Two groups of 16 Gatton Academy students (32 students total) will earn Honors Biology 285: Costa Rican Biodiversity Studies and Research credit (3 Hrs). Group 1 travels with Dr. Martin Stone and Group 2 travels with Dr. Keith Philips. Both groups travel during WKU’s Winter-Term.

Each group will visit the Goldring-Gund Marine Biology Field Station on Playa Grande to participate in leatherback turtle nesting research, Cloudbridge Nature Reserve in the cloudforest of southern Costa Rica's Talamanca Mountains where students carry out their own research projects in small teams, Corcovado National Park, and Isla del Caño for snorkeling. 

Sample Itinerary for the Costa Rica Program

The estimated program cost is $3,800. Any student who has not previously used their Gatton Academy Study Abroad Scholarship will pay only $2,800. 

No money is due or accepted at the time of application. The cost of the program will be due to the WKU Student Billing and Account Services Office on the 2nd floor of Potter Hall in the second half of the fall semester by a billing deadline to be announced.

The program cost includes roundtrip airfare from Louisville, room accommodations in all locations, an average of two meals per day while in Costa Rica, admission for all activities listed in the itinerary, travel by chartered motor coach throughout the program, basic international health insurance, and tuition for Honors Biology 285: Costa Rican Biodiversity (3 hrs of WKU credit). 

Deadline to apply is 3:30 pm Central on Friday, September 20, 2024.

The Gatton Academy Costa Rica I and II Application must be submitted to Ms. Melanie Redden in The Gatton Academy's office (FSH 107).  Applications are accepted only until Friday, September 20th at 3:30pm Central.

Please submit application packets with a copy of your passport’s ID page (sent via email to gatton.academics@wku.edu) if you already have a passport.

No payments or fees are due or accepted at the time of application.

Later in the fall semester, selected students for The Gatton Academy’s Costa Rica program will be sent details on filling out the required WKU Study Abroad Application. Details and a deadline will be provided later to selected students.

Spots are limited to 32 students. Typically, half of the spots are saved for each class, 2025 and 2026. Shortly after the application deadline, applicants will be divided into four categories: South side Juniors, South side Seniors, North side Juniors, and North side Seniors. Those who have not traveled abroad with The Gatton Academy previously are given first priority for selection using a random lottery. Once students have been selected from each category, random drawing continues until all students have been drawn to form an ordered waitlist for any  program spot that might become available later. All students will be notified of their selection status shortly after the application deadline.

A high-degree of physical endurance is necessary for program participants. Students conduct field research at coastal and mountainous settings that involves rigorous walks in oftentimes hot, humid, and wet conditions. During the program, research teams hike in remote areas of a mid-elevation forest (6-8,000 ft) with sharp elevational changes. 

For three weeks in Summer 2025, 50 members of The Gatton Academy's class of 2026 have the opportunity to earn Honors English 200: Introduction to Literature credit (3 hrs) while enjoying the literature and culture of the United Kingdom. Over the course of a 22-day program, students develop an appreciation for literature by visiting literary landscapes, authors' homes, and sites of literary inspiration based off of assigned course readings. Students spend several days in London and in the Lake District. Otherwise, students live in the beautiful Wroxton Abbey near London, while visiting locations throughout the United Kingdom.

Students interested in the England Experience are required as a pre-requisite to have passed ENG 100: Intro to College Writing or have credit for ENG 100 through AP, CLEP credit, or by scoring a 29 or higher on the English section of the ACT exam by summer 2024. 

Students interested in the England Experience should not enroll in English 200 for the fall or spring semesters.

Sample Itinerary for the England Experience

Cost is estimated at $6,000. Students who have not used their Gatton Academy Study Abroad Scholarship will have that applied to lower their program cost to $5,000. 

The cost of the program includes roundtrip airfare from Louisville, room accommodations in all locations, approximately 80% of meals while in the United Kingdom, admission to the historic sites, museums, and experiences listed in the final itinerary, basic international health insurance, travel by chartered coach or train for excursions, passes for zones 1 and 2 unlimited travel in London, and tuition for Honors English 200: Introduction to Literature (3 hrs of WKU credit). 

No money is due or accepted at the time of application. The cost of the program will be due to the WKU Student Billing and Account Services Office on the 2nd floor of Potter Hall in the second half of the spring semester by a billing deadline to be announced. 

Deadline to apply is 3:30 pm Central on Friday, September 20, 2024.

The Gatton Academy England Application must be submitted to Ms. Melanie Redden in The Gatton Academy office (FSH 107). Applications are accepted only until Friday, September 20th at 3:30pm Central.

Please submit applications with a copy of your passport’s ID page (sent via email to gatton.academics@wku.edu) if you already have a passport.

No payments are due or accepted at the time of application.

Later in the spring semester, selected students for The Gatton Academy’s England program will be sent details on filling out the required WKU Study Abroad Application. Details and a deadline will be provided later to selected students.

Spots are limited to 50 students from the Class of 2026 and are equally distributed across the North and South sides of the building (25 per side). Participant selection is chosen by random drawing. Students also applying to Costa Rica will be included in the drawing along with everyone else. Once the 50 spots have been filled, random drawing continues until all students have been drawn, forming an ordered wait list. All students will be notified shortly after the application deadline of their selection status.