Nicaragua/Costa Rica

Academics

ELIGIBILITY
This program is open to all academically eligible undergraduate students. You must be in good academic standing and have a cumulative resident GPA of 2.8 or higher. Although you may apply as a freshman, you need to be at the sophomore level or above at the time of departure. No prior Spanish language study is required.

COURSES
This 15 week academic program has three distinct parts. You will participate in all three.

Part One (weeks 1-6) and Part Three (weeks 9-14):
Spanish courses will start in week 1 of Part One and continue in Part Three. In the Spanish courses, you will cover the equivalent of 2 semesters of language materials, continuing from your current level. Available Spanish courses include:

Span 101: Beginning Spanish I (4 credits)
Span 102: Beginning Spanish II (4 credits)
Span 201: Intermediate Spanish I (4 credits)
Span 202: Intermediate Spanish II (4 credits)
Span 301: Advanced Composition (3 credits)
Span 302: Advanced Conversation & Composition (3 credits)
Span 367: Survey of Spanish American Literature (3 credits)
Span 405: Advanced Conversation (3 credits)

Courses taught in English, with a Latin American Studies focus will also take place during Part One & Part Three. You will take History & Civilization of Central America (UWEC's History 411) and Race, Ethnicity & Social Class (UWEC's Sociology 314).

Part Two (Weeks 7-8): Community Project
Students will spend 2 weeks on a community service project and live with host families. You will work on a very hands-on project identified by community leaders as having value to the residents. No academic credit is awarded, however the project fulfills the UW-Eau Claire service learning requirement.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR
This fall program begins in early September and ends in mid-December. Exact dates are available the semester prior to departure.