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

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Dates & Deadlines

Program Overview

The Politics of Militarism in Costa Rica program combines Spanish language learning with upper-division Political Science coursework. Over nine weeks, you’ll build a strong cultural foundation, study Spanish, and complete two upper-division Political Science courses, all while living with a local host family.

Module I: Spanish Language and Cultural Immersion
Your program begins with a focus on cultural immersion and language development. You’ll move in with your host family (all meals provided) and take one Spanish course (5 credits) at your appropriate level—Beginner Spanish (100 level), Intermediate Spanish (200 level), or History & Culture of Costa Rica (300 level). Whether you’re a complete beginner or already have a background in Spanish, this module is designed to prepare you for understanding Costa Rica.

Module II: Politics of Militarism
In the second module, you’ll take two concurrent 400-level Political Science courses taught by Dr. Jane Cramer, a University of Oregon faculty member. During these five weeks, you will attend classes, hear from guest speakers, participate in excursions, and engage directly with the political and social contexts of the profound anti-militarism of Costa Rica and the influence of US militarism and interventionism on Costa Rica and the region.

Class Excursions

  • National Museum
  • Chieton Moren Fair Trade
  • UPeace Campus Tour & Lecture
  • Roble Sabana Women's Coffee Association
  • Public Hospital Visit & Healthcare System Lecture
  • Centro Civico Por la Paz Tour & Talk
  • Public School Visit & Volunteering

Module III: Panama
The final week of the program takes place in Panama. You’ll stay with a Panamanian host family, learn about Panamanian culture, visit the Panama Canal, and reflect on and examine extensive US influence within Panama, explore Panama City, spend time at the beach, and complete your final academic work before the program concludes.

Additional Program Highlights:
• Two weekend excursions and several day-long trips to locations such as Ark Herb Farm, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Arenal Volcano.
• Cultural activities like traditional Costa Rican cooking and dance classes, as well as guided city tours.

Dates and Deadlines

Term Year Deadline Arrival Date Departure Date
Winter Quarter 2027 10/15/2026 01/16/2027 03/20/2027

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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Faculty-Led Scholarship Opportunity

Applicants to this program are eligible for program-specific scholarship funds. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500-$1,500. To be considered, apply to the GEO General Scholarship by the advertised deadline for the term you will be abroad. Students who apply will automatically be considered for all available funding within the General Scholarship, including this program's scholarship funds.

Discount for Pell Recipients

To expand access to study abroad, GEO is offering a $500 discount for this program to UO students who currently have the Pell Grant as part of their federal financial aid (FAFSA).

Academic Details

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

  • SPAN 188 – Beginner Spanish (100-level)
  • SPAN 288 – Intermediate Spanish (200-level)
  • SPAN 388 – History & Culture of Costa Rica (300-level)
    Equivalent to SPAN 301, 303, or 305, and it can also count as a SPAN elective
    • Prerequisite for SPAN 388: SPAN 203 or heritage speaker proficiency.

PS 488: Militarism: Costa Rica and the USA (4 credits): The course, taught in English, will examine the history of anti-militarism in Costa Rica and compare it to what has been called “modern American militarism” in the USA. The course will study the concept of “militarism” and how it has been studied and measured by scholars. 

PS 488: US Interventions in Central America (4 credits): This class, taught in English, is a US foreign policy class focused on examining United States military and CIA interventions in Central America since World War II. 

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

Dr. Jane Cramer focuses on the study of international relations, specializing in international security. She teaches courses on The Causes and Prevention of War, US Interventions, and Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nonproliferation. Her current research projects include examining the causes of state misperceptions of security threats, examining tradeoffs between national missile defense and cooperative efforts for nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, and re-examining the diversionary theory of war.

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. 

Spanish faculty from the International Polytechnic University (UPI)

Housing Description

Students will be placed in groups of two to three students per homestay in Heredia, Costa Rica and Panama City, Panama. Homestays provide three meals a day, laundry once a week and are conveniently located within walking distance of each other and the university classrooms. All meals are provided with host family, except for 2 meals on excursions. 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” and Panamanian families. 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.