Students at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) can learn more about Costa Rica during a short-term education abroad opportunity scheduled for summer 2026.
Ana I. Estrella, assistant professor of natural sciences, will lead a group of students on a program to the Central American country May 13-21. They will study tropical ecology in a three-credit-hour course titled “The Expedition: Leatherback Sea Turtle and Tropical Ecology in Costa Rica” (BIO 197, GRY 197, or IDS 297).
Estrella said the experience also is open to community members.
What you’ll experience
This interdisciplinary program focuses on the biology of leatherback sea turtles and tropical ecosystems, she said. The goals are to increase participants’ environmental literacy, promote environmental ethics, raise cultural consciousness, and increase self-confidence while participating in a non-traditional classroom setting.
Students will learn and experience tropical diversity, human impacts on the environment, and the effects of climate change in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, Estrella said. They will gain an understanding of how social events, political issues and economic growth has impacted natural resources in Costa Rica, as well as how sustainable agriculture, community involvement and ecotourism are helping to mitigate environmental problems in the country, she explained.
The group also will engage in more than 30 hours of service learning while participating in ongoing research projects, Estrella said.
The expedition is completely off the grid and will take place in remote and rustic locations. There will be no access to modern conveniences, Estrella stressed. “These settings provide participants with an opportunity to experience the authentic Costa Rican culture and to reflect on similarities and differences from American culture,” she explained.
How much it will cost
The program fee is $4,470, which includes tickets for airfare, taxes, all meals in Costa Rica, all lodging, all transportation in country, park fees, airport exit taxes from Costa Rica, tips, international program fees and travel insurance.
The fee does not include personal expenses, passports and in-state tuition costs for students taking the class. Students eligible for the A+ Program and/or other financial aid benefits may be able to use those benefits to cover tuition costs, university officials said. Students should contact the MSU-WP financial aid office for more information.
Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship available
Students receiving the Pell Grant also may apply for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship to help cover costs. The deadline for the scholarship application is Oct.1 and Mar. 5. Estrella said the travel provider also has financial aid options for students who enroll in the program by Oct. 31.
The deadline to apply for this education abroad opportunity is Dec. 1. The application can be accessed online through the Missouri State University Education Abroad website, International.MissouriState.edu/EducationAbroad. Click on the “Search for a Program,” then “MSU Short-Term: The Expedition” links, then follow the directions to apply.
For more information about this opportunity or application procedures, contact Estrella at 417-255-7710 or AnaEstrellaRiollano@MissouriState.edu.