The University of Texas at Dallas
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Costa Rica Field Trip Course participants will gain a foundation in Costa Rican history and culture during more traditional academic lectures and discussions that will take place on the UT Dallas campus prior to travel. Then, our team will travel to the rainforests of Costa Rica and, with guidance from local experts, create and expand projects that reduce human impact on the natural environment and, consequently, promote healthy ecosystems. In addition, we will learn about the culture of the Maleku, the least populous of Costa Rica’s Indigenous groups, and receive instruction from the Maleku shaman in the use of rainforest plants for medicinal health purposes. We will also participate in a variety of eco-tourism activities as a means of gaining an “insider” perspective on eco-tourism as a central component of Costa Rica’s national sustainability and conservation agenda, thereby gaining a more nuanced understanding of how these activities incorporate nature as a means of promoting human health and well-being. The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all majors. It is especially suitable for those with an interest in environmental issues (including the biological, social, political, and economic dimensions) Municipal Governance in Seoul, Korea Education Abroad This policy workshop course provides students with a unique opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation for public administration and management in an international, as well as a local context. Seoul, Korea is a thriving metropolitan area competing on an international scale and dealing with the pressures of rapid democratization and growth during the post-ward period. Students will engage the policy formulation and change literature to evaluate Korean municipal government’s process, procedures, and policy decisions as they pertain to a series of functional policy problems. These include: transportation, environment, recreation, tourism, economic development, urban planning and design, and others. Alternative Spring Break This program is focused on community service during the spring semesters. The location varies based on service interest of the volunteer. Under the guidance of a Site Leader and/or university staff or faculty member, team members participate in activities that are focused within the following areas. • Affordable Housing • Animal Services • Education • Environmental Conservation • Global Poverty • Hunger and Homelessness • Park Preservation • Healthcare • Social Services • Sustainability

http://www.utdallas.edu/is/faculty-staff/jillian-duquaine-watson/costa-rica/ http://www.utdallas.edu/springbreak/ https://utdallas-ea.terradotta.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10003