Costa Rica Program

Loyola Law School is proud to host the Costa Rica Summer Program in Ciudad Colón. Costa Rica’s rich tropical environment along with its long history of respect for nature, human rights and peace, makes it the ideal location to study environmental law and international perspectives on the right to health.  

The 2013 Costa Rica Summer Program will be held from July 29 to August 15, 2013. Classes will take place at the University for Peace (UPeace) in Ciudad Colón, and will include the following courses:

• Comparative and International Perspectives on the Right to Health (2 credits)
• International Environmental Law (2 credits)

Location

Ciudad Colón is located 15 miles southwest of San Jose, Costa Rica's capital. The small city is known for its tropical region, volcanic soil, exotic wildlife and rich culture. Costa Rica has a reputation for peace since abolishing its army in 1948. The country's democracy has has been stable since the end of WWII, and since it serves as the seat of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, its commitment to human rights is strong. Environmental protection and sustainable development are important national characteristics too. One third of the country is set aside as a natural reserve and Costa Rica has one of the highest bio diversity densities in the world. It's a perfect setting for law students interested in environmental and human-rights law. 

Highlights

• University for Peace is the only degree-granting institution of the United Nations.
• The university campus is located within a natural reserve composed of a secondary forest and the last remnant of primary forest which shelters monkeys, deer, reptiles, over 300 species of birds, as well as approximately 100 varieties of trees.
• Students can participate in visits to local cultural sites and legal institutions such as the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and La Paz Waterfalls. (If time and weather permit, an additional trip may be taken to a point of interest relating to international environmental law).
• Lectures by local attorneys and judges experienced in international environmental and human-rights law.