Universidad Nacional Partnership

Join an exciting, diverse student body in smaller class sizes at the Universidad Nacional. In addition, take advantage of IFSA Spanish class options to further enhance you language skills. All classes are instructed in Spanish.

Advanced Spanish I or Advanced Spanish II
Language of Instruction: Spanish
While in Costa Rica, you can opt to continue your Spanish language study. A mandatory pre-arrival language assessment will determine your appropriate language level. Based on your score, IFSA may require you to take a Spanish language class to support your academic success in Spanish-taught direct-enroll classes. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

Universidad Nacional
As an IFSA student, you will enroll in undergraduate courses for which you are qualified and space is available.

While course descriptions may be found online, course syllabi may not be available until the beginning of your semester. Click here for the online course catalog and follow these steps:

• Click on a departmental link (“leer más”) in which you would like to look for courses.
• Next, click on “descargar plan” to download a PDF of the course listings in the Carrera
• You will see a tentative list of courses that may be offered during the year.

*Please note that UNA’s online course listings are not often comprehensive. If a particular department or course you are looking for is not listed, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for assistance.

If course descriptions or syllabi are not available online, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor. Provide the following information in your request, and keep in mind this may take up to a month to obtain.

• University department/facultad
• Course title
• Course number (if available)

Special Option: Development of Education and Educational Models
Language of Instruction: Spanish
This UNA-based class contrasts theory with classroom practice developed in the Costa Rican educational system. It also seeks to encourage in students the development of attitudes and values surrounding ethical, environmental, political, social, cultural and gender issues, consistent with the vision developed by educators themselves that serves to fight for equality, solidarity, and other promoters of a more just society. Students build their course load with the Advanced Spanish program course and three integrated classes at Universidad Nacional’s prestigious School of Education and other departments. An optional non-credit workshop preparing students for the ACTFL test is available.

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students

Language Requirement
To enroll in Spanish-taught classes, you must have a specific language level. Please visit our Language Requirements page for more details. If you have questions about whether you qualify, contact your IFSA Enrollment Counselor.

Class Restrictions

• All classes are conducted in Spanish by UNA faculty members. Resident staff will work personally with you to identify the best classes to match your Spanish language level and academic interests. You can also take advantage of academic and Spanish language tutorials to support you throughout the semester.
• You may only take one class from Estudios Generales and one class from Escuela de Arte.
• Licenciatura-level classes, such as those located in Estudios Latinoamericanos (IDELA), are only available to students with an extremely high level of Spanish and currently hold senior status at their U.S. institution.
• The Escuela de Literatura may limit enrollment in literature classes to students with very good command of the language, have received high grades in previous Spanish classes, and who place into a higher level of Spanish during orientation.
• Nivel 1 corresponds with first-year classes; Nivel 2 corresponds to second-year classes, etc.
• I Ciclo (primer ciclo) is a U.S. spring semester (January to July); II Ciclo (segundo ciclo) is a U.S. fall semester (July to December)
• Anual refers to full-year classes.
• When the word Latina appears alone in a class title, it means classic, not Latino ethnicity. This applies mostly to literature classes.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
• Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Not required.

Language Requirement
Four (4) semesters of college-level Spanish or an Intermediate II level proficiency is required.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.