Participants must attend all pre-departure orientation sessions held during the semester prior to departure. Make-up sessions are not available. During these sessions, items such as safety, visas, accommodation, classes, and excursions will be discussed. 

Yes. Costa Rica uses 110-volt, 60-cycle electricity, the same as in the United States. Plugs are the 2-pronged flat type, so you will not need a converter or adapter. 

Arrival and departure dates vary by program. Review the program information to know when to arrive.

None at all!  Classes offered at TTU-CR are the same as those offered in Lubbock. They will appear on your transcript just like any other TTU courses.

You can enroll in general courses useful for all majors in their first and second years, such as English, chemistry, physics, math, and political science. 

• B.S. in Industrial Engineering 
• B.S. in Computer Science 
• B.B.A. in Management 
• B.S. in Restaurant, Hotel, & Institutional Management 
• B.S. in Retail Management 

If you have no passport, it's up to you to get one. Start the process as soon as you start planning to travel, because even though it's not difficult, the timing is sometimes hard to predict. 

If you are a citizen or national of the United States, the process involves filling in a form, sharing documents that prove your identity and your nationality, submitting a regulation passport photo, and paying a fee. Learn more at https://www.usa.gov/passport. 

If you are in Lubbock, you can make use of the Passport Application Acceptance Office located in the International Cultural Center. 

Sorry, but no. The program excursions are for students only. However, you can plan another excursion on one of your free weekends. 

A visa is permission for a non-resident of a country to be there. A visa is often necessary if a foreigner wants to reside, study, or work in a country, especially long-term. Visa requirements vary greatly, depending on the traveler's home country and destination country. 

U.S. citizens who are visiting for tourism or other short-term purposes often do not need to get a visa. However, if you plan to study in Costa Rica for longer than 90 days, you must obtain a student visa. TTU-Costa Rica Student Services Manager Christine Steinvorth (christine.steinvorth@ttu.edu) will help you with the required application. 

Yes. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and other credit cards are widely used in Costa Rica. You should notify your bank and credit card companies prior to departure that you will be using your card in Costa Rica. 

Be aware that some credit cards charge a small fee when they are used outside your home country; you might consider applying for a card without such fees.

Costa Rica has many microclimates because of its mountains and coasts, but in general, it is pleasantly warm all year round. Its average annual temperature is 80° to 90° Fahrenheit on the coasts and 75° to 80° inland. In the higher mountains, it's a bit cooler. 

By any measure, Costa Rica is a rainy country. Its rainy season lasts from May until November. However, even during the rainy season, much of the day is perfect, with rainfall occurring more-or-less regularly in the afternoons. 

For on-campus ID, your Lubbock-issued card will work. It is also common at tourist sites to accept a U.S. student ID card in cases where student discounts are available.

Group health and accident insurance is mandatory and provided as part of the program fees.

Students should monitor the fluctuation of the US dollar (USD) and the Costa Rican colón (CRC). For current rates, visit https://www.xe.com/.

Many students use their U.S. smartphone with a SIM card from a local Costa Rica provider. You will need your passport when you go to purchase a SIM. 

Depending on your U.S. data plan and roaming permission, it's possible to get by without a C.R. SIM card. Please check with your U.S. phone carrier to learn more international phone plan options. You must have access to a phone plan, not just wifi, when studying abroad.   

WhatsApp is a standard means of communicating in C.R., for audio and video calls and for written messages. Please download WhatsApp prior to your departure.