Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or Above
Location: Americas, Costa Rica
GPA: 2.5

Program Overview

The Sustainable Business in Costa Rica program offers you a four-week experience that blends academic study with hands-on excursions. Over the first two weeks, you'll engage in one Spanish language course tailored to all proficiency levels, ensuring accessibility for everyone, even if you have no prior Spanish knowledge. The second half of the program shifts focus to a deep dive into sustainable business practices, where you'll explore key concepts such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), the Triple Bottom Line, and Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan.

These topics come to life through site visits to local businesses, including sustainable coffee and chocolate companies, indigenous-owned enterprises, and eco-tourism destinations like Manuel Antonio National Park and Arenal Volcano. The program offers a unique opportunity to see sustainable business practices in action.

For those looking to further apply their learning, an optional month-long internship provides the chance to work on sustainability-focused projects with local companies. This hands-on experience will enhance your understanding of the intersection between business operations and environmental stewardship. Internships are available in English.

Program Highlights:

  • Weekend and day-long excursions to Poás Volcano, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Arenal Volcano.
  • Visit local sustainable businesses like Café Britt and Sibo Chocolate.
  • Two weeks of language instruction for all levels.
  • Enjoy activities like traditional Costa Rican cooking and dance classes, city tours, and interactions with local communities and your host family.
  • Extend your stay with a month-long, project-based internship, where you can apply classroom knowledge to real-world sustainability projects and build your resume.

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Summer 2026 03/15/2026 06/27/2026 07/25/2026 (Optional Extension: 08/22/2026)

This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.

Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application.  This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement.

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Academic Details

Students will enroll in the following courses.

1. SPAN 188/288/388: Spanish Language Course (5 credits): Choose one Spanish course to take during the first two weeks of the program:

  • SPAN 188 – Beginner Spanish (100-level)
  • SPAN 288 – Intermediate Spanish (200-level)
  • SPAN 388 -- Business Spanish
    • *Prerequisite for SPAN 388: SPAN 203 or heritage speaker proficiency

Note: All Spanish courses are taught using an immersive, communicative approach in which instructors speak exclusively in Spanish — even at the beginner/survival level. This can feel challenging at first, but it typically becomes easier over time, and research shows this method is highly effective for language learners.

2. BA 388: Sustainable Business in Costa Rica (4 credits): Explore key sustainability concepts such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), the Triple Bottom Line, and Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan, with hands-on learning through site visits to local sustainable businesses.

Approved as upper-division BA elective credit.

For business administration and accounting majors who take the optional internship extension this program may satisfy  Lundquist College of Business (LCB) Global Context requirements and meet the Cultural Awareness for Business Decisions Requirement with LCB academic advisor approval. Please contact a LCB academic advisor for more details about these requirements.

3. (Optional) GLBL 488: Internship in Sustainable Business (4 credits): Apply classroom knowledge in a practical setting during a month-long, project-based internship, working on sustainability-focused projects with local companies. Opportunities are available in English, with projects pre-determined by the organizations. Must extend stay in Costa Rica for four additional weeks to participate.

Weekend and day-long excursions to volcanoes, national parks, and the beach are included in the program itinerary.

Course Equivalencies

UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.

Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.

Faculty and Staff

Giovanni Jiménez Esquivel is an entrepreneur, consultant, and professor with over 15 years of experience spanning business management, project leadership, and sustainable tourism. He holds a Licentiate in Tourism with a specialization in Ecotourism Management from the Universidad Hispanoamericana in Costa Rica and an MBA in Business and Project Management from the European School of Management and Business in Madrid, Spain. Giovanni has led projects in both the private and academic sectors, including his work as Professor of Tourism at the Universidad Hispanoamericana and the Coordinator of the Executive Master’s in Sustainable Tourism Business Administration at Universidad Latina. As a professor at leading Costa Rican universities, he has guided students through bachelor’s, licentiate, and master’s programs, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and real-world application. Through his consulting, teaching, and leadership, Giovanni integrates sustainability principles into business and tourism, fostering responsible growth and resilience in organizations and communities.

Janiva Cifuentes-Hiss – Director of Strategic Partnerships (Arcos Headquarters)
Janiva Cifuentes-Hiss has over 20 years of experience in study abroad designing and leading transformative programs across Latin America, Africa, and Europe. Janiva graduated from Pomona College with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain. She served as Costa Rica Resident Director from 2007–2020 and currently works for Arcos Headquarters where she collaborates with GEO to create immersive customized programs and internships for University of Oregon students. 

Catalina Ovares – Costa Rica Resident Director
Catalina (Cata) is a native of Atenas, Costa Rica. She is a certified naturalist guide with extensive experience leading study abroad programs in Costa Rica. She is CPR and First Aid certified and enjoys soccer, horseback riding, and adventure sports. Catalina is responsible for reservations, logistics, and "behind the scenes program" planning for GEO programs for University of Oregon students. 

Angélica Pérez – Costa Rica Program Director
Angélica (Angie) is from San José, Costa Rica, and has decades of experience leading study abroad programs in Costa Rica. She is a certified bilingual tour Guide, is First Aid and CPR certified, and is trained in leading groups with disabilities. She is very knowledgeable about culture, biodiversity and natural history. Angie leads all Arcos cultural activities and excursions, and is available to support University of Oregon students abroad with health, safety, and cultural immersion. She is on-call in case of emergencies 24/7. 

Adriana Campos – Costa Rica Program Director
Adriana Campos is from Heredia, Costa Rica, and is a certified tour guide and has many years of experience in ecotourism, volunteer coordination, and environmental education. She is First Aid and CPR certified, has led workshops at the National Biodiversity Institute and is a certified children’s yoga instructor.  Adri leads all Arcos cultural activities and excursions, and is available to support University of Oregon students abroad with health, safety, and cultural immersion. She is on-call in case of emergencies 24/7. 

Housing Description

Students will be placed in groups of two to three students per homestay in Heredia, Costa Rica. Homestays provide three meals a day and are conveniently located within walking distance of each other and the classrooms. All but two meals will be provided each month, but students will likely want to go out to restaurants for a few nights on their own.

This arrangement offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture, practice their Spanish language skills in a real-world setting, and experience the warmth and hospitality of a “Tico” family. Homestays also provide a safe and supportive environment, helping students to fully engage with their surroundings and make the most of their study abroad experience.

Budget and Price

Sustainable Business in Costa Rica

2025 Summer

Program Fees Paid to GEO
UO Study Abroad Fee* $500
Program Tuition $3,542
Housing & Included Meals $1,450
Insurance $108
Optional Fees Paid to GEO
Additional Fee - Program Tuition Internship Extension $2,230
Additional Fee - Housing & Included Meals Internship Extension $1,450
Additional Fee - Insurance Internship Extension $70
Other Estimated Expenses
Estimated Airfare from Eugene $900
Estimated Additional Meals $100
Estimated Cell Phone Expenses $100
Estimated Travel Clinic & Pre-departure physical $50
Estimated Cost of acquiring passport $150
Estimated Additional Living Expenses $200
Total
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $7,100
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance with Internship Extension $11,350

Included in Program Costs: Program Tuition, Medical insurance, Pre-departure and on-site support, Excursions, Housing, Most meals, On-site orientation.

* Non-UO Students: study abroad fees and application fees vary by campus; check with your home campus study abroad office.

Please visit GEO Billing Information for information about how you will be billed and when payments are due.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation Date Cancellation Penalty
Upon acceptance to program

Student agrees to $500 non-refundable program deposit
8 weeks before program start date

Student is responsible for 50% of total GEO program fees
Program start date or after program begins

Student is responsible for 100% of total GEO program fees
Note that scholarship funds are not able to be applied to program deposit.

IMPORTANT: The GEO Cancellation Policy is effective from the time a student agrees to pay their non-refundable program deposit or electronically signs the program commitment form, regardless of application or acceptance status. It is essential to read this policy before a potential cancellation takes place, to fully understand the withdrawal and cancellation penalties, and to understand what it means financially to commit to a study abroad program.

Students who cancel their participation must notify GEO in writing. Email is acceptable (geoinfo@uoregon.edu). Verbal notification to GEO or notification given to a non-UO campus study abroad office is not sufficient.

For full details, see the complete GEO Cancellation Policy.

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