San Ramón Courses – 2024 Spring

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Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.

Academics

You will enroll in 12 to 18 credits per semester comprised of language courses plus electives in life and health sciences, and Latin American studies. Although enrollment in a language course is not a requirement of the program, it is strongly recommended as it will increase your understanding of Costa Rican culture and equip you with language and cross-cultural skills that will be of assistance in your day-to-day life abroad. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.

Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.

Spanish Language Tracks

USAC offers intensive language courses grouped into tracks in which courses are taught sequentially (back to back) within one semester. If you have already taken the first course in a track, you do not have to take it again for credit, but you must audit it to be prepared for success at the next level. Language courses are small and typically have a maximum enrollment of 15 students each.

Language Courses

• Elementary Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

• Elementary Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 100-level 4 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: one semester of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Intermediate Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Intermediate Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 200-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course is designed to help learners of Spanish to develop basic communicative competence and critical thinking skills. It offers an intensive study and practice of the productive and receptive language skills in the oral and written modes. The main emphasis of this track is on communication.

  Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish Composition I

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish Composition II

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  The focus of this course is to improve learners´ written abilities through the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, several grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and refine the learners´ grammatical competence.

  Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Advanced Spanish I

  Spring

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  These two advanced courses of Spanish have been designed for students who may manage in daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, these courses will offer them the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.

  Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Advanced Spanish II

  Spring

  Spanish 400-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  These two advanced courses of Spanish have been designed for students who may manage in daily tasks and interactions, but still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, these courses will offer them the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve grammatical accuracy in their oral and written expression.

  Prerequisite: seven semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

Spring Semester

Language and Literature Electives

• Spanish Conversation and Oral Skills

  Spring

  Spanish 300-level 1-3 credits Taught in Spanish

  An optional two-credit course addressed to students that have already completed a year of Spanish at the elementary level and want to start participating in the oral activities that the immersion setting facilitates.

  Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Spanish for Health Professions

  Spring

  Community Health Sciences Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course will provide students with the knowledge of the basic structures of the Spanish language, and the specialized medical vocabulary needed to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients in a variety of health care situations. Moreover, an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences in the health perceptions of Spanish-speaking patients will be developed. This course is appropriate for all health-related disciplines, and requires some previous knowledge of Spanish.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Survey of Latin American Literature II

Latin American Cultural Studies

• Dances of Latin America

  Spring

  Dance 100-level 1 credit Taught in English/Spanish

  Students will physically connect with Latin American culture through dance and music. This course will cover traditional dances such as Cha-Cha, Son, Bolero, Merengue, Salsa, Guaracha, and Cumbia. Students will also improve Spanish language and vocabulary as it pertains to dance commands.

• Latin America and its Cultures

  Spring

  Anthropology History Spanish 300-level 3 credits Taught in Spanish

  This course will introduce students to the history of Latin America, its people, and the changes that have taken place in the region since the arrival of European populations. Students will develop a robust historical foundation to analyze societal changes related to modernization, education, gender, traditions, and religion in Latin America in general and Costa Rica in particular.

  Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level Spanish, or equivalent

• Latin American Cuisine

  Spring

  Nutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English/Spanish

  An introduction to a local cuisine in a hands-on kitchen environment. Authentic preparations of several local dishes will be taught. Correct cooking techniques are emphasized. Readings and lectures on local food customs and traditions will support and contextualize the cooking instruction. Students will learn about Latin American culture, and practice conversing and following instructions in the Spanish language.

  Dietary restrictions may not be accommodated.

  This course has an additional fee

Life and Health Science Studies

• Biological Diversity

  Spring

  Biology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  The diversity of life forms is one of the greatest wonder and treasures of the world. This diversity is the product of millions of years of evolution, and can be thought in many different ways. One could start by viewing the overall perspective of evolutionary time and the radiation patterns from single ancestors. Another way of looking at it is to explore the characteristics of natural communities and intricate tapestry of relationships between life forms living in these communities. At the ecosystem level, we can look at the diversity of the biota and recognize different biomes. We can also view diversity globally and collectively by estimating the number of species and determining where species are concentrated. Finally, we can measure the amount of genetic variation within species to look at the genetic level diversity.

  The study of biodiversity (and all of its components) is a crosscutting issue because human activities have affected the diversity of life forms to the point where large numbers of species have gone extinct and the genetic diversity of many species has eroded. These treats continue have increase in magnitude and several studies predict that we are now experiencing a new era of mass extinctions due to negative anthropocentric activities. The conservation of biodiversity can be achieved only by: “characterizing it, saving it, and using it in a sustainable way”. To achieve this goal one must study life diversity, and quantify it in order to be able to monitor it and save it.

  Prerequisite: one semester of introductory level biology

• Biological Diversity Field Study

  Spring

  Biology 400-level 1 credit Taught in English

  Field biology is one of the most engaging areas of biology since it requires biologists to work at many levels: the organism, community, ecosystem, or landscape. Field biologists use nature as a laboratory and combine the principles of biology, the physical sciences, and mathematics to study the diversity and interactions of plants, animals and microorganisms in their natural environments. Thus, field biologists include ecologists, zoologists, botanists, population biologists, taxonomists, physiologists, wildlife and fisheries biologists, microbiologists and others. In this course the identification of the most important groups of the tropical biodiversity is very important. The field study will include work in fieldtrips to different localities to compare the diversity present in some of the tropical ecosystems.

  Co-requisite: Biological Diversity

  This course has an additional fee

• Cell Biology

  Spring

  Biology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course explores the field of cell biology including the morphology and physiology of cell membranes, the cytoplasm, and organelles. Topics include techniques in cell biology, motility, cell division, cell-cell interactions, signal transduction and protein and membrane trafficking. Course materials present classic principles in cell biology including important historical contributions and will use experimentally based examples to aid student understanding of important concepts in cell biology.

  Prerequisite: introductory coursework in college-level biology and genetics or biochemistry

• Cell Biology Lab
• Ecology and Population Biology

  Spring

  Biology Environmental Science 300-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Ecology studies the interaction of organisms with the biotic and abiotic environment; population biology studies the distribution and movement of organisms in the natural world. This should ideally act as a biology major capstone course for it incorporates many themes related to biology. Students will touch on many biological principles that they should already be familiar with. Students will gain an appreciation of ecological principles as they relate to the natural world.

  Prerequisite: one year of general biology with lab

• Ecology and Population Biology Field Study

  Spring

  Biology Environmental Science 300-level 1 credit Taught in English

  This field study course consists of two field trips to different habitats. The objectives of these visits will be to better understand the topics covered in the lectures such as individual, population and community level ecological processes, and adaptations to various environments.

  Corequisite: Ecology and Population Biology

  This course has an additional fee

• Global Health

  Spring

  Community Health Sciences Health Ecology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course is directed towards the student who wants to deepen his/her knowledge of global health and how preventive and promotive work can be carried on from an international perspective. Provides an introduction to problems involved in assessing international health needs and designing, implementing, managing, and evaluating public health programs in international settings. Topics include: issues in global health; major health problems and concerns of developing vs. developed countries; international health organizations; international health care systems and health development assistance; development of population/demographic transition; the global economy and health; access to medical care; cultural differences; emerging crises in global health.

• Tropical Conservation Biology

  Spring

  Biology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Tropical Conservation Biology is the scientific study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity. In this course, students will gain an understanding of evolutionary and ecological factors that shape patterns of tropical diversity. Topics covered include 1) the impacts of global warming, species invasions, and habitat destruction on biodiversity, 2) strategies developed to combat these threats, and 3) a consideration of key economic and ethical trade-offs.

  Prerequisite: one year of general biology with lab

• Tropical Marine Biology

  Spring

  Biology 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  This course is a general introduction to tropical marine ecosystems and their inhabitants. It is conducted in conjunction with the National University Center for Marine Studies and Parque Marino del Pacifico both of which are located in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The unique ecosystems of tropical oceans and their inhabitants will be presented in an evolutionary and ecological context.

  Prerequisite: one year of general biology with lab

• Tropical Marine Biology Field Study

  Spring

  Biology 300-level 1 credit Taught in English

  In this course students will visit marine ecosystems introduced in the lecture. Students will be able to explore various marine ecosystems like coral reefs, rocky reefs, mangroves, and intertidal zones.

  Co-requisite: Tropical Marine Biology

  This course has an additional fee

• Women's Health: Global Health and Human Rights

  Spring

  Community Health Sciences 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

  Exploration of the specific health needs of women, with emphasis on understanding and prevention of problems of women’s health.

To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

Field Studies

Optional field studies are an excellent way to deepen your academic experience abroad. During your 1-credit field study course, you will participate in carefully planned excursions that allow you to explore the cultural, historical, and natural features of Costa Rica. These overnight field experiences, combined with required academic components such as readings, research, and written assignments, will increase your understanding of the sites and locales visited.