Program Overview

Introduction to the Program

The Stern Around the World in Costa Rica program is a unique opportunity for NYU Stern students to explore social entrepreneurship and sustainable development in Costa Rica. This program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the value of building sustainable businesses and the importance of social entrepreneurship.

Course Overview

The program is centered around the course BSPA-UB 45: Social Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Development in Costa Rica. This 3-credit course takes place in the Fall semester and includes a required trip to Costa Rica in January. The course focuses on three main pillars:

1. Sustainable Development - Costa Rica is a compelling example of effective sustainable development, with a deep commitment to environmental protection, rich biodiversity, and successful implementation of sustainable practices.
2. Social Entrepreneurship - Students gain hands-on experience in social entrepreneurship by working with women-owned Small and Midsize Businesses (SMBs) in San Jose, Costa Rica. Student teams will be matched with a SMB for mutual learning and growth, defining and executing a hands-on project to help the entrepreneur scale their business.
3. Immersion in Costa Rica - The course culminates with an immersive "working trip" to Costa Rica, where students will reside on campus at a university in San Jose, meet local professors, experience the country's rich culture and ecology, tour sustainable enterprises, and collaboratively present their work in a final project demo day.

Eligibility

This course is open to NYU Stern students who meet the following prerequisites:

• Must be in good academic and judicial standing with Stern and NYU
• Must be enrolled at Stern in New York City during the semester they take the course
• Important notes:
  • This course is only open to NYU Stern students
  • Seniors who plan to graduate in January - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the January trip
  • First Year students are not eligible to enroll in this course
• No application is required, but attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course.

Program Timeline

The program timeline includes:

• Thursday, April 17th: Virtual Info Session
• Week of April 21st: Registration for Fall 2025
• Mid-May: Next steps email with program contract and passport information
• End of May: Deadline to submit contract with copy of valid passport
• Mid-July: Fall NYU Bursar bills post
• Early August: Fall NYU Bursar bills due
• September 2, 2025: Class begins in NYC
• October 1, 2025: Deadline to purchase flights and submit travel information
• Early December: In-class trip pre-departure session
• January 10-17, 2026: Required Costa Rica trip

Estimated Expenses

Estimated expenses for the program include:

• Housing & Program Fee: $2,400
• Round Trip Flight: $700 (estimate)
• Passport Renewal/Visa: $150-175 (estimate)
• Vaccinations/Travel Medication: $50-200 (estimate)
• Personal Expenses: $100-200 (estimate)

Need-based Travel Scholarships

All Stern undergraduate students who register for this course will be automatically evaluated for a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. This need-based award is to help cover the additional travel cost of participating in the program. Awards granted to eligible students with demonstrated financial need will cover up to the cost of the Housing & Program fee for the travel portion of the class.

Passport and Visa Requirements

• Passports: Must be valid for more than six months beyond the dates of the trip
• Visas: U.S. passports valid for more than six months beyond the dates of travel do not need a visa to enter Costa Rica. Non-U.S. citizens should consult Costa Rica's visa requirements.