Semester Program

Costa Rica
Costa Rica boasts 20 national parks, 27 other protected areas, nine forest reserves, eight biological reserves and several wildlife sanctuaries.  Costa Rica has countless species of birds (over 700 species counted in Costa Rica in an average year), 120 species of mammals, and the vascular plant flora includes over 1,800 species.  The dramatic terrain and climate provide a variety of tropical ecosystems ranging from lowland wet forest to high elevation paramo for students to experience and study.

Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS)
The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS), in partnership with Duke University, proudly offers semester and summer programs for undergraduate students interested in field biology.  The OTS Costa Rica Semester Programs utilizes all three OTS field stations as well as other Costa Rican sites, allowing direct study of a wide range of tropical ecosystems and habitats.  The program's undergraduate offerings feature the OTS method of field-based, experimental learning under the close guidance of highly qualified Ph.D.-level professors.  Graduates of an OTS undergraduate program will be well prepared for advanced studies in tropical biology and resource management.

Academic Program
Students in this program will be enrolled in the following four courses: Fundamentals of Tropical Biology, Field Research in Tropical Biology, Environmental Science and Policy, and Spanish language and Latin American Culture.  Courses are taught by resident professors, as well as visiting professors, distinguished visiting professors and researchers.  All of the OTS faculty are active tropical biologist and dedicated teachers.

Every semester program visits all three OTS field stations.  La Selva Biological Station, located in lowland tropical forest on the Atlantic slope, is an internationally renowned research center and home to thousands of species of flora and fauna.  Las Cruces Biological Station, located in cool mid-elevation forest on the Pacific slope, houses Costa Rica's premier botanical garden with the richest plant collection of Central America.  Palo Verde Biological Station, located in seasonally dry forest of northwest Costa Rica, provides direct access to extensive wetlands with a host of magnificent waterfowl.

Eligibility
For this program, students must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or better.  Program course prerequisites are two semesters of college biology and two semesters of college Spanish.  Students who have not studied Spanish may enroll in an intensive Spanish course before the program begins.

website: www.OTS.duke.edu