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Is this program right for you?

This program is designed for students with biology-related majors who have completed at least one year of introductory biology and one elective in ecology and seek intensive, sophisticated tropical field and course work in Costa Rica from both theoretical and taxonomic perspectives. All biology courses are taught in English.

Program Snapshot

  • Live in a biological station surrounded by the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
  • Gain hands-on research experience through an independent research project
  • Through extensive travel and field study, students explore and research Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems
  • Participate in two long field trips, including a trip to Panama to observe marine diversity in the coral reefs off the Bocas del Toro Islands
  • Get to known rural Costa Rica through a one-month homestay with a local family

Subject Areas

  • Humans in the Tropics
  • Independent Study
  • Spanish Language
  • Tropical Biology
  • Tropical Diversity
  • Tropical Ecology

About Monteverde

Monteverde is a small community of 4,000 that accommodates up to 200,000 tourists each year. Its forest is located in the largest private reserve in Central America and reflects a long heritage of grassroots conservation. Despite its economic benefits, ecotourism has associated costs: immigration, disparity of wealth, increased consumption, and many other factors that put pressure on the forest and the economy. As Monteverde has grown as an eco-tourist site, other activities have flourished, including a K-12 bilingual school focusing on environmental education, a fair trade coffee organization, and women’s cooperatives.

Where You'll Study

CIEE Study Center in Monteverde, Costa Rica

The CIEE Study Center in Monteverde is located in a small, friendly, bilingual community surrounded by a cloud forest. Monteverde is free of biting insects and green all year-round. Monteverde’s Cloud Forest has been studied for over 25 years by both visiting and Costa Rican biologists. This widens the research opportunities available and acquaints students with practical biological problems associated with agricultural development, eco-tourism, and grassroots conservation efforts in developing countries.

Thoughts From Abroad

The Tropical Ecology and Conservation program is designed for students who want direct exposure to many types of tropical forests, with taxonomic, empirical, and theoretical information on the organisms these forests contain. It is for serious students who are very motivated to study biology and conservation.

This also means beautiful beaches, spectacular waterfalls, run-ins with cats and tapirs, Great Green macaws, insects of all kinds, rainbows, plants with plants growing on them, hiking, camping, birding, snorkeling, early mornings, late evenings, statistics, hummingbirds, butterflies, boats, whales, and turtles. It means doing all of these things with many people—instructors, researchers, everyday people, and fellow students—who are excited to learn and motivated to help save Costa Rica’s amazing biodiversity.

I will not tell you why I love Monteverde and Costa Rica so much. You will have to come down and find out for yourself. When you do, your love for the people and wildlife will never leave you, and, if you are like me, you may return again.

— Alan Masters, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Dr. Alan Masters, Resident Director, has a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Florida. He has spent more than 20 years conducting research in Monteverde and has worked with the Tropical Ecology and Conservation program since 1996. Dr. Masters’ work with chemical defense in butterflies brought him to Monteverde in 1983 as a graduate student. He completed a post-doctoral program at Princeton University in 1991 and has taught biology at both Princeton University and the University of Florida.

Dr. Anjali Kumar, who earned her Ph.D. from the University of Washington, studied army ants in the Monteverde area. She joins a team of Costa Rican and international biologists, including Pablo Allen (butterflies), Richard LaVal (vertebrates), Mark Wainwright (frogs) Tania Chavarria (birds), Moncho Calderon (bats), Yimen Array (birds), and Jorge Picado (mangroves), who show and teach students about Costa Rica’s biodiversity.

Kathy Rockwell, Logistics Coordinator, is a lifelong Monteverde resident and daughter of Quaker settlers in the region. Prior to working with CIEE, Kathy was the Assistant Manager at the Monteverde butterfly garden.

Recommended Credit

semester: 17 semester/25.5 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75
  • 2 semesters of college-level biology
  • 1 additional semester of college-level ecology or environmental science recommended
  • Some college-level Spanish recommended

Program Dates

Fall 20098/23/2009 - 12/2/2009
Spring 20102/4/2010 - 5/16/2010

Application Deadlines

Fall 20094/1/2009
Spring 201011/1/2009

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Fall 200915 weeks
mid-August - late November
Spring 201015 weeks
early February - late May

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Fall 2009 $12,900
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, scientific equipment and lab fees, housing, all meals, transportation to/from the Biological Station in the Cloud Forest, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, national park entry fees, outdoor camping equipment, field house lab access, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Medical Insurance$74
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$11,076
    Housing and Meals$1,750
    Total$12,900

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, scientific equipment and lab fees, housing, all meals, transportation to/from the Biological Station in the Cloud Forest, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, national park entry fees, outdoor camping equipment, field house lab access, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$700
    Personal Expenses$800
    Books and Supplies$40
    Total$1,540


  • Spring 2010 $13,100
    The CIEE fee includes tuition, scientific equipment and lab fees, housing, all meals, transportation to/from the Biological Station in the Cloud Forest, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, national park entry fees, outdoor camping equipment, field house lab access, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$11,666
    Housing and Meals$1,360
    Medical Insurance$74
    Total$13,100

    The CIEE fee includes tuition, scientific equipment and lab fees, housing, all meals, transportation to/from the Biological Station in the Cloud Forest, optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, national park entry fees, outdoor camping equipment, field house lab access, a comprehensive student handbook, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure)$700
    Personal Expenses $800
    Books and Supplies$60
    Total$1,560


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.