TBA TBA