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Internships for Heredia, Costa Rica

USAC internships abroad are a great way to enhance your educational experience. Participating in a structured work or research experience with an international organization, whether in-person or virtually, will help you gain valuable skills and hands-on experience while expanding your professional network and immersing yourself in the workplace culture of Costa Rica.

A $985 internship placement fee will be required of all students participating in an in-person USAC internship. This fee helps offset the costs of securing quality internship placements and helps provide a range of professional development activities, including an online internship seminar, career workshops, and panel discussions.

For more information on eligibility requirements and application process see the USAC internship page.

Virtual placements are offered through USAC’s virtual internship program. For more information about the program, see the virtual internships page.

Internship placement in Heredia require four semesters of college Spanish unless otherwise noted.

*Placement with a particular internship provider is not guaranteed

Placements available in the following fields:

English-Language Instruction

Health and Wellness

Journalism and Communications

English-Language Instruction

Public Ministry of Education, placements available in four public elementary schools and two high schools in Heredia

  • Format/Terms available: In-person | Semester
  • Requirements: Two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
  • Sample Work Responsibilities
    • Assist in classroom instruction
    • Assist in curriculum planning
    • Deliver lessons focusing on grammar, pronunciation, and conversation in the classroom

English-Language Instruction

School of Business Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, National University of Costa Rica

  • Format/Terms available: In-person | Semester
  • Requirements: Two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
  • Sample Work Responsibilities
    • Teaching English to adult staff in small groups of 6-10
    • Curriculum planning
    • Deliver lessons focusing on grammar, pronunciation, and conversation in the classroom

Health and Wellness

A health care institution responsible for protecting the health and safeguarding the quality of life of the community, addressing health problems with comprehensive, personalized, timely, and quality care, and overseeing the training and education of individuals and organizations in protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of Costa Rica

  • Format/Terms available: In-person | Semester
  • Requirements: Four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
  • Sample Work Responsibilities
    • Shadow doctors and nurses
    • Assist in taking measurements (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, etc.)
    • Assist in patient interviews

Health and Wellness

A multidisciplinary intervention program designed to improve the functional, psychological and social quality of life of patients who have suffered a cardiovascular event such as acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery surgery, valve replacement, heart failure, and implantation of pacemakers or defibrillators, among others

  • Format/Terms available: In-person | Semester
  • Requirements: Four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent
  • Sample Work Responsibilities
    • Shadow doctors and nurses
    • Assist in taking measurements (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, etc.)
    • Assist in patient interviews

Journalism and Communications

A journalism and communications office producing print and broadcast journalism focusing on campus life, local news and events, and topical issues in Heredia and Costa Rica

  • Format/Terms available: In-person | Semester
  • Requirements: Four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent. Previous journalism experience required.
  • Sample Work Responsibilities
    • Assist journalists, editors, and producers at the communications office
    • Producing media content for TV, radio, and print publication
    • Content research
    • Working with video, images and texts