Introduction
Brochure 2012-2013!
This experiential course explores the socio-economic realities of Central America, integrating into that exploration the concepts learned and skills gained through the Liberal Arts Core. The course requires that students study the impact of culture on the working environment, gain an understanding of the social and economic condition of a particular country in Central America, and explore how culture might impact that country’s economic status in the global economy. The experiential component requires that students live and work with citizens of the country, gaining a more personal view of the culture and sensitivity to the social-economic realities of the community.
See the instructor's program page, HERE.
Program City
Throughout the trip, the students participate in service activities while in the mountain village of Siares, a community UNI has been involved with for five years.
Faculty Leader
Academic Program
Course Syllabus
Winter Program: December 28th, 2012 - January 10th, 2013
Summer Program: May 13th - May 25th, 2013
Accommodation & Meals
The group participants live and eat together during their entire time in Nicaragua. Meals are prepared in the village by local cooks and are similar to the Nicaraguan's normal diet.
Program Cost
CEPAD provides housing, transportation, meals, two translators, guest speakers, and tours for a per diem of $85 per person per day. The 2011 trip will be for 12 days for the per person cost of $1020. Airfare cost is seperate.
Ziplining and Volcano boarding is optional and paid on site by participants:
Ziplining is $15
Horseback riding is $10-15
Volcano boarding which includes equipment, transportation, and guide at $25 per person
No visas are needed for US citizens.
Students pay UNI tuition and fees (in-state or out-of-state), the $65 application fee, and the study abroad administration fee to participate. There will be additional costs for housing, food, books and supplies, round-trip airfare, international health insurance, and other personal expenses.
To ease the financial burden on participants, expenses are broken up into four main categories.
- The first large expense is the airfare; shortly after the program is full* and has been declared closed, participants will be notified by the Study Abroad Center how to go about purchasing the airfare (normally organized by Study Abroad Center).
- The second amount due will be for any reserved activities associated with the program (e.g., housing, local transportation abroad, some cultural activities, some meals); this amount will be due before the program start, usually in the spring semester prior to the program.
- Third, the UNI tuition and fees, the study abroad administration fee, and any remaining amounts will be placed on the U-bill.
- Finally, there will be onsite expenses consisting of meals, additional cultural program activities, and any other personal expenses.
*Note that summer programs fill at different times and so airfare purchase dates will vary greatly by each program. Please contact us (contact page URL) if you have questions about a specific program.
Tales From Abroad
2012 Quotes I 2011 Quotes I 2010 Quotes l 2009 Quotes l 2008 Quotes l 2007 Quotes l 2006 Quotes
My experience on the Nicaraguan Capstone was unforgettable and life changing. Being enthralled in another culture and doing hands on activities to better some of the poorest communities has taught me so much about not only the Nicaraguan culture but also about myself. Live for the day!
-Leah Schlute, Summer 2012
Nicaragua opened my eyes to a new kind of reality. In our two weeks in Siares, we built great relationships throughout community. We worked alongside the locals and learned about their lives, culture, and understanding of the world. The people opened their homes and hearts to us. I recommend that everyone take a trip like this to gain a new perspective and appreciation for life, learn to understand another culture, and better one's understanding of self.
- Kristi Philips, Summer 2010
