Heredia, Costa Rica – Unmasking Culture: Art, Identity, and Society

Dates: January 5 – 16, 2027

Course Title: GCOS 398 - Unmasking Culture: Art, Identity, and Society

Section Number: 002

Course Description: Art does not merely decorate culture — it defines it, preserves it, and challenges it. This immersive ten-day course invites students to explore Costa Rican identity through five iconic objects: an indigenous mask, a mascarada mask, an ox cart wheel, a statue of La Negrita, and a piece of artisanal furniture. Each object becomes a window into the layered influences — indigenous, colonial, African, and popular — that have shaped a nation's soul. This experiential course explores: how art objects encode history, belief, and social identity; the diverse cultural forces that have shaped Costa Rican society; connections between material culture and everyday life; and how these same processes of cultural shaping apply to your own world.

Through lectures and hands-on field experiences, students will: Create their own mask in a traditional workshop, visit La Basílica and explore the devotion surrounding La Negrita, Experience Costa Rica’s Afro-Caribbean heritage, discover pre-Columbian art, and see how artisans shape modern traditions.

Instructor: Professor Jessica Clark (Costa Rica Center)

Credits:

• 3 liberal arts credits. All study abroad courses also count as Honors College credits for students in the Honors College. NO SUBSTITUTIONS.

Spring Term Meeting Day/Time: 

●      Thursdays, 5:00–6:50 PM EST (Teams), 1/19/2027–3/9/2027

Travel Dates:

●      January 5–16, 2027

Travel Details:

●      Arrive at San Jose Airport between 11 AM–3 PM on 1/5/2027; check out by 11 AM on 1/16/2027.

Accommodation: 

●      Hotel Cibeles (double or triple rooms, en-suite bathroom). Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TzWxMHFJHE61bSTg8

Fees:

Total Program Fee: $2,185.00 (does not include airfare)

This fee includes:

• Airport transfer
• All transportation to field trips and activities
• All field trips, activities, and registration/entrance fees
• Books and course materials
• Hotel accommodation (double or triple rooms)
• Select meals (2 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners)
• Travel insurance

Tentative Itinerary

• January 5: Arrival and welcome dinner.
• January 6: Orientation and class.
• January 7: San Jose museums and galleries.
• January 8: Heredia cultural center, Central Market, and class.
• January 9: Cartago excursion (Basilica, mask-making workshop).
• January 10: Free day.
• January 11: Sarchi (ox cart workshop, painting workshop).
• January 12: Class, host family meal, and cultural project.
• January 13–14: Overnight in Limón (cacao workshop, Afro-Caribbean dance, art gallery).
• January 15: Final class and closing ceremony at Museo de Cultura Popular.
• January 16: Departure.

Guidelines For All Courses

• Open to all undergraduate LIU students not graduating in December 2026.
• P1, P2, and P3 Pharmacy students are also invited to participate.
• Non-LIU undergraduate students are also welcome to enroll, but must pay the additional charge listed under Understanding Extra Fees below.
• These are spring courses with a travel component before the first day of the spring semester.
• Courses meet no more than 5 times during the semester; students should keep Thursday evenings from 5:00-6:50 PM on 1/19/2027–3/9/2027 open.
• Two virtual preparation sessions will be held in November and December prior to travel; these sessions will be recorded for students who cannot attend.
• Courses are typically capped around 22 students, depending on location, with a minimum of 10 students required to run.
• Students must adhere to the conduct rules outlined in the Student Handbook while on all trips.
• If students do not adhere to these rules, they can be expelled from the trip at their own expense.

Travel Requirements

• All participants must carry a valid passport for the entire duration of travel.
• Travel insurance is included in the program fee and is mandatory for all participants.
• Students must comply with all LIU codes of conduct while abroad.
• No visa is required for U.S. citizens; Costa Rica permits visa-free tourist stays of up to 180 days. Non-U.S. citizens should reach out to the Center-specific Director below to discuss travel requirements.
• Passports should have at least six months of validity remaining beyond the return date.
• No vaccinations are required for travelers arriving directly from the United States.

Understanding For All Courses

• $1,307.00 additional charge per credit over 18 for LIU undergraduate students.
• $1,549.00 additional charge per credit over 18 for LIU students in the professional phase of the Pharmacy program.
• $4,450.00 additional charge for non-LIU undergraduate visiting students.

Deadlines

Students must enroll by September 30, 2026.

Registration

Complete the registration form (https://forms.office.com/r/bQzkNjfr5g) by September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM to reserve your place in the course. Submitting the form confirms your commitment to take the course and your acceptance of liability for all associated travel fees.

A member of the Global College team will follow up to enroll you in the correct section; students cannot self-register for these courses through MyLIU. You must be available for the weekly virtual meeting time during the spring semester, as this is a three-credit class. If you have a time conflict due to a mandatory course, a varsity sport, or an LIU artistic requirement, email Gregory.Barton@liu.edu to discuss participating asynchronously through recordings.

If a course is full, you may join the waitlist; if a spot opens, you will be notified by email and given 24 hours to claim it.

Students graduating in December 2026 cannot take these courses. Each course requires a minimum of 10 students to run — please wait for confirmation from the Global College team before booking flights.

Non-LIU students should email Global@liu.edu.

Scholarships

The Study Abroad Fellowship was created to help outstanding students study abroad during their undergraduate careers. The Fellowship is open to all students and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Students will be evaluated on their application quality, academic merit, extracurricular engagement, and financial need. Please note that the Fellowship is not a complete award and is only meant to supplement the overall cost.

Applications for January travel courses are due by September 15, 2026.

Students will be informed as soon as possible regarding decisions so they can register before the enrollment deadline.

Apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/CkM2T3sYev

More Information

Information sessions:

• Post: Wednesday, September 9th from 12:30-1:45 PM in the Gold Coast Cinema (Hillwood Commons)
• Brooklyn: Tuesday, September 8th from 12:30-1:45 PM in the Honors College Lounge (Pratt 310)
• Virtual: Wednesday, September 9th from 6:00-7:00 PM (https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/215021017723521?p=ZJCg9GtyIHfDfuYMF9)
• The recording will be made available to all students via email!

Questions? Contact the Center Director below:

• Dean Sarah Moran, Assistant Dean & Costa Rica Center Director — Sarah.Moran@liu.edu