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Come and Relax at Paraiso
Escondido... |
In the USA |
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Come and Relax at Paraiso
Escondido... |
In the USA |
The Catawba College Costa Rica Immersion Program
Earn six (6) fully transferable college credits in just thirty (30) days through Catawba College
 About Catawba College - Salisbury, North CarolinaCatawba's tradition extends back to its establishment in 1851 in the town of Newton, a center of commerce in the foothills of western North Carolina. Bearing the name of the Indian tribe which had already lent its name to the county and the river flowing nearby, Catawba College opened in 1851 with a gift often acres of land and a capital investment of $15,000. The years that followed were filled with a fair level of prosperity for the growing institution, reflecting the economic climate of the area. The Civil War, however, brought drastic changes, reducing the availability of funds and students. During the war years, the College became an academy, operating as Catawba High School from 1865 to 1885. In the latter year, it resumed operations under its original charter as Catawba College. In 1890, Catawba became a coeducational institution, with the first woman graduate completing her studies in 1893. Thirty years later, responding to the offer of a partially constructed dormitory-administration building and several acres of land in Salisbury, trustees, college, and church officials closed the campus in Newton in 1923 and re-opened in Salisbury in 1925. The college has flourished in Salisbury. It now has 27 buildings on 276 wooded acres. It is known for its 189-acre on-campus ecological preserve and its new 300-acre wildlife refuge. Even though the landscape has changed significantly over the past 150 years, the values-based education that Catawba offers has remained the same. The college continues its commitment to helping students achieve their highest potential in a caring liberal arts environment. |
 About the ProgramEach year, in early to mid May, Dr. Carl Girelli hosts a Spanish educational program in Costa Rica. This program grants students six hours of Catawba College credit and includes four hours per day of class, five days per week for four weeks. Coursework is available to students at all levels of study. Dr. Carl Girelli directs the program and travels with the group. This intensive study of the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture is held each year at the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas. Students have the choice in lodging of either Paraiso Escondido (space permitting) or home stays. |
| Paraiso Escondido (Hidden Paradise) is the Inn that has hosted the Catawba Program for five years. Located in Vista Nosara de Heredia, the Inn offers finely appointed lodging organized around an open air central courtyard. It is an oasis of comfort and familiarity. Nestled in an upper-middle class neighborhood, the Inn provides comforts such as internet, e-mail, long distance calling, and shuttle services for classes (also provided for "home stay" students), while keeping students among friendly Costa Rican neighbors and close to conveniences and attractions. |
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| Centro Panamericano de Idiomas
in Heredia |
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Attractions Weekends and afternoons afford students the time to travel widely within Costa Rica. Students may take advantage of local activities which include a butterfly farm, a tour of a local coffee plantation or a hike to the Barva Volcano. Weekend excursion options include snorkeling in the Caribbean, the hot spring spas of Arenal Volcano, the rain forest canopy tram, and many more. |
| Transfer Credit Transfer Credit is available for students from colleges and universities other than Catawba. Such transfers must apply to the College for "transient enrollment" through the Admissions Office which requires a letter of good standing from the home institution. Interested parties please direct questions to Dr. Girelli at cgirelli@catawba.edu
or (704) 637-4353. |