Sustainable Central America
8°37'N 83°17'W osa costa rica
wednesday, January 12 2028The Future Looks Different From Here
In the decades ahead institutions, countries and communities will face incredible opportunities, and profound challenges.
For some, success will require insights from experts outside of universities, and leaders who can work across cultures and borders.
This hybrid online and experiential course with two weeks in Panama and Costa Rica allows students to discover the ways ordinary people are doing extraordinary things in public health, protected area management, environmental education, small business development and much more.
“The experience changed my life. Before I went, I thought that something like this would be for people with more experience, who traveled a lot. I had never been on a plane or left Colorado. 100% one of the best decisions I have ever made..”
— Student Colorado State University
9°33′N 79°39′W portobelo panama
TUESDAY, January 11 2028Experiential and Applied Learning
Our two-week travel component is entirely field-based with students learning hands-on from farmers, scientists, nurses, teachers and entrepreneurs leading their communities.
Previous students have discussed the Panama Canal expansion with engineers, huddled with a coffee cooperative entering negotiations with Starbucks, and shadowed park rangers on patrol.
With all instruction in English and translators present for all experiences students can ask the people doing this work questions like:
How have they defined progress? What strategies have they used to meet their goals? Which have succeeded? What does the future look like from their perspective?
Sustainable Central America is a hybrid online and experiential course that explores how communities in Costa Rica and Panama are working to build more sustainable, healthy and prosperous lives. Designed and taught by experienced faculty with decades of experience in the region, the course is hosted by welcoming communities and local experts in some of the most beautiful and biologically intense ecosystems on the planet.
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Sustainable Central America is a hybrid online and experiential course that is suited for a wide variety of majors.
Students complete modules provide essential information on the history, economics, ecology and cultures of Panama and Costa Rica before departure.
Leaving the US in the first days of January we then spend one week in Panama and the next week in Costa RIca hearing from community leaders on the strategies they are using to make their lives better.
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Because it involves only two weeks of travel, and because we pay no fees to big education travel companies we are able to keep costs down.
Because prior to departure the course is entirely online and asynchronous the course is available for online only students as well as students on campus.
Because the topic of sustainable development is so broad it overlaps with many other majors, including applied majors.
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We want to make study abroad possible for students who might want to go but thought it would not fit.
All instruction is in English.
Our hosts and faculty are committed to students who are new to international travel.
We value hands on experiential applied learning. While the issues are complex and global, the solutions we will be hearing about are very down to earth.
The entire time we are in Panama and Costa Rica we spend in the field doing while we learn.
“Having the opportunity to work with Juan Carlos on his jaguar project at Osa Conservation was incredible. It broadened my idea of what was possible with my major”
— Student St. Lawrence University
8°37'N 83°17'W ASOPROLA costa rica
TUESDAY, January 11 2028Let’s Study What Works.
This is experiential learning built for applied majors, so it works for everyone. Travel for two weeks of hands-on work in Central America, with no full semester required.
That makes it a fit for traditional students, working adults, online students, and anyone watching their budget. If you’ve wanted fieldwork that fits your life, this is it.
