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UW Agroecosystems and Planetary Health in Costa Rica

Students are together in a field. They are looking at the camera and smiling.
Vibrant collection of succulents are squished together.
An instructor is giving directions to students. The students are attentive and looking at the instructor.
A group of students are posed together and making the "W" sign with their hands. They are smiling at the camera.
Vibrant flower in the forest. The background is blurred.
Students are gathered together for the photo. They are smiling at the camera.
Magnified array of nuts. Some are more blurry towards the background.
A student has picked a pineapple out of the ground. Another person is helping the student. They are both looking down at the pineapple.

This program is switching from a winter intersession to a summer program; it will not run in Winter 2026-27 but will run again in Summer 2027.

Costa Rica, Multiple

The Agroecosystems and Planetary Health in Costa Rica program is a field-based experience offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) in partnership with IAP.

Spend two immersive weeks in Costa Rica exploring the connections between sustainable food production, nutrition, climate resilience, health and wellbeing. Through site visits to farms, research centers, cooperatives, botanical gardens, and protected conservation areas, students engage directly with diverse agricultural systems, including the cultivation of ornamental, medicinal and food crops for both local and global markets.

This course offers a unique opportunity to learn alongside farmers, naturalists, educators, community members, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous communities, fostering students’ understanding of the interconnected social, economic, and environmental dimensions of food production in both Costa Rica and the United States.

Program activities and discussions provide a framework for critically examining key issues such as global health, food justice, sustainability, agricultural innovation, and climate change. In particular, students explore how global consumer demand for products such as coffee, cacao, bananas, and palm oil influences farmers, communities, economies, and ecosystems. 

Designed for undergraduate students across disciplines, this program offers a multidisciplinary exploration of food systems as interconnected endeavor. Through experiential learning and structured reflection, students develop the skills to analyze and engage with complex challenges at the intersection of food systems and health in a global context.

This course fulfills the field experience requirement for the UW Undergraduate Certificate in Global Health.

Learning Objectives

We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:

  • Recognize social, economic, and environmental issues related to food production and find suitable methods to address them.
  • Compare diverse methods of crop production and how they relate to nutrition, health, sustainable agricultural practices, community development and global markets.
  • Develop a critical perspective and creative thinking regarding the production and consumption of agricultural crops, and how they can shape the livelihoods of small- and large-scale producers in different parts of the world.
  • Cultivate interdisciplinary skills, cultural awareness, and global competencies through the understanding of the ecological and socio-economic impacts of crop production and consumption in both Costa Rica and in the US.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Students must enroll in and successfully complete (earning a final grade of BC or higher, meeting all major course requirements, and attend at least 90% of scheduled class sessions) Agroecology 377 prior to the Costa Rica program. For information about Spring 2027 course time(s), please reach out to the department.

  • Sophomores are welcome to apply to the study abroad program and can request instructor consent to enroll in Agroecology 377.

  • 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

UW Signature

Subjects

Agriculture
Horticulture
Biological & Physical Science
Environmental Studies
Global Health

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Field Research Station, Hotels

Program Duration

Summer (3 weeks)
Mid-May to late-May (first week held online)

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2027 12/4/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

APPLY NOW

 

This UW-Madison program is the international field study companion to Agroecology 377, offered during spring semester. During the study abroad program, you will travel with Dr. Claudia Irene Calderón and fellow students to explore diverse tropical crop farms, nature preserves, and sites that promote educational activities under the sustainable tourism umbrella. You will learn about the ecology, economics, and production systems of tropical horticulture, and you will critically examine the way tropical crop production impacts both local and global communities.

The study abroad program is approved as a field experience for the Global Health Certification, although students of all majors and certificates are welcome. You may choose to earn 3 credits of either Plantsci 378, Nutritional Sciences 421, or Environmental Studies 402.

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents

Program Leader

Claudia Irene Calderón