Costa Rica| McCombs Business School

Entrepreneurship in Costa Rica - Maymester

Explore entrepreneurship in beautiful and dynamic Costa Rica. This four-week Maymester provides students with the opportunity to take BGS 370S-Social and Cultural Entrepreneurship, where they will learn about creating a business to address social problems and use creative means to design market-based approaches to aid a specific cultural group. The course is a practical exploration of social and cultural entrepreneurship in which students learn-by-doing and are required to create a mission-driven business targeted towards solving a pain-in-the-market that will produce a positive social impact for a culturally marginalized group.

The program is complemented by a series of organized excursions and professional visits. Students will immerse themselves in Central American culture by participating in homestays with a local family. Centrally located in San Joaquín de Flores, outside San José, participants will be in proximity to Costa Rica's incredible mountains and rain forests. The Entrepreneurship in Costa Rica Maymester is hosted in collaboration with API, an educational organization founded in 1997. API has grown rapidly since its founding over 20 years ago. They now send more than 4,000 participants abroad annually to nearly 50 cities in 26 countries in Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Oceania.

Quick Info

Academic Term: Maymester
Dates: May 23-June 19, 2021
Credits: 3 UT credits
Eligibility: BBA and non-business students w/ 2.5 min. GPA
Prerequisites: None
Program Code: 350167

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About the Program

ELIGIBILITY

This program is open to BBA or non-business undergraduates with a minimum 2.50 GPA. Please note, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.

SCHEDULE

Classes take place Monday-Thursday (usually 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.). Some afternoon or Friday classes possible. Students are strongly urged to refrain from making weekend travel plans until receipt of finalized schedule. Absence from class will not be permitted.

ACADEMICS

BGS 370S* - Social and Cultural Entrepreneurship – Taught by UT faculty

*This course counts for a Cultural Diversity (CD) Flag.

Note: Students taking BGS 370S on this Maymester can receive credit for an upper-division business elective OR an upper division non-business elective.

This is a Experiential Practicum (Capstone) course that meets Requirement 5 of the Entrepreneurship Minor.

FACULTY

Karen Landolt

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Questions about this program? Contact Aleksandra Wingate at aleksandra.wingate@mccombs.utexas.edu

Fees and Tuition

2021 Program Fee	$3,880
Total Cost	View

For information on scholarships and financial aid, please visit our funding page. Please note that the only opportunity to apply for a Maymester scholarship through BBA International Programs is at the time of program application.

BUDGET

For more information on total costs, including flights, meals, etc., view the Costa Rica study abroad budget.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM FEE?

Accommodations
Weekly cultural excursions
Welcome and farewell receptions
Visits to local companies
24/7 assistance from on-site staff familiar with language/culture
Pre-departure sessions
Re-entry guidance for recruiting

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM FEE?

UT Tuition (3 credits - tuition for Maymester programs is part of spring tuition load - no additional tuition will be required)
Texas Global Fee ($75)
Overseas insurance
Textbooks
Meals
Local transportation
Personal expenses (toiletries, shopping, traveling, etc.)
Flight

Excursions

COMPANY VISITS

Company visits are an important component of the program. They are designed to provide students with a first-hand look at important local industries and business practices.

Company visits will vary on a yearly basis. Past company visits include:

Starbucks - coffee plantation
Al Grano CR - organic food products start-up
Community recycling initiative

CULTURAL EXCURSIONS

Cultural excursions provide students with an opportunity to experience the local environment. Weekly outings, including admission fees, are coordinated on behalf of the group. These events are built into the program and participation at each event is mandatory.

Excursions will vary on a yearly basis. Past excursions include:

Irazú Volcano
National Museum of Costa Rica
Latin Dance Class

Housing and Transportation

HOUSING

Participants will live with host families - students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Costa Rican culture by living with locals from San Joaquín de Flores. Each student will be provided a private bedroom, 2-3 meals per day, linens and towels.

TRANSPORTATION

Participants will book their flights to and from San José, Costa Rica on their own. They will be picked up and dropped off at the airport by their host families.

Pick-up by host family from airport: Saturday before first class day

Drop-off by host family to airport: Saturday after last class day

Visa and Passport Information

PASSPORT

Passports must be valid for at least 6 months prior to the end of the study abroad trip. Texas Global Passport Services can process passport applications.

U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING TO COSTA RICA

U.S. citizens will not require a visa to study in Costa Rica.

OTHER NATIONALITIES TRAVELING TO COSTA RICA

Depending on nationality, non-US citizens may or may not require a visa. Please visit the Costa Rican Embassy website to view requirements for each nationality.

It is the student’s responsibility to research specific requirements for their nationality, and to apply for their visa, if necessary. At the student’s request, we will provide additional program-related documentation to support their visa application, such as an official letter, enrollment status at UT, housing and insurance coverage. Students are also encouraged to request formal documentation of student enrollment status from the UT Registrar's Office and are required to notify Texas Global of their travel plans.