Snapshots
Organization for Tropical Studies
Costa Rica: Tropical Biology
Areas of Study (4 required courses)
Fundamentals of Tropical Biology
Environmental Science and Policy of the Tropics
Field Research in Tropical Biology
Spanish Language and Latin American Culture
| Term | Dates | Application Deadline |
| Fall | late August to late December | February 1 |
| Spring | late January to mid May | May 1 |
| Summer | early June to early July | February 15 |
Eligibility
Minimum 3.0 GPA. Course prerequisites are two semesters of college biology and two semesters of college Spanish. Students may fulfill the Spanish prerequisite by enrolling in intensive Spanish prior to the program start date.
WU Credits
15-16 credits for 4 OTS courses (semester)
3-4 credits for summer program
Location
The program will visit a large diversity of forests and ecosystems, ranging from classic lowland tropical rain forest to the endangered tropical dry forests to chilly montane oak forests and paramo. Most of our time will be devoted to the three field stations owned and operated by OTS: Las Cruces, Palo Verde, and La Selva.
Application Process
The application process differs based on the term in which you wish to study abroad and your department's approval of this program.
Semester/AY Applications - If this program is approved by your department you must submit a completed WU Semester/AY Study Abroad Application with program-specific forms to the Overseas Programs office in McMillan 138. If this program is not approved by your department, then you must meet with Jennifer White Reding before proceeding with your application.
Summer Applications - You must submit a completed WU Summer Study Abroad Application with program-specific forms to the Overseas Programs office in McMillan 138. If you wish to receive major or minor credit, please ensure that this program is approved by your department and you complete the Study Plan with your Study Abroad Advisor.
More about the application process can be found on the How to Apply webpage.
WU Program Price
The WU program price includes WU tuition plus WU student health insurance and any housing, food, airfare or other costs paid by WU on the student's behalf. Below are projected program pricing and estimated personal expenses for this program. Click on the term to download a detailed cost breakdown.
| Estimated Costs* | Summer |
||
direct costs |
*The fees, charges, and expenses shown are estimates based on current information only and are subject to change.
| Faculty Liaison Prof. Bob Dymek Campus Box 1169 935-5344 rfdymek@wustl.edu |
Overseas Programs Coordinator Dr. Amy Suelzer Campus Box 1088 935-8372 McMillan 138 acsuelze@wustl.edu Mr. Steve Shriberg (Summer) Campus Box 1088 (314) 935-9607 McMillan 138 sshriber@artsci.wustl.edu |