Southeastern Louisiana University 

Business study abroad program

The program provides a comparative assessment of international economic development by combining technical aspects of business administration with an examination of Costa Rican culture and its relation to local and international business practices. Lectures and site visits will provide insights into US-Costa Rica business relations, the role of transnational corporations, hemispheric free-trade agreements and the impact of globalization.  The overall objective is to enhance awareness of Latin American business processes and systems, to understand the importance and operation of business, economic, and commercial relations between Costa Rica and the United States, and to develop a deeper understanding of the relation between cultural and economic forces in our changing words. The 2008 Business Study Tour of Costa Rica will begins in May 2008 at San Jose during a ten-day period. Lectures and visits will be held mornings and afternoons during 5 complete days with renowned experts on every field of business. We invite you to enhance your knowledge about a third world country with a standard of living of developed nations and learn first hand why transnational corporations like Baxter and Procter & Gamble are choosing Costa Rica to establish offices and plants.  Participants will also see the impact that an educated workforce can have on a country’s economy.  Hear from persons who dealt directly with trade issues including the recently approved CAFTA treaty. Tentative lectures and visits include: Lecture by the Managing Editor of La Nacion Newspaper, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, CISCO Corporation, Café Britt, AmCham, Jacks Industries, Inbio and Sardimar. Lodging will be in the center of town at a full service hotel and lunches will be in a different place each day. Included is also a full buffet breakfast. The weekend excursion will include three nights at the Allegro Papagayo Resort, an all inclusive resort in  the province of Guanacaste, North Pacific, and a wonderful one day excursion to wonder at one of the world’s largest crater, the Poas Volcano, waterfalls, butterflies and hummingbirds.  A group coordinator will be available 24 hours for help and consultation. We trust that you will take maximum advantage of this opportunity.

Sociology and Criminal Justice study abroad program

We invite you to enhance your knowledge about how a third world country has a high standard of living, a first world social security system, a strong human right record and a 100 year old democracy immersed in a very conflictive area of the world.  The 2007 Sociology & Criminal Justice Study Tour of Costa Rica will take place in San Jose during a ten day period. Lectures and visits will be held mornings and afternoons. Translators will be available if necessary. Lodging will be in a small hotel walking distance from downtown and the University of Costa Rica area, a very secure student location with lots of commercial shops, movie theaters and night life.  Included are visits to Inbio, a wonderful introduction the Costa Rica National Park system to learn and walk along live examples of the biodiversity of Costa Rica, La Reforma, the main jail of Costa Rica, lectures with officers of public institutions such as the Police Academy, the OIJ, the Costa Rican version of the FBI, a visit and lecture with a congressman at the Costa Rican Congress to learn about current laws being discussed at the time, the Children’s Museum that was the first jail of our country, and a day volunteering at Ciudadela La Promesa, a very poor part of town that our programs have always supported. The weekend excursion will include two nights at Tamarindo Beach in the North Pacific area, a very popular beach town full of activities and great beaches, continuing the third day towards the Arenal Volcano area, lodging in a volcano-front hotel where the lava eruptions can be enjoyed.  A group coordinator will be available 24 hours for help and consultation.