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*Embedded: ACCTG 397/399 - Sustainability in Costa Rica: Balancing Profit and Planet in a Biodiverse Nation - University Park (Maymester) (Outgoing Embedded Program)

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Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Type of Program: Embedded
Program Description:

Program Overview     

Pura Vida! Costa Rica is widely recognized as a world leader for its “pure life” approach to implementing effective sustainability practices. In fact, this Central American nation was recently honored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a Champion of the Earth for policy leadership because of its efforts in reversing its rate of deforestation and for launching a plan to decarbonize its economy by 2050. But what has led Costa Rica to take on this role as a global environmental leader? What has been the impact of these practices on the people of this friendly and peace-loving nation? And how are ESG-related practices reported to stakeholders of the business? This course will answer these questions and will further explore the balance between employing sustainable business practices and reporting information to business stakeholders about the impact of these practices on people, profits, and the planet.

The primary objective of this course will be to discuss and directly observe topics related to the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices of a Central American nation that has established itself as a global environmental leader. A secondary objective for this course will be for students to learn about current issues related to the reporting of ESG-related activities to stakeholders of a business. Costa Rica is being chosen as the experiential learning environment for this course. Examples of questions we will cover include:

  1. What is the history of sustainable business practices and environmental policies in Costa Rica?
  2. What is the current state of ESG-related reporting standards?
  3. How do business development and growth impact the local culture and daily life of Costa Rican citizens?
  4. How can we assist local Costa Rican businesses to develop ESG-related strategic plans?
The Spring 2024 1-credit ACCTG 397 course will have a travel component, ACCTG 399, in Summer 2024 for 2 credits.

Dates     

May 6 - 21, 2024

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Eligibility
Housing and Meals
Program Costs
Financial Aid & Scholarships
More Information
How to Apply
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Eligibility

Any pre-requisite courses are established by the faculty leader or department hosting the course.  The following have been listed as pre-requisites for consideration to enroll in this course and travel on the embedded education abroad program:
  • Open to all Penn State majors at Penn State University Park with an interest in business at a first-year standing or higher.
  • Minimum GPA requirement is 3.0
  • Admission in the course and permission to travel with the group are at the discretion of the faculty leader and/or academic department hosting the course. Academic standing and disciplinary or conduct issues may impact eligibility.
  • The education abroad program may involve swimming, kayaking, boating, and/or snorkeling that is part of the official program itinerary or an optional activity during free time. Students must complete a Water Safety Acknowledge of Risk form in order to participate on the program.

Housing and Meals

During the embedded travel component, housing will consist of hotel/hostel accommodations.

Program Costs

Students pay regular Penn State tuition (either in-state or out-of-state) for the credits associated with the embedded course.  Travel costs, lodging, meals, excursions, and other fees are determined by the program budget which is set by the program leader.  Please consult the program leader for additional information.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through Penn State Global Education Abroad for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs. There is no application required to be considered for this scholarship.  The Education Abroad scholarship selection team will utilize course rosters submitted by the embedded course leaders and will determine eligible scholarship recipients based on financial need. 

Because of the volume of eligible candidates, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid.  Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior Penn State education abroad experience.

For More Information

For more information about this course, please contact the program leader: Scott Collins by emailing sgc132@psu.edu.

How to Apply

The process for enrolling in an embedded course varies according to the instructor and/or department.  The program leader has indicated that in order to enroll in the course and travel component, students must submit an application by December 29, 2023.

Studying Abroad with a Disability

Many students with disabilities successfully study abroad each year. Please note that other cultures may have different attitudes and available accommodations regarding disabilities. While we cannot guarantee the accessibility of all program sites and locations, specific accommodations may be arranged in consultation with our office, the Student Disability Resources office, and our partners abroad. To prepare for success, students are strongly encouraged to research the country and program location to consider if and how they will manage their disabilities abroad in advance of selecting a program. Students with disabilities and other diverse backgrounds can begin their research on our Diversity Awareness Abroad page.


Dates / Deadlines:

There are currently no active application cycles for this program.