Winter 2026 in Costa Rica

APPLICATION STEPS

1. Contact your study abroad office OR go to the Citrus College Study Abroad website and complete the interest form.
   
   If approved, your study abroad advisor will send a link to the AIFS Student Portal (enrollment page).
   
   
2. Apply to Citrus College for winter semester.
   
   Complete a Citrus College application for admission online at Applying for Credit Admission. You will be issued a Citrus student I.D. and student email.
   
   
3. Awards and loans are not available for the winter session. Although, it is possible to apply for a loan during the fall semester through the Citrus College Financial Aid office. For Promise program eligibility (tuition waiver) be sure to add Citrus College to FAFSA.
   
   
4. Pay the $450 deposit to secure your spot before the October 12, 2025 deadline.
   
   
5. Pay the remaining balance and attend the mandatory pre-departure orientation (see the dates below).
   *Note: $150 of your deposit is non-refundable. After October 12, 2025, the entire deposit is non-refundable. See the AIFS Refund and Cancellation Policy in a tab below.

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PROGRAM DEADLINES

• Sunday, October 12, 2025: $450 enrollment deposit deadline
• Friday, November 17, 2025: Entire balance due
• Tuesday, November 25, 2025: Mandatory orientation at 5:30 p.m. in CI 159. Come at 5 p.m. to chat and eat pizza.

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FEES

Based on an enrollment of 20-29 paying participants with two faculty members: $5095, excluding airfare.

This fee excludes airfare, passport or visa fees, meals other than those listed, personal expenses, any Citrus College tuition or administrative fees, textbooks, additional field trips or excursions required by the Citrus college faculty and anything not specified.

• Completed at least 12 units (nine units must be CSU/UC transferable)
• Have a cumulative 2.5 GPA
• Must be at least 18 years old by the program's start date
• Currently enrolled first semester college students may also qualify if their campus coordinator approves a progress report.
• Incoming high school seniors enrolling in their first college semester with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher may be accepted with an additional essay composition.

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Please join us for our information sessions and fundraising/scholarship workshops.

• Forget to register? No problem! You can always just show up using this direct Zoom link.

INFORMATION MEETINGS

• Information Meeting #1
  When: Wednesday, September 10 at 5 p.m.
  Where: CI 159 or Zoom
  Register here and receive a reminder
  
  
• Affording Study Abroad Workshop
  When: Thursday, September 18 at 5 p.m.
  Where: Online on Zoom
  Register and receive a reminder for the meeting
  
  
• Information Meeting #2
  When: Monday, September 22 at 5 p.m.
  Where: Zoom Only
  Register here and receive a reminder
  
  
• Information Meeting #3
  When: Monday, October 6 at 5 p.m.
  Where: CI 159 or Zoom
  Register here and receive a reminder
  
  
• Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation Meeting
  When: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in CI 159
  Come at 5 p.m. to chat and eat pizza.
  Where: In-person at Citrus College in CI 159

There are many ways to help pay for studying abroad.

• Plan, save and budget
• Financial aid
• Loans
• Fundraising
• Scholarships

Scholarships are often overlooked, but you should apply to as many scholarships as possible.

• Review our Mastering the Scholarship Essay suggestions. Be sure to make an appointment with your study abroad advisor, writing center or faculty for essay review and assistance.
• For comprehensive essay writing tips, review the Essay and Statement Writing Tips.

Here are just a few of the scholarships that are available:

• The Gilman Scholarship
  • Awards Pell Grant eligible students (required) a maximum of $5,000 per program (usually $2,000-$3,500)
  • Gilman Scholarship deadlines:
    • Winter and Spring Programs: First Thursday of October (or you can submit early for summer and fall)
    • Summer and Fall Programs: First Thursday of March (or submit early for winter and spring)
  • View the Gilman overview presentation slides as a PDF file.

• Other Scholarship Opportunities
  • Your college's financial aid web page will likely have information about internal and external scholarships.
  • Citrus College internal scholarships open in the spring and close in May.
  • Here are additional resources to help:
    Scholarship and fundraising information
    Scholarship resources and links
    Funding Your Study Abroad presentation (PDF file)

Robert Goodman
rgoodman@citrusollege.edu

Robert Goodman instructs a diversity of classes in natural history, wildland resources and forestry, environmental science and biology at Citrus College with over 30 years of teaching experience. He holds a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

His interest in natural resources with emphasis in plant and animal ecology has increased significantly with field experiences in many parts of the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Honduras, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii.

With over 15 publications and continuing wildlife research, Bobby is thrilled to share his knowledge with students to enhance their understanding of Costa Rican biodiversity and natural history while thinking critically about our role in the environment and promoting long-term sustainability.

Brian Waddington
bwaddington@citruscollege.edu

Brian Waddington has history degrees from University of California, Berkeley and San Francisco State University with an emphasis in the United States and Latin America. He has served as Study Abroad faculty in Kyoto, London, Italy and Greece and has traveled extensively through North America, as well as in Europe, Japan, Australia and the Middle East. He is a keen bird watcher and is excited to share his hobby in the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica.

Participation requires one or both of the following courses:

BIOL 145 Environmental Science
3 Units (AA/AS; Citrus B1; CSU; UC; Cal-GETC 5B)
54 lecture hours; Grade Mode: Standard Letter
Strongly recommended: BIOL 105 or BIOL 105H; ENGL C1000
A lecture course exploring contemporary global environmental concerns. Basic concepts covered will include the Earth's life support systems, population dynamics, environmental pollution, food production and natural resource utilization. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing global environmental problems and exploring various solutions for them.

HIST 132 History of Modern Latin America
3 Units (AA/AS; Citrus D1; CSU; UC; Cal-GETC 4)
54 lecture hours; Grade Mode: Pass/No Pass, Standard Letter
Strongly recommended: ENGL C1000
The course is a survey of the social, economic and political history of Latin America from independence to the present. The legacy of colonialism will be considered as special emphasis is given to the development of cultural, political and economic institutions. The course will give attention to the relationships between Latin America and the United States foreign policy.

Students who have paid the $450 deposit will be able to register through Citrus College Banner portal AFTER THE June 8 DEPOSIT DEADLINE.

If students are not eligible for the Promise Grant (CCPG), tuition fees will be applied (3x $46 = $138 or 6x$46 = $276).

Visits to:

• Doka Coffee Plantation, Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall
  
• Sarapiqui and La Selva Biological Station including Natural History of La Selva lecture and Carbon Project workshop, Sarapiqui River boat ride, two night hikes and a morning hike with naturalist guides
  
  
• Arenal and Soltis Biological Research Center including Soltis Center introduction lecture, two night hikes with a naturalist guide, a waterfall hike, a tropical fruits class, a horseback ride to La Fortuna Waterfall, a hike at Arenal Volcano, a visit to Baldi Hot Springs, a visit to the Sloth Sanctuary.
  
  
• Monteverde Biological Station including a Monteverde Biological Station introduction lecture, a visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Bio Reserve, two night hikes and a morning hike with naturalist guide, a ziplining canopy tour.
  
  
• Palo Verde Biological Station including a Palo Verde Biological Station introduction lecture and a hike with a naturalist guide.
  
  
• Hacienda Barú Lodge and Manuel Antonio National Park including Tárcoles River crocodile safari cruise, Carara National Park hike including entrance, day and night hikes with a naturalist guide, entrance to the Manuel Antonio National Park and beach day.

Transportation by private bus throughout the itinerary.

An AIFS tour manager for daily running of the program, information and emergency contact service.

Student medical insurance policy

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ACCOMODATIONS and MEALS

• Housing in shared, multi-bedded rooms in student accommodation in the biological stations and in a hotel near the San José airport (on the first and last nights of the program).
• Breakfast is included daily. Most lunches and dinners are included with the exception of arrivals/departure days and additional occasions as noted in the itinerary.

The student fee does not include the following:

• Round-trip airfare and in-country transfers for students (see optional items in accordion tabs)
• Passport or visa fees, if applicable
• Meals other than those listed
• Personal expenses
• Textbooks
• Additional field trips and excursions to those listed
• Anything not specified

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OPTIONAL TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE

• Airfare Package: An optional transportation package is available, consisting of round-trip airfare between Los Angeles and San José, and round-trip transfers overseas between the airport in San José and student housing for an additional $715. Mandatory additional U.S. government- and airline-imposed departure taxes, fees and fuel surcharges of $151* (Total: $866*) (*subject to change) will be billed separately.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Students can request a single occupancy room where available.

This is offered on a first-come first-served basis and applies to the main student housing option only. Additional fees would apply if students wished to upgrade to single occupancy on overnight excursions.

Please note: single occupancy rooms are not guaranteed.

• Single Supplement (20 nights): $395