LIU Study Abroad


Apply (Visiting Students) Register (Current Students)

Heredia, Costa Rica – Spanish for Health Professionals

Dates: January 5 – 16, 2026

Course Title: GCOS 398 – Spanish for Health Professionals

Course Description: This course is aimed for future health professionals to improve their Spanish communication skills, an important skill to providing quality healthcare to a large sector of the population. The course begins with a 10-day intensive Spanish course in Costa Rica, combining class instruction with engaging field visits to different Costa Rican health-related settings. The course will continue with online sessions and coursework after the Costa Rica intensive portion of the course. Once in Costa Rica, students will be placed in small groups by level, so the course is open and will benefit students of all Spanish levels interested in the health professions. The course will focus on vocabulary and grammatical structures related to the daily work of healthcare professionals and provide field opportunities to apply their Spanish speaking skills in different Costa Rican healthcare contexts. Students will also learn about the Costa Rican healthcare system and an overview of Latin American culture through its language and customs.

The main objectives are: I. To learn grammar and vocabulary that will allow students to communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking patients or healthcare service users. II. To learn about different Costa Rican healthcare centers and interact with professional staff in different healthcare fields. III. To experience typical Costa Rican cultural practices such as popular sayings, cuisine, music, and dance.

Instructor: Professor Gabriela Garcia (Costa Rica Center)

Credits:

  • 3 credits that count as liberal arts credits and Honors College credits (if applicable), NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

Spring Term Meeting Day/Time: 

●      Thursdays from 6:00-7:50 PM EST (Teams) (1/19/2026-2/20/2026)

Travel Dates:

●      January 5 – 16, 2026

Travel Details:

●      Arrive at San Jose Airport between 11-3 PM on 1/5/2026 to receive free transport.

  • Students can also pay a small amount for individual transport if they cannot accommodate this time.

●      Check out of accommodations by 11 AM on 1/16/2026

Accommodation: 

●      Students will reside in private double or triple rooms with en-suite bathrooms.

●      Hotel Cibeles - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TzWxMHFJHE61bSTg8

Fees:

  • Travel Fees:
    • $1,980.00 (not including airfare)
    • Travel fee includes:
      • Airport transfer 
      • All transportation to field trips and activities
      • All field trips, activities, registration/entrance fees
      • Books and course materials
      • Hotel accommodation (double or triple rooms)
      • Select meals (included: 2 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners)
      • Travel insurance
      • Airfare is NOT INCLUDED – students must arrive during a specific time window on a set date and leave university care after the final activity.
        • Students are welcome to arrive early and/or stay after the course finishes.
        • Students are responsible for themselves and all travel costs outside the course days.
        • Notes: 
          • Plan to bring about $25-35 a day because only select meals are included.

Tentative Itinerary:

●      January 5 

  • Arrive in Costa Rica. 
  • Welcome dinner.

●      January 6 

  • Initial orientation to Costa Rica
  • Class session

●      January 7

  • Visit a local university hospital
  • Small group language classes by level with a focus on Spanish for health professionals.

●      January 8

  • Expert lecture on Costa Rica’s health care system
  • Small group language classes by level

●      January 9

  • Visit a local public community health center
  • Small group language classes by level 

●      January 10

  • Visit a local private hospital
  • Small group language classes by level 

●      January 11

  • Visit a local indigenous community to learn about their traditional health practices.
  • Small group language classes by level

●      January 12

  • Visit and engage with a local senior residence to discuss health prevention and attention
  • Small group language classes by level 
  • January 13:
    • Overnight excursion: Visit an agricultural cooperative community to learn about health issues and practices (Longo Mai).
    • January 14:
      • Overnight excursion: Visit an agricultural cooperative community to learn about health issues and practices (Longo Mai).

●      January 15 

  • Final class session, closure activity.

●      January 16 

  • Departure

●      Optional activities: TBD, but could include hiking, cooking class, Latin dance class, etc.

Guidelines For All Courses:

  • Open to all undergraduate LIU students not graduating in December 2025.
    • P1, P2, and P3 Pharmacy students are also invited to participate.
    • Non-LIU undergraduate students are also welcome to enroll, but must pay the additional credit cost mentioned below.
    • These are spring courses with a travel component before the first day of the spring semester.
    • These courses meet once a week for one hour and fifty minutes over Teams during the first five weeks of the spring 2025 semester (after travel). Courses will meet no more than 5 days during the spring semester, and students are expected to keep the block open for the first five weeks. 
      • If interested students have a time conflict with a mandatory course, varsity sport team, or LIU artistic requirement, please reach out to Gregory.Barton@liu.edu to discuss the possibility of participating asynchronously through recordings. 
      • Students must participate in two virtual prep sessions prior to the trip in November/December. These sessions will be recorded for students who cannot attend.
      • Travel courses are capped at 18 students.
      • Travel courses require at least 10 students to run. Please wait until you receive confirmation from the Global College team before purchasing flights.
      • Students must adhere to the conduct rules outlined in the Student Handbook while on all trips. 
        • If students do not adhere to these rules, they can be expelled from the trip at their expense.

Travel Requirements:

  • All participants must have a valid passport. It cannot expire within six months of the trip. No visa is required for U.S. participants for the current summer study abroad offerings. For non-U.S. citizens, please research travel requirements and reach out directly to discuss your specific needs.
  • Participants must have received all vaccinations required by the country, region, or airline. Please research travel requirements and reach out directly to discuss your specific needs.

Understanding Extra Fees:

  • Credit costs are included in LIU semester tuition (if registered for 18 credits or less).
    • $1,281.00 extra for each credit over 18 (LIU undergrad).
    • $1,519.00 extra for each credit over 18 (LIU professional phase Pharmacy).
    • $4,361.50 additional charge for non-LIU undergraduate visiting students.
      • They will receive three credits from LIU that transfer to their institution. They will need to speak with their own institution to see what the credits count for in their degree.

 

Deadlines:

  • Students must enroll in January travel study abroad courses by 9/30/2025 using the link below. Spring courses will not be available via MyLIU for students to self-register by 9/30, so filling out this form allows a Global College staff member to enroll you in the course on your behalf. By filling out the form, you are required to take the respective course in the spring semester. You must be financially cleared to register for spring courses; otherwise, you will not be registered for the course and will still be liable for fees.
    • https://forms.office.com/r/bQzkNjfr5g
    • A $1000 deposit is due by 10/31/2025. The remaining balance is due according to your spring semester billing plan.
    • Students are fully liable for all travel fees (travel, accommodation, etc.) if they drop short-term study abroad courses after filling out the form. These courses are different from the general LIU refund policy and dates.

Registration:

  • Students will be automatically registered for the course by filling out the form below.
    • https://forms.office.com/r/bQzkNjfr5g
    • Non-LIU students should reach out to Gregory.Barton@liu.edu to enroll.
    • Space in the courses is first-come, first-served. The only way to secure a spot is to fill out the form above. If the course is full, please reach out to Gregory.Barton@liu.edu to be added to the waitlist. If you are added to the waitlist, you will be informed via email by the Global College team and have 24 hours to claim your place.
    • You must be available to meet during the weekly virtual meeting time in the spring semester – this is an LIU course worth 3 credits.
      • If interested students have a time conflict with a mandatory course, varsity sport team, or LIU artistic requirement, please reach out to Gregory.Barton@liu.edu to discuss the possibility of participating asynchronously through recordings. 

Scholarships:

  • LIU scholarships and federal financial aid pay for your semester tuition, not travel fees.
  • LIU students can apply for the Long Island University Study Abroad Fellowship to supplement the travel fees for the study abroad experience by 9/15/2025 
    • The Study Abroad Fellowship is awarded based on merit and financial need. It will not cover the entire amount (typically a few hundred dollars to cover food). 
    • The Study Abroad Fellowship is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • Students will be informed of decisions by 9/25/2025.
    • The application link is: https://forms.office.com/r/CkM2T3sYev   

More Information:

  • For more information on each individual trip, there will be info sessions at each campus:
    • Post – Thursday, September 18th from 12:30-1:45 PM in the Gold Coast Cinema (Hillwood Commons)
    • Brooklyn – Wednesday, September 24th from 12:30-1:45 PM in the Honors College Lounge (Pratt 310)
    • Virtual – Wednesday, September 24th from 6:00-7:00 PM Join the meeting now
    • If you have any questions about the courses or other general study abroad questions, please reach out:

 




© Long Island University | All Rights Reserved