Request Info
Start Your Summer 2024 Adventure View Programs!
Fall 2024/Spring 2025 Programs Available View Programs!
View January Term 2025 Programs! View Programs!

Study Abroad | San Jose
Fall 2023: Academics

A student looking out to a view of the water in Costa Rica.

Select Your Program Option:

  • Fall 2023

  • Spring 2024

  • Fall 2024

  • Spring 2025

Program is closed

AcadEmics Overview

AIFS Abroad offers a unique global educational experience for students on this program, with the following academic options available:

Program Options

Program Name Early Start Available Credits Notes
Certificate of Knowledge
Early Start Available: No Credits: Up to 21

Take a Spanish language course for 4 semester credits and 4 elective courses for 3 or 4 credits each from one of eight fields of study and earn a Certificate of Knowledge in that chosen field by the end of the semester. Students on the Certificate of Knowledge Program take the same Spanish courses and elective courses as students on the Spanish Language, Liberal Arts and Environmental Sciences Program.

No AIFS participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a grade. Pass/Fail options are not available. 

Eligibility Notes

If following Spanish-taught elective courses: B2 High Intermediate Spanish language level and above (4+ semesters of Spanish or equivalent).

Agriculture

Anthropology, Cultural Studies

Architecture

Area Studies

Art

Biology

Business

Business Administration

Business, Economics, Marketing

Communications

Ecology

Economics

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies, Biology

Health Sciences

History

Management

Multidisciplinary

Political Science

Political Science, Social Science, International Relations

Psychology

Spanish Language

Sustainability, Business, Economics, Marketing

A group of students in front of an Universidad Veritas building in Costa Rica.

Universidad Veritas Courses (taught in Spanish with Costa Rican Students)

Students on the extended semester program can take a combination of elective courses listed in this catalog and (depending on their level of Spanish) regular Universidad Veritas courses taught in Spanish alongside Costa Rican students for a fully-immersive experience. You must have a minimum of 2 years college-level Spanish and test into the High Intermediate or Advanced level of Spanish in order to take regular university courses.

Many courses are offered every semester by the following University departments:

  • Architecture
  • Digital Animation
  • Film and T.V.
  • Advertising Design
  • Interior Design
  • Product Design
  • Photography
  • Fashion Design

Academic Credit & Transcripts

Credit Transfer

As a part of the AIFS application for semester programs, you will complete a Course Approval Form, which will be signed off by your study abroad office staff and/or faculty at your university.

For J Term/Summer programs, no such approval form is needed; however, students are still responsible for ensuring credit can be brought back from their overseas program.
In any case, we recommend getting additional courses approved in case you need to change courses while abroad.

Overseas universities do not use the credit system employed by American institutions. AIFS students must make special arrangements to transfer credits, but since AIFS courses are given at recognized universities or the AIFS Centers (which are transcripted by Fairfield University), there usually is no difficulty in arranging transfer credit toward U.S. degrees provided the proper procedure is followed.

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

Many of the European institutions that AIFS works with award credits under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS enables cooperating institutions to measure and compare a student’s performance and facilitates the transfer of credits from the European institution to the U.S institution.

Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

Language levels are defined according to the CEFR and will be listed on your transcript on completion of the program. CEFR organizes language proficiency into six levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) which can be regrouped into three broad levels according to the needs of the local institution: Beginner: A1, A2/U.S. Level 100; Intermediate: B1, B2/U.S. Level 200-300; Advanced: C1, C2/U.S. Level 400

Transcripts

When you complete your program, an official transcript is sent to your home institution directly from AIFS Abroad or the host university. Another official transcript may be retained by AIFS Abroad in Stamford, but this is not the case for all programs. Please contact transcripts@aifs.com to find out how to request additional transcripts. 
 
Generally, your school should receive your transcript 60 days after completion of the program. (Cannes Semester programs, Perth, Sydney, Dublin, Limerick, and Wellington Programs exception: Transcripts issued and retained by the host universities. Transcripts for the Cannes Semester programs are issued by Chapman University.)
 
Transcripts may come without an English-language translation, so participants will need to organize translations with their home university.

Academic Records

Credit assessment methods in overseas universities may not be comparable to those in U.S. universities. Grading may involve exams, papers, individual projects, class discussion or some combination of these. Although academic institutions abroad may grade on a variety of scales, admissions counselors and registrars at U.S. institutions are familiar with international grading systems and can convert grades.

Course Selection

AIFS Program Advisors are available to assist you in the process. The following procedure is recommended:

Read course descriptions for the selected program and select courses. Obtain approval from your academic or study abroad advisor for the preliminary courses selected. Final approval of credit transfer for completed courses is at the discretion of the Registrar or appropriate official at the home institution. Students must ascertain that courses taken meet their individual academic program requirements. Recommended credits in this catalog are based on 15 classroom hours per semester credit.

I would absolutely recommend this program. The trip has been such a positive experience. Wonderful program!

AIFS has a lot to offer. The more I talked to American students from other programs, the more I realized that AIFS was clearly the best choice

This program opened my eyes to a culture and society I knew very little about. I made great friends and had a fabulous time during the process. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

AIFS Abroad Employment Opportunities

View Open Positions
A student sitting on the ground, in front of a mountain view in Athens.

Want to learn more?

Request Info
White buildings on the coast of Greece.