Spanish Language, Liberal Arts & Environmental Sciences
Semester
Summer
Veritas University
Starting at $4,995
Claim up to $1,000 in flight credits!
Get up to $1,000 in flight credits or grants toward study or internship programs abroad when you apply by September 12, 2024. See our Official Rules for full details.
Study Abroad in
San José, Costa Rica
Language: Spanish
Climate: Temperate
Currency: Costa Rican Colon
About the City
From prestigious universities to hip gastropubs, a vibrant artistic culture to a booming music scene, San José blends urban color and stunning natural beauty; when you study abroad in San José, more than 800 miles of coastline and acres of lush rainforests lie just a short drive from this diverse metropolitan center. When you’re studying abroad in San José, your immersion opportunities are limitless: You can hike on a volcano, explore the rainforest, and get up-close-and-personal with sloths. You can give back to your host community through volunteering, learn new dance moves, and lounge on the beach (Pacific or Caribbean? Take your pick!) Choose from a range of academic offerings in fields uniquely suited for study in San José, like Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Spanish Language.
Student Testimonials
Programs in San José (3)
Medical Spanish & Health Sciences
Semester
Summer
Veritas University
Starting at $4,995
Intensive Spanish Language
Short-Term
Summer
Veritas University
Starting at $4,595
What Students are Saying about Costa Rica
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CEA CAPA alum Ebony Owens-Kennedy recounts her favorite excursions during her first month studying abroad in San José, Costa Rica.
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CEA CAPA alum Ebony writes about the Health Science courses she took while studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica. Learn more.
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CEA CAPA alum Alexa Lambert explores her three favorite aspects of her semester studying abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica. Learn more.
Where You'll Study
Our Partner Institutions
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Veritas University
Since its founding in 1976, Veritas University has become one of the most highly recognized private universities in Latin America. Not only is Veritas fully accredited by the Costa Rica Ministry of Education, but it is also a member of the College Consortium for International Studies and NAFSA: Association of International Educators.
With approximately 2,000 students, 500 of whom are international, Veritas University is located in the eastern part of the city (Zapote), ten minutes from downtown San José and only one kilometer from the Casa Presidencial. The school offers a complete range of subjects and a great variety of cultural, artistic, and athletic activities.
The university’s spacious campus is equipped with modern facilities, including several computer labs and a well-maintained library. CEA CAPA offers a practical and well-organized Spanish language program, led by a highly trained and experienced staff of university professors.
Credit Transfer Information
CEA CAPA credit hour recommendations are based on the following conversion: 15 contact hours equals 1 U.S. credit. Credit transfer is ultimately determined by your home university. Please consult with an academic advisor at your home university on credit pre-approval guidelines.
Transcript Information
Students receive a transcript from Veritas University upon successful completion of the program. The transcript reflects the contact hours per course.
Accreditation
Ranked among Costa Rica’s top 10 universities, Veritas is fully accredited by the Costa Rican Ministry of Public Education and is a member of the College Consortium for International Studies and NAFSA.
Grading
Grade conversions from CEA CAPA partner institutions abroad to a US grading scale are determined in consultation with our School of Record and benchmarked with other peer institutions in the field.
Please note that CEA CAPA can only recommend grade conversions to students’ home institutions—it is ultimately at the discretion of the home institution to convert grades from abroad to students’ academic records.
For further information or details about grade conversion for a particular host institution, please reach out to our Registrar at registrar@ceacapa.com.
Please note that CEA CAPA can only recommend grade conversions to students’ home institutions—it is ultimately at the discretion of the home institution to convert grades from abroad to students’ academic records.
For further information or details about grade conversion for a particular host institution, please reach out to our Registrar at registrar@ceacapa.com.
Classroom and Information
- International faculty from Veritas University teach your language and elective classes.
- Attendance in all classes is mandatory and monitored by each professor.
- Periodic exams, homework assignments and final exams will be administered.
- Teaching styles in Costa Rica may differ from those in the U.S. Be prepared to adapt to different classroom structures and coursework expectations.
- Class size ranges between 10 and 25 students and includes CEA CAPA participants and other international students.
Amenities
Student Offices
Clubs & Organizations
Study Room
Counseling Services
University Library
Computer Lab
Printing Facilities
Student ID
Multi-Media
Internet Access & Wi-Fi
Academic Advising
Tutoring
Language Learning Services
Language Exchange with Local Students
Cultural Engagement
Dining Facilities
Free Campus Shuttle
Copy & Mail Center
On-campus ATM
Museum & Art Galleries
Excursions
Get out and explore! Excursions are offered for most semester, year, and summer programs. Semester students are typically offered between two to three excursions and summer study students are typically offered between one to two excursions. You'll receive a calendar of excursions during orientation; here are a few day and overnight excursions we've offered in the past.
Where You'll Stay
*Housing options may change and will be confirmed on the housing application form prior to the start of the term. Below are the housing options that have been offered in the past.
Homestay
Available:
Semester
Summer
Summer
Engage in San Jose’s pura vida culture firsthand when you live in a homestay with a local Costa Rican family. For the culture-seeking type who want to live life abroad as their host locals do, homestays enable students the opportunity to dive headfirst into Costa Rican life.
Typical Commute
- CEA CAPA Office in San Jose: 10-20 minutes, walking
- Veritas University: 10-20 minutes, walking
Meals Included
• 2 meals per day – Breakfast & Dinner (Mon - Sun) included, except on excursion days
Roommates
- 1-3 students per room; may be up to 5 students per room, depending on enrollment
- Up to 4 students per Homestay; may be up to 8 students per Homestay, depending on enrollment
Unit Amenities
- Limited kitchen
- Shared-single sex bathroom
- Bed linens included
- Internet Access
- Telephone access available
- Washer Only
Alumni Ambassadors
Frequently Asked Questions
Studying abroad in Costa Rica is a life changing event for many students. When you study abroad in San José, you experience learning outside the traditional classroom setting, gain international insight, and expand your sense of cultural awareness. Considering this small country contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity and acts as a pioneer in sustainability efforts, it’s an ideal destination to study environmental sciences.
San José is the most expensive city in Costa Rica. While it’s typically cheaper than other U.S. capital cities, it’s pricier than places in South America like Buenos Aires and Valparaiso.
San José is known as a peaceful place, but petty theft in popular tourist areas and on public transportation is common. Costa Rica is considered the safest country in Latin America with low violent crime rates, so it’s generally a safe city for study abroad students.
CEA CAPA offers one housing option while you're studying abroad in San José. In some study locations you may also have the option of arranging your own independent housing. For more information on housing, connect with your student advisor.
The CEA CAPA San José study abroad programs offer homestays as the standard housing option for culture-seeking students who want to live life abroad like a local. Students are typically placed with host families that live within walking distance (around 10-20 minutes) from the CEA CAPA San José Center and Veritas University.
San José Housing options include:
- Homestay
- Independent Living
With the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, San José is home to over 800 miles of coastline and lots of lush rainforests to explore. Costa Rica’s capital city blends urban life and natural beauty with prestigious universities, popular gastropubs, and vibrant artistic culture to national parks, wildlife, and waterfalls. It’s a very walkable city, famous for its commitment to sustainability and environmentalism. San José is most known for its world-class museums, parks, theaters, and historic buildings.San José is in the central valley of Costa Rica, in the center of the country surrounded by an impressive range of environments to explore and species to encounter.