Harvard Summer Program in San José, Costa Rica
This page contains content from the Summer School 2009. For current information, visit the Harvard Summer School website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
Related Link
Information on the programs being offered summer 2010 will be available online in early September.
An anthropological look at technology’s role in education
Faculty: Catalina Laserna and Claudia Urrea
(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 20–August 15, 2009
Application deadline: February 27
Cost: $5,610
Costa Rica—with its cloud forests, volcanoes, and idyllic beaches—is known as a destination for ecotourists. But the Central American country also has a vibrant society and varied industries. It is the only Latin American country without an army. With a literacy rate around 95 percent, it boasts more educators than police officers. And as one of Latin America’s oldest democratic republics, Costa Rica has a diverse economy that features not only ecotourism but also pharmaceuticals, electronics, and software development.
The importance of education and development in Costa Rica makes it an ideal location for this program, which explores how anthropological knowledge can inform the design of culturally responsive learning environments. We collaborate with the Omar Dengo Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Costa Rica that for the last 20 years has investigated and implemented several endeavors on technologies of education. Through this program, students participate in the implementation of Costa Rica’s One to One Computing initiative.
Course of study
ANTH S-1741d Study Abroad in San José, Costa Rica: An Anthropological Perspective on Media in Education
**This course has been canceled for the summer 2009**
This course explores the intersection between anthropological and educational research and theory building. Topics include the comparative ethnographic studies of educational forms (including craft apprenticeship and formal schooling); socio-cultural theories of cognitive and linguistic development; and varieties of literacy, including computer-based literacy, which we term “cybercy.” We work to demonstrate how ethnographic inquiry and theorizing can provide critical insight into the ways digital technologies mediate practices of the school and local community. Prerequisites: adequate conversational Spanish fluency to carry out ethnographic research.
Course credit
For Harvard College students, this program counts as a full-year course (8 credits) of Harvard College degree credit.
Transfer credit. Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary among schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
Catalina Laserna, Lecturer in Social Anthropology, Senior Research Analyst, and Director of the Master of Liberal Arts in Educational Technologies Program, Harvard Extension School
Claudia Urrea, PhD candidate, Future of Learning Group, MIT Media Laboratory
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old to apply. The application materials, outlined below, are due February 27:
- An application form (this program has been canceled for summer 2009)
- Official transcripts (sent directly from schools to the address below; unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for Harvard College students only)
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- Contact information for two references
- A supplementary statement describing interest in the program, relevant coursework, and travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite)
Applications should be addressed as follows:
Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
An interview will also be scheduled. Students will be notified of admission decisions by mid-March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $5,610, plus a nonrefundable $50 application fee. In addition, students are responsible for a health insurance fee ($165; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States), personal expenses, and transportation to and from San José. The cost of the program covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room and board
- Three excursions (including housing and meals)
Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses.
Payment deadlines
For those admitted to the program, a nonrefundable deposit of $561 must be received by April 15 to secure a place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Funding
Harvard College students are eligible for funding through the Harvard College Office of International Programs (OIP), as well as a variety of centers around campus. All Harvard Summer School study abroad programs qualify for summer funding. Programs of eight weeks or longer in duration (including extensions of Harvard Summer School Programs approved by faculty members) qualify for Rockefeller International Experience Grants; programs of shorter duration qualify for other summer grants.
Students may consult the Funding Sources Database for more information on all sources of funding. Please note that the funding application deadline for summer grants and Rockefeller International Experience Grants is February 27.
To apply for any study abroad funding, students need to provide information about the program’s budget, submit an application through the Common Application for Research and Travel (CARAT), as well as supplementary documents to the relevant center, if necessary. Additional information on the funding application process is available through CARAT.
Also see the Harvard College Financial Aid Office summer school page for information about assistance.
Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
Students live with local host families.
Additional information
Contact Matilda West at matilda_west@harvard.edu.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible: (617) 495-0977, (617) 495-9419 (TTY), or disabilities@dcemail.harvard.edu. Request-for-accommodation forms and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 15. See the Disability Services page for more information about disability services, including request forms and guidelines for documentation.
Students applying for admission to Harvard’s study abroad programs should understand that although the University provides reasonable assistance and support to facilitate the participation of qualified students in its programs (including students with disabilities and health impairments), some of our programs are located in parts of the world where accommodations may not be readily available. Students are encouraged to be forthcoming with the disability services coordinator about any specific needs and functional limitations so that the Summer School can collaborate with those students in a way that fosters their safe participation and allows them to fully appreciate any barriers that they may face, depending on the location and rigors of the particular program.
Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be canceled.