This is a detailed program description. This is
a 4 week course, 4 hours per day and includes home stay. The cost
of this course is $1400.
This course is made of two distinct but
integrated programs. "Contacto Cultural," and "Enfoque Histórico",
both components constitute a single unit.
"Contacto Cultural" focuses on the process
of learning about the language and culture by means of a direct hands-on
community contact. Students are given different tasks they must perform
outside classroom with the cooperation of Costa Ricans. Once the
student has documented the assigned task, he/she will give a brief presentation
of the results.
"Enfoque Histórico" attempts to
provide the student with a general knowledge about the country's history,
economy, and politics. All different topics will be covered in chronological
or in thematic order. Students will be asked to write short essays on different
topics.
Program Description
GEOGRAPHY
1. The Costa Rican territory: fundamental
characteristics
1.1 Costa Rica: biological and cultural
aspects
1.2 Geopolitics of Costa Rica
1.3 Costa Rica and Central America:
specific aspects
Video: Art, History, and Beauty
of Costa Rica
HISTORY: SOUTH PACIFIC AND GOLFITO
1. History of the region
2. The transnational capital and the development
of the banana trade
3. Regional economy
Video: The Province of Puntarenas
HISTORY: THE ANTIQUE CULTURES, THE CONQUEST
AND THE COLONY
1. The Old World: general characteristics
2. The European expansion and the conquest
of the "New World"
3. The colonial model
READINGS
1. Chavarria, Sandra. Las Estructuras
de Dominación en Costa Rica: De la Época
Colonial a los Albores del Estado Nacional.
San José, Euned, 1991, pp. 36-62
2. Ibarra, Eugenia y Payne,Eliseth.Costa
Rica en el siglo XVI. San José, Euned 1991, pp. 53-62.
Video: Intima Raiz
HISTORY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE
1. The climate of independence
2. The Central American Federation and
Costa Rica
3. The development of the state and the
political instability (1840-1870)
4. Agrarian Capitalism and the Incorporation
of Costa Rica in the World Market.
5. The War between 1856-1857
HISTORY
The Central Valley: Región Oriental
(Cartago)
1. The Central Valley
1.2 Cartago
1.2.1 Its importance in the colony
1.2.2 Activities in production
1.2.3 Regional characteristics
Video: Province of Cartago
HISTORY
The Atlantic Region: Limón
1. Limón
1.1 Importance for the National Economy
1.2 Afrocaribbean Culture
Video: Province of Limón
HISTORY
Consolidation and Crisis of the Costa
Rican Liberal Model
1. The liberal State: economic, social,
political, and religious characteristics
2. The consolidation of agricultural exportation:
Development of the railway and the
banana enclave
3. The crisis of the liberal model and
the political alternatives
HISTORY
Reformism, Civil War, New Political Constitution
(1940 - 1949)
1. The transition to the reformist model
2. The Armed conflict of 1948
3. The Constitution of 1949
HISTORY
Culmination and Crisis of the Social Democratic
Model (1940 - 1982)
1. The political parties
2. Administration by the State: National
Development
3. Growing of the State System
4. The Crisis of the Administration
HISTORY
Northern Pacific: Guanacaste
1. Northern Pacific
1.1 Activities in production
1.2 Society and Culture
1.3 Guanacaste and National Folklore
ACTUAL COSTA RICA
1. SOCIAL CRISIS
2. DIFFERENT ROLES BETWEEN
MEN AND WOMEN
3. INTERVIEWS AND VIDEOS