Program Courses

What program courses does IFSA-Butler offer?

The following courses are specially designed for IFSA-Butler students on the Heredia Intermediate program. Students are required to enroll in the mandatory Spanish language class; language placement level will be determined by an oral and written exam after arrival in Costa Rica. Additionally, students can choose to enroll in one or both of the additional program courses.

Click here to download all program course syllabi, or click on a course title below to download an  individual course syllabus.

Intermediate Spanish (6 U.S. semester credit hours) This mandatory, intensive Spanish course is designed for students who have completed the beginning to low-intermediate levels of university Spanish. Focusing on improving Spanish comprehension, expression and interaction through class participation, written work, reading and community interaction, this course will prepare students for Spanish study at the advanced level. A mandatory community service component will provide field experience and language practice with local Costa Ricans.

Social History of Costa Rica (3 U.S. semester credit hours) The fundamental social-historical issues of Costa Rican society, from pre-Colombian times to the present, are discussed and analyzed in this dynamic course, specifically focusing on the relationships between distinct cultural and social spheres. Emphasis will be given to the years 1950-2008 so students can better comprehend the recent social history of Costa Rica and how it relates to current events. Field trips are planned throughout the semester to help illustrate certain themes discussed in class.

20th Century Latin American Literature (3 U.S. semester credit hours) This course concentrates on the study of fundamental narrative works by 20th century Latin American authors. Along with analyzing the peculiar and historic conditions of these texts, the course will focus on different thematic and cultural aspects presented in the literature. The course may include discussions about short works by Jorge Luis Borges, Miguel Ángel Asturias, Alejo Charpentier, Juan Rulfo and Julio Cortázar.

University Info

What is the Universidad Nacional like?
The Universidad Nacional (UNA) is located on the eastern edge of Heredia, just a few blocks from the downtown area. Very similar to a traditional U.S. university campus, the majority of UNA's buildings are located in one area, surrounded by large trees, tropical flowers and open spaces where you can relax between classes. Approximately 15,000 students attend UNA; however, the small classes and abundant activities offered throughout the semester help give UNA a small campus feel.

University Courses

What UNA courses are available to me?
Student on the Heredia Intermediate program are permitted to enroll in one to three courses offered through Centro de Estudios Generales (General Studies Department) and the Centro de Investigación, Docencia y Extensión Artística (CIDEA or Art School). Unless otherwise indicated, all UNA courses are worth between 2 to 4 U.S. semester credit hours.

While these courses are open to all UNA students, they are considered the first introductory course to a more specific topic of study. Therefore, they are general in scope and do not require extensive background knowledge in the particular subject.

To register for a course, you must meet any prerequisites, have the required Spanish language level and space must be available. While many course descriptions may be found online, course syllabi may not be available until the beginning of your semester.

Keep in mind the following:

• Nivel 1 corresponds with first-year courses; Nivel 2 corresponds to second-year courses, etc.
• I Ciclo (primer ciclo) is a U.S. spring semester (January to July).
• II Ciclo (segundo ciclo) is a U.S. fall semester (July to December).
• Anual refers to full-year courses.
• When the word Latina appears alone in a course title, it means classic, not Latino ethnicity. This applies mostly to literature courses.

Where can I find a list of courses that UNA offers?
An online course catalogue is available to view courses that may be offered during the semester. You can access class information by following these steps:

General Studies courses:

1. Click here to access the online course catalog for General Studies.
2. Next, click on your area of interest under "Nombre Carrera" (i.e. Área de Filosofía, Arte, Ciencias or Sociales).
3. You will now see a tentative list of general studies courses that may be offered during the semester. Click on a course name or scroll down the page to see brief course descriptions for each course listed.

Art School courses:

1. Click here to access the online course catalog for the Art School.
2. Next, click on "Arte y Comunicación Visual." You can only take classes listed under this section.
3. You will now see a tentative list of art courses that may be offered during the semester. Click on a course name or scroll down the page to see brief course descriptions for each course listed.

Course availability changes every semester, and it can also change at the last minute. For this reason, Heredia Intermediate course information must be regarded as provisional. IFSA-Butler cannot guarantee that a specific course will be offered during your semester in Costa Rica.

If a particular course you are looking for is not listed, or if you have difficulty accessing course information on the Web, contact your IFSA-Butler program advisor for assistance.

Are there any restrictions or additional requirements for courses I can take?
While most classes in the General Studies department and Art School are available for IFSA-Butler students, please keep in mind the following points:

• All students must enroll in the mandatory Intermediate Spanish course offered through IFSA-Butler.
• Students can choose to take one or both of the additional IFSA-Butler program courses.
• All program and university courses are conducted in Spanish by UNA faculty members.
• You can only register for Arte y Comunicación Visual courses in the Art School.
• More advanced art courses (Nivel II and above) may require you to submit a portfolio of previous work completed.
• Some art classes may charge an additional fee, which is not included in the IFSA-Butler program fee. Check with your program advisor ahead of time.
• You are not permitted to enroll in yearlong courses (anual).

How are UNA courses different from the courses at my U.S. university?
The system of higher education in Costa Rica is more specialized than the U.S. liberal arts curriculum, which means that Tico students enter university with some background in the subjects they wish to study. Therefore, local students take most of, if not all, their courses in one faculty and receive a degree in one field. In the U.S. system, students take a little of everything and don't specialize until a couple of years into their studies.

Additionally, you might notice that your Tico classmates know each other very well. This is because students enroll in carreras rather than majors. Carreras are similar to majors in the United States but with a more structured program of study and fewer elective courses. Students from the same carrera enroll in the same courses together during their entire undergraduate career.

I need to provide course descriptions and/or syllabi to my home university advisor. Where can I find those?
If course descriptions or syllabi are not available online, contact your program advisor for assistance. Please provide the following information in your request:

• University department/facultad
• Course title
• Course number (if available)

Please limit your request to 10 courses at a time. Keep in mind that it may take a few days to a month to obtain this information.

Registration

How will I register for courses?
Course registration takes place once you arrive in Costa Rica, typically during your second week of orientation. A designated day will be set aside for registration at UNA. During this time, you will receive the updated course catalog and be able to speak with departmental representatives or professors about courses in which you are interested in taking. You will then select your courses for the semester.

Before leaving for Costa Rica, it is a good idea to start thinking about the courses you want to take while you are abroad. A course preference form (see the "Forms" tab) is provided to help you with this process. While this form is not a final registration document, it is a great tool to help you decide which courses you may want to enroll in for the semester. Be sure to discuss your courses with your U.S. university academic advisor.

The order of registration is determined by your cumulative GPA. International students with the highest GPA register first. Make sure you select more classes than you actually need just in case the class you want to take is already full.

While we are sure that your time abroad will be rewarding, you must be aware of some of the challenges inherent in dealing with the Costa Rican educational system. The resident director will not only discuss these at orientation but will also be available to help you with any problems that may arise during the semester.

Keep in mind that the educational system in Costa Rica is different from the system in the U.S. For example, universities do not usually publish course schedules until just before the start of the semester. In many cases, current course listings are not available until you arrive on site. Registration can be a confusing and frustrating process; remember that IFSA-Butler staff will help you during orientation.

What if I need to take a required course?
Because of UNA's academic schedule, it is difficult to confirm course availability before you depart. If you are flexible in your course choices, you will probably be able to find a course that fits your needs. Keep in mind that if you need a specific course to fulfill your home institution's requirements, we may not be able to confirm the availability of that course or enroll you in it even if it is available. Both academic flexibility and patience are requirements for studying in Latin America.

Science and engineering courses everywhere require a high level of expertise, and students should be prepared for the increased challenge of studying these disciplines in Spanish. As these are fields in which there are generally few international students, visiting students may feel that the support
system is not readily apparent. However, previous visiting students at UNA have found science and engineering course professors to be helpful.

What are the registration conditions?
You must take a full university course load as determined by IFSA-Butler, which is 15-16 U.S. semester credit hours per semester. Credit will be awarded on a Butler University transcript based on a typical U.S. full course load. Please be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your home university or host university to take or process additional credits. Taking less than a full course load may jeopardize your student status and result in personal academic repercussions and/or loss of financial aid.

All courses are graded on an A-F scale, and there is no provision for pass/fail or auditing courses unless pass/fail is the only method of assessment for the course. Students are not allowed to register for on-line, distance education or hybrid courses. See the "Academics" and "Program Fees and Financial Aid" sections in Preparing to Study Abroad for more information.

Exams

What do I need to know about exams?
Due to the difference in academic systems, your exam schedule will not be available until after you register for courses at UNA. Be sure to confirm exam dates with your professor at the beginning of the semester. You are not permitted to reschedule exams, request alternate assessment or arrange to have your exams proctored in the United States. If this occurs, IFSA-Butler will not be able to assist you in conducting an academic record query on the class in which you made this arrangement. Additionally, all academic obligations, including final exams, must be complete before leaving Costa Rica.

Transcripts

How will my home university know what my classes were and what grades I received?
After you return to the U.S., IFSA-Butler will send a Butler University transcript to your home university. The transcript reflects the courses taken, credits attempted and grades earned on the Heredia Intermediate program during your study abroad semester. We will also send an official transcript to your permanent home address.

Academic Tutors

What if I need academic help during the semester?
In addition to the formal Spanish class, IFSA-Butler organizes tutoring sessions for students throughout the semester or year. These may be scheduled at various times during the week, when students meet with the tutor on an individual basis. Please speak with the IFSA-Butler resident staff if you would like the assistance of a tutor.

Community-Based Learning

The Heredia Intermediate program is designed not only to help you improve your Spanish skills but also to provide a unique opportunity for you to become personally involved in your new host culture. As a part of the Intermediate Spanish course, IFSA-Butler has included a community-based learning component.

After an informational workshop, you will select from a variety of community organizations in the Heredia/San José area that you will work with during the semester. You will be required to commit at least two hours per week with organizations such as:

• Inbioparque (Instituto de Biodiversidad) - Environmental conservation and protection
• Programa Bandera Azul - Community and beach beautification projects
• Nursing homes for the elderly
• Orphanages
• Tutoring school-aged children

See the "Volunteer" section of the Heredia Intermediate website for more information.