Program Courses

What program courses does IFSA-Butler offer?
The following courses are specially designed for IFSA-Butler students on the UNA program. You are required to enroll in the mandatory Spanish language class; your placement level will be determined by an oral and written exam after your arrival in Costa Rica. Additionally, you can choose to enroll in one additional program course. Click here to download all program course syllabi, or click on a course title below to download an individual course syllabus.

Advanced Spanish (4 U.S. semester credit hours) This intensive Spanish class is specially designed for IFSA-Butler students and is mandatory. The course is offered at three different advanced levels, and placement is determined by a series of assessments during orientation in Costa Rica. The class is taught intensively during orientation and continues less frequently throughout the semester.

Social History of Costa Rica (3 U.S. semester credit hours) This optional class introduces IFSA-Butler students to Costa Rica's dynamic social history. Starting in the pre-Columbian era, this course guides students through major historical events which helped shape Costa Rica into the peaceful country it is today.

20th Century Latin American Literature (4 U.S. semester credit hours) The Escuela de Literatura offers this special, non-integrated course to IFSA-Butler students only. The literature department has very strict requirements for international students wishing to enroll in literature courses: very good command of Spanish language, high grades in previous Spanish classes and strong results on the Spanish placement test. Students who do not meet these requirements may enroll in this class.

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, small classes and abundant activities offered throughout the semester help give UNA a small-campus feel.

University Courses

What UNA courses am I eligible to take?
As an IFSA-Butler student, you may enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and space is available. Additionally, you may enroll in open courses as long as you meet any prerequisites and have the adequate level of Spanish. Most of the UNA facultades offer courses in which you can enroll. 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?
The Universidad Nacional publishes a tentative list of courses that may be available for students to take while studying at the university.  Click here for the online course catalog and follow these steps:

• Under the heading, "Facultades o Centros," click on a departmental link in which you would like to look for courses (i.e. Centro de Estudios Generales).
• Next, click on your area of interest under "Nombre Carrera" (i.e. Área de Filosofía)
• You will now see a tentative list of courses that may be offered during the year. Click on a course name or scroll down the page to see brief descriptions for each course listed.

Click here for a listing of Spanish and Literature courses offered at UNA.

Please note that UNA's online course listings are not complete. Some UNA departments have not posted their courses, while other departments have posted only a few courses that may be available. If a particular department or course you are looking for is not listed, contact your program advisor for more information. Course availability changes every semester.

Are there any restrictions or additional requirements for courses I can take?
While most classes at UNA are available for IFSA-Butler students, please keep in mind the following points:

• All courses are conducted in Spanish by UNA faculty members. Students who place into a lower-advanced Spanish level may not be eligible for more advanced coursework.
• You can only register in one course from Estudios Generales and one course from Escuela de Arte.
• Licenciatura-level courses, such as those located in Estudios Latinoamericanos (IDELA), are only available tostudents who have an extremely high level of Spanish and currently hold senior status at their U.S. institution.
• The Escuela de Literatura may limit enrollment in literature courses to those students who have very good command of the language, have received high grades in previous Spanish coursesand who place into a higher level of Spanish during orientation. Keep in mindthat once you register for a class in the Escuela de Literatura you cannot drop it.

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 IFSA-Butler 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.

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.

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 at UNA during your study abroad semester or year. 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.