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ADMS 4971 3.00 – Managing for Sustainability in Costa Rica

In order to enroll in Las Nubes courses, you need to complete several requirements. Please review the Las Nubes Course Registration Information and fill out the Las Nubes Study Abroad 2025 Eligibility Form.

Please note that while this is an LA&PS course, it takes place at York’s Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica, and as such the program is organized by the Las Nubes team. Students interested in participating in this course will be subject to the Las Nubes application, payment, pre-departure, and in-country rules, deadlines, and procedures. Please visit the ADMS 4971 page on the Las Nubes website for all relevant course and program information, and contact lasnubes@yorku.ca if you require more information. You should also attend one of the Las Nubes Info Sessions to learn more.

This course explores what it means to manage for sustainability through an immersive journey in Costa Rica, a country renowned for its rich ecology and biodiversity. York’s Eco Campus within the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor provides opportunity to examine sustainability within the embedded context of nature, and better appreciate the environmental foundations – and impacts – of human society and economic activity. Interconnections between place, people, and profits will be observed first-hand through wide-ranging activities including visits to biological reserves, homestays with Costa Rican families, interactive sessions with community leaders and tours of local businesses.

From this situated vantage and using the local economic mainstays of coffee and tourism, we will trace the supply chain through to the global context of sustainability. Against the backdrop of climate change and societal unrest, we will compare and contrast mainstream corporate sustainability efforts and impacts with what we observe in Costa Rica. Our quest will be to understand how organizations might be managed for truly sustainable outcomes. Throughout the course, students will be challenged to reflect on their role as citizens, consumers, and prospective managers, and the implications of sustainability for their lives and future careers.

Las Nubes Info Sessions

Date	Time	Location
November 28, 2024	1:30 p.m.	Zoom registration
January 7, 2025	11L00 a.m.	Zoom registration

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Prerequisites: For BCom students in an Honours program, 78 credits including AP/ADMS 1010 3.00 and AP/ADMS 3660 3.00. For all others, 3rd or 4th year or graduate level standing.

Location: Las Nubes EcoCampus, Santa Elena, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica

Course Dates:
April 24 – May 3, 2025, in Costa Rica

Course Director:

Course Director: Prof. Joel Marcus, Associate Professor, School of Administrative Studies.

Enrolment: Min. 20 students, max. 25 students

Course Details

Lectures, guest speakers, hikes, visits to sites and communities, conversations with local stakeholders, and hands-on projects with local organizations.

Accommodations are a combination of homestays and hotels depending on the course. Local Costa Rican food will be provided taking into account dietary restrictions and/or preferences.

York University does not make flight or travel insurance arrangements for students. For each course, you will be given specific information as to when to arrive and where will you be picked up and dropped off. Any activities or plans made outside our course program are the student’s responsibility.

Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Refer to Costa Rica's Embassy in Canada for requirements for citizens of other countries. If you are travelling to Costa Rica via a third country, make sure to verify whether you need a 'transit visa' or not.

Program Costs

Cost		Details
Estimated Program Fee	$1,500	Included in program fee: all in-country transportation, room and board, as well as park entrance fees that are part of course programs. Accommodations include a mix of homestays with local families, lodges and hotels.
Additional Costs
Flights to/from San José, Costa Rica	$900	Estimate. Depends on departure location and date of purchase.
Guard.me Travel Insurance	$50	Estimate. Students are required to purchase Guard.me insurance.
Spending money	$400	Variable. All students should budget additional funds for meals, transportation, gifts, personal travel, etc.
York University Tuition (Domestic)	$724.59	Approximate based on Summer 2024 LA&PS tuition fees for 3.0 credits. Subject to change.
York University Tuition (International)	$3,723.84	Approximate based on Summer 2024 LA&PS tuition fees for 3.0 credits. Subject to change.
Approximate Total Program Costs (subject to change)
Domestic Students		$3,574.59
International Students		$6,573.84

Las Nubes Study Abroad Fund

Name	Description	Eligibility Criteria	Amount (CAD)	Application
Las Nubes EcoCampus
Las Nubes Study Abroad Fund (LNSAF)	This is a fee subsidy provided to students who participate in the courses offered by Las Nubes at the Las Nubes EcoCampus.	All York University students participating in the Las Nubes Study Abroad programs are eligible to receive the LNSAF. The amount of LNSAF funding is based on: 1. Financial need (students with financial needs will be given higher consideration) 2. Good academic standing (B+ or higher) 3. Number of courses registered for at Las Nubes 4. External funding or other awards applied for/received	There are two categories: Category 1: Full one-course subsidy ($1,500 each, 4 per year) Category 2: Offered to support students enrolled in one or more courses [$250 for 1 course; $500 for 2 courses), $750 for 3 courses; $1,000 for 4 courses; $1,250 for 5 courses]	N/A Keep your Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships application (FAAS App) updated