• This is an IU Co-Sponsored Program
• Semester Program with Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) at the Monteverde Institute's biological field station
• Typical enrollment: 15-20 students from U.S. colleges and universites

• Tropical Ecology + Conservation program*
• 17 IU credit hours for 5 required courses for CIEE students only 
  
  • Spanish Language (3 credits)
  • Courses (in English):
    • Tropical Diversity (BIOL-OS 300, 4 cr)**
    • Tropical Community Ecology (BIOL-L 433, 4 cr)
    • Humans in the Tropics (GEOG-OS 200, 2 cr)**
    • Independent Study in Biology/Ecology (BIOL-X 490, 4 cr)
• Extensive educational excursions, including work retreat

Please note: Monteverde is co-sponsored as a single-site option only and may not be included as a site in the Open Campus multi-site model. IU supports its students on single-site, semester co-sponsored programs through standard billing and academic arrangements between IU and the program provider. Consequently, the CIEE Open Campus multi-site academic and billing model can only be accommodated through Non-IU Program procedures.  For more information, see: https://overseas.iu.edu/programs/non-iu/index.html.

**Note: -OS 2/300 is the default designation to identify courses recorded as 2/300-level undistributed credit that can count in total hours toward graduation and may be able to satisfy major, minor, or distributional requirements with the approval of participant's school.

Course Equivalencies: Please see the Monteverde-CIEE course equivalency list for program enrollment requirements and a list of IU course equivalencies that students have received in the past.

*Note: IU selectively co-sponsors CIEE program offerings, including the one described on this page, but not all CIEE tracks/offerings. Please contact Overseas Study for clarification.

• Program Website
• Getting Started Handbook
• Diversity, Identity, and Accessibility Resources

• Four-person rooms at biological field station (private baths/showers), family-style meals at same location
• Four-week homestay with Costa Rican families

You may apply if you:

• are an undergraduate student at any Indiana University campus who is making normal academic progress
• are in at least your third full-time semester of college
• are enrolled in (or have completed) 2 semesters of college-level biology*
• have approximately a 2.75 cumulative GPA

Previous coursework in environmental science (or equivalent) and some Spanish is recommended.

Students must have a passport valid for six months beyond program's end date.

Students must be able to demonstrate flexibility, resilience, and self-reliance.

Complete eligibility criteria and selection criteria are outlined within the Academic Policies and Procedures of the Office of Overseas Study. Selection is based on maturity, seriousness of purpose, and appropriateness of match between program and applicant. Students on disciplinary probation during program period are ineligible.

Fall 2022

• IU portion of fee: $237.21
• CIEE portion of fee*paid to IU bursar: $17,907.50 (academic fees, housing, all meals, orientation, local excursions, scientific equipment & lab fees, transportation to/from the Biological Station in the Cloud Rainforest, national park entry fees and medical insurance)
• International Airfare: CIEE estimates $650 (for East Coast departures)
• See IU Fee Sheet for additional cost and payment details.

*Special discounted CIEE fee for IU students. Based on published CIEE materials. Indiana University cannot guarantee the prices charged by CIEE and is not responsible for any price increase or change. Program qualifies for need-based CIEE Overseas Study Program Specific Scholarships. 

Airfare, personal expenses and vacation travel additional. Initial pre-payment of $500 due April 5, 2022.

Spring 2023

Financial Aid and Scholarships:

• IU scholarships, grants and loans applicable to program costs with some exceptions. Please carefully check these exceptions before you commit to a program.
• CIEE scholarships and grants available.

Please see our financial aid page for general information and links to additional scholarship opportunities.