First Year Experience Abroad Costa Rica

Incoming first year students are invited to apply to Jacksonville University's First Year Experience Abroad program. Join other first year students, JU peer mentors, and JU faculty for an engaged learning experience throughout Costa Rica as you tour through San Jose, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Jaco Beach in 10 days. The course will begin on August 14th and end on November 21st during the fall semester. At the end of the course, you will travel to Costa Rica on December 1st, and then return in time for the Winter holidays on December 10th.

This program and course are designed to help make your first year at JU a smooth transition to success, as it mirrors the similarities with stepping into the college environment for the first time with that of traveling and living in a different culture.

This course is open to all majors, and fulfills JU’s Experiential Learning credit, a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students.

This program is great for students with strict course schedules (i.e., Aviation, Nursing) who are still interested in a study abroad experience. 

Important Dates

Course Dates: August 14 - November 21, 2024

Travel Dates: December 1 - 10, 2024*
*subject to change

Application & Deposit Deadline: June 1, 2024

Final Payment Deadline: September 15, 2024

How to Apply

• Students must have their JU tuition deposit submitted before applying for this program.
• Click 'Apply Now' below to first create your Traveler Profile. Enter your JU email and create a password.
• Once logged in, click 'Explore Programs', and type JU First Year Experience Abroad in Costa Rica in the search bar. Click 'Apply Now' on the program page and submit your application.
• Once accepted, you will need to submit a $500 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot.
  • The deposit is deducted from the total program cost.
  • Click here to submit the deposit payment.
  • Click 'Make a Payment' in the 'Education Payments' quadrant. 
  • Select 'Florida', 'Jacksonville University', 'Online Payments', and 'Study Abroad Deposits' to proceed, shown here:
    
  • More information on submitting payment to JU is available here. 

 

APPLY NOW

On-Site Program Cost

$3,515 - $3,995 + airfare (subject to change, based on number of travelers)

*This price range is determined based on enrollment. The final on-site program cost will be determined after the application and deposit deadline has passed.  The $500 deposit is deducted from the total on-site program cost. The program cost is in addition to the Fall 2024 JU tuition.

Once enrollment is confirmed for the 3 credit JU 111 course, the on-site program cost will be added to each student's JU account.  

Included in On-Site Program Cost

• Airport Pick/Drop-Off
• In-country transportation (coach bus & public transportation)
• Welcome and Farewell Dinners
• Breakfast daily
• Shared accommodations in hotels
• Group excursions, activities, and entrance fees per itinerary
• 24-hour emergency support services
• On-site Program Coordinator for the duration of the program
• Emergency Medical & Accident insurance for each participant
• Gratuities to guides and bus drivers and/or similar

Excluded from On-Site Program Cost

• Roundtrip Airfare
  • Students will receive specific instructions on arrival/departure. 
    Please do not book flights until you have received these details from Study Abroad & Away.
• Meals (unless otherwise specified on itinerary)
• Incidentals 

Course

During the Fall Term, students will register for JU 111 401z for 3 credit hours. This class section meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:45pm.

This program fulfills JU’s Experiential Learning undergraduate requirement for graduation.

Standard JU tuition and fees for Fall 2024 apply for the JU 111 course. 
(See JU Undergraduate Tuition & Costs) 

This program is open to 15 first year students. Additional applicants will be placed on a wait list.

Faculty Leaders

Tiffany Leach

Tiffany Leach is an Associate Professor of Art and Director of the MFA in Visual Arts program at Jacksonville University. Leach completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual arts with a concentration in ceramics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts degree in visual arts from the University of Georgia. Her work has been exhibited and collected nationally and internationally. Leach has a passion for travel and adventure that has lead to time spent living in Italy prior to teaching at JU, as well as, a month long artist residency this year in Italy. She has spent time visiting in Europe, South Africa, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas.

Travel Tip: As a seasoned traveler often with two small children in tow, the advice I like to give is pack light, have an open mind for adventure & be flexible!

Jeremy Stalker

Dr. Jeremy Stalker is an Assistant Professor of Marine Science.  He received his B.S. at Michigan State University; his M.S. at the University of Montana; and his Ph.D. at Florida International University. His research interest and areas of specialization include: Hydrology, Stable Isotope, Ionic and Nutrient Geochemistry, Coastal Oceanography, Geophysics, and Forensics. Dr. Stalker is also a passionate advocate of education abroad and the valuable experience it provides for students and faculty. He spent his youth traveling abroad with his parents and continues to honor the family legacy of international education by leading programs abroad with JU students. 

Tentative Program Itinerary

• Sunday, Dec 1  - Depart the US for San Jose, Costa Rica
  
  • Group Welcome Dinner
    
    
• Monday, Dec 2 - San Jose
  
  • Guided tour of Doka Estate
  • La Paz Waterfall Garden & Nature Park, lunch included
    
    
• Tuesday Dec 3 - San Jose to La Fortuna
  • Travel to La Fortuna
  • Visit Sarchi
    
    
• Wednesday Dec 4 - La Fortuna
  • Visit Maleku indigenous community, lunch and dinner included
    
    
• Thursday Dec 5 - La Fortuna
  • Visit La Fortuna Waterfall
  • Guided chocolate tour
    
    
• Friday Dec 6 - La Fortuna to Monteverde
  • Travel to Monteverde
  • Group dinner
  • Guided Kinkajou night walk tour through rainforest after dark
    
    
• Saturday Dec 7 - Monteverde to Jaco Beach
  • Guided hike in Monteverde Reserve
  • Travel to Jaco Beach
    
    
• Sunday Dec 8 - Jaco Beach
  • Manuel Antonio National Park
    
    
• Monday Dec 9 - Jaco Beach to San Jose
  • Travel to San Jose
  • Group Farewell Dinner
    
    
• Tuesday Dec 10 - Farewell Costa Rica!
  • Depart for US

Contact Us

Study Abroad & Away

• abroad@ju.edu

Tiffany Leach

• twhitfi@ju.edu

Jeremy Stalker

• jstalke@ju.edu