35
University Partners
Environment & Sustainable Development Field Program
Gain research experience in the natural and social sciences while learning to address environmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective, and explore the idea of “sustainable development.”
NEXT START
02/02/2026
DURATION
14 weeks
Social Justice & Development Internship
Integrate theoretical concepts and real-world experience through hands-on experience. Move from classroom theory to actual practice in your internship placement, learning how communities are seeking to create lasting social change.
NEXT START
02/02/2026
DURATION
14 weeks
Summer Internship
Immerse yourself in Costa Rican language and culture this summer! Learn Spanish, live with a host family, and work at a unique internship placement.
NEXT START
06/01/2026
DURATION
9 weeks
LIVING IN
Costa Rica
Daily classes take place at ICADS’ headquarters, located in Curridabat, a neighborhood on the edge of the capital, San Jose, and near the university area of San Pedro. There are a variety of shops, restaurants and services nearby.
San Jose itself is only a 10-minute bus ride away, and is a bustling cosmopolitan city filled with cultural events, an exciting nightlife, and plenty of historical landmarks and museums to explore.
Costa Rica is a beautiful country blessed with countless natural wonders, a tropical array of flora and fauna, and gracious and warm people to meet along the way. Any location in Costa Rica is easily accessible by bus from San Jose. Many students choose to explore what the country has to offer during their free weekends
ICADS is the best! Living with a host family was an amazing experience that improved my Spanish skills significantly and created an amazing system of support and connection for me in Costa Rica. The classes were interesting, meaningful, and involved a lot of experiential learning, allowing us to immerse ourselves in a new culture and learn from locals. The Field Program took us all over the country, conducting field work in a variety of ecosystems and communities. I highly recommend this program!
I can honestly say this program changed my perspective on the world and myself. The homestays, intensive Spanish, Block 1 courses on social development in Latin America, the Field Program trip, and my research project each taught me so much. I had the best time of my life, and the amazing staff at ICADS played a huge role in that. I would highly recommend this program to any outdoorsy person looking for cultural immersion, academic rigor, and the formation of beautiful connections while studying abroad.
"ICADS provides everything needed to complete an impactful, education-first study abroad trip.
Their expertise in broad, their connections run deep, and their passion for working with students is overflowing. I'm honored to work with Javier, Antonio, Rosa, and the rest of the ICADS family on my Winter Sustainability trip, and I hope to continue this adventure for many
years to come!'
I really enjoyed my classes at ICADS learning about Costa Rica and practicing my Spanish-speaking skills. I truly loved all the professors I had! I interned at the organization, Fundación Mujer, which was a really great place for me to work and learn! The staff was very welcoming and understanding of my learning process. I'm so thankful to ICADS for listening to my academic interests and organizing the internship for me.
This program encourages personal growth and makes sure that your time abroad really means something.
"My experience at ICADS has taught me a lot about the global nature of today's world, but even
more about myself."
"The ICADS Field Program was definitely my favorite time period spent studying in my life. You get many opportunities to do outdoor environmental activities for class and outside of class as well as bond with your Field Program classmates. I loved this program and it was definitely the
highlight of my college career."
"I would recommend ICADS to other students because the different programs help to understand different cultures of Central American countries. It was nice to work in small groups, it made me feel more comfortable. The staff were also very supportive! They were like a second family when we were away from our home."
"Everyone was welcoming, helpful, and friendly. I enjoyed working on my Spanish and learning how education works in Costa Rica. It was a great
experience, I really enjoyed my time here."
