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Costa Rica (Horticulture)

The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources horticulture program in Costa Rica is unique. It allows students to learn about Costa Rican geography, history and culture as well as its fruits, vegetables and flowers before ever departing for Central America.

The program meets for two hours a week throughout the spring semester in order for students to gain an understanding of these topics.

This is followed by a two-week trip to Costa Rica that departs shortly after the end of the spring semester, allowing students to see first-hand what they have been studying during the previous semester.

While in Costa Rica, the program exposes students to tropical horticultural crops and their production systems. It will also expose students to the Latin culture and encourage them to examine the impact the United States has on developing nations.

Costa Rica Horticulture Program Brochure (PDF)

Location

Costa Rica is a relatively small country — about the size of West Virginia — but can claim the most diverse selection of flora and fauna in the hemisphere. It has a tremendous range of ecosystems, from rainforests and cloud forests to high, dry mountains.

This program takes students through much of the country including the humid tropical lowlands at EARTH University and the highlands in the cloud forest of Monteverde.

Given Costa Rica's location near the equator, the sun rises around 5 a.m. and sets around 6 p.m. all year. In May, the weather can be quite rainy. The temperature ranges from 57 to 71 degrees F in Monteverde and from 70 to a humid 85 degrees F at EARTH University.

Academics

Students earn three credits of Plant Science 2001 - Tropical Horticulture.

This course will begin meeting during the later part of the semester followed by a two-week trip to Costa Rica. Students will be expected to make presentations in class during the spring semester on various general and agricultural aspects of Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica students will be required to keep a journal to record their travel experiences.

Requirements

2.5 GPA
Good academic standing.
This program is open to all MU students.

Accommodations

Accommodations on this program will consist of youth hostels and hotels in various cities and towns. Meals will be taken in restaurants and cafeterias throughout the country.

Included with this program are visits to various fruit and plant production facilities. In addition,, students will have opportunities to take a sky trek over the tree canopy in Monteverde, visit the Arenal Volcano, dip into hot springs and hike in a cloud forest. The Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to quetzals, hummingbirds, Howler monkeys, sloths, anteaters, as well as assorted frogs and insects.

Costa Rica (Horticulture)

Location

Academics

Requirements

Accommodations

Costa Rica Links

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