Pitzer in Costa Rica Summer Health Program

Photo of students in scrubs in Costa Rica

The 2023 Pitzer in Costa Rica Summer Health cohort of students

Organized by Pitzer College in collaboration with the Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS), the Costa Rica Summer Health program begins in Claremont during the spring semester where students participate in a half-course seminar introducing them to Costa Rica, epidemiology, important public health concepts, and intercultural learning. The program moves to Costa Rica for six weeks in the early summer, usually from late May through early July. Through intensive Spanish language courses, a seminar on health and health care in Costa Rica, internships, and family stays, students explore health care in Central America while furthering their Spanish language skills and gaining an understanding of the life and culture of Costa Rica. 

Eligibility and Prerequisites

  • The Costa Rica Summer Health program is open to Pitzer students and students from the Claremont Colleges 
  • Students must have a 2.0 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale
  • Completion of the second semester of college-level Spanish or a demonstrated equivalency is required prior to participation in the summer portion of the program. A third or fourth semester is preferred and recommended for students who wish to maximize their learning and internship opportunities on the program.
  • Students are required to complete the 1/2 credit course CGS 101 Health and Health Care in Costa Rica taught at Pitzer College during the spring semester prior to summer participation

Program Dates

  • Spring Semester Half-Credit Course: Approximately nine class meetings in Claremont 
  • Summer Program: Six weeks in Costa Rica from late May to early July

Courses & Credits

CourseClaremont CreditsSemester Credits
CGS 101 Health and Health Care in Costa Rica 
*Required pre-requisite course offered on-campus in the Spring
0.52
Sociology of Health & Health Care in Costa Rica1.04
Intensive Spanish Language1.04
TOTALS2.510

Program Information

Core Course: Sociology of Health and Health Care in Costa Rica

This course provides an overview of health and health care in Costa Rica. Internships, lectures by program faculty, presentations from organizations, site visits, and engaging assignments allow students to explore the epidemiology of Costa Rica, the structure and financing of the health care system in Costa Rica, women’s health issues, and environmental health. The course includes an overview of Costa Rica’s social and economic history that is essential for understanding the context of health and health care in Costa Rica. For Pitzer students this course will satisfy Pitzer’s Social Responsibility Praxis (SRX) requirement.

The highlight of the core course is the intensive internship of 14-16 hours per week for four weeks. The internship provides students with a focused exposure to the roles that particular agencies play in addressing health care issues in Costa Rica. Students gain first-hand experience with the models and assumptions on which an agency operates, the particular problem solving strategies it utilizes, and the financial, intellectual and technological resources it brings to bear on these problems. Past students have: 

  • assisted health outreach workers on home visits
  • worked in a nutrition program for malnourished pre-school children
  • conducted field work with Costa Rica’s national institute for health research
  • worked in local clinics
  • supported community health posts
  • volunteered with organizations that service disabled children
  • taught at a school for disabled children

Intensive Spanish Language

Intensive Spanish is offered at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels through the Institute for Central American Development Studies (ICADS). With a maximum of four students per teacher, the course employs a highly communicative, interactive curriculum that emphasizes both spoken and written Spanish and is closely connected to the family stay experience, the health care course, internships, and other field activities. Students attend language classes for 12 to 14 hours a week for a total of roughly 60 hours of in-class instruction. Students who are already fluent in Spanish have an independent study in Spanish on a topic of interest (culture, history, literature, etc.).