Explore tropical ecosystems and the complexities of human adaptations to different environments in Ecuador’s four distinct ecological regions. This country is home to more than 1,500 species of birds and 10 percent of the world’s known vascular plant spe

Location:

Guayaquil, Ecuador; Quito, Ecuador

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Through this interdisciplinary program, students gain an understanding of the diverse ecological zones of Ecuador, major plant and animal adaptations to life in each zone, appropriate uses for natural resources, and current environmental issues along with management practices. Students are also introduced to a broad panorama of Ecuadorian life and culture; rich Indian and Spanish history, traditions, and current values; and political, economic, environmental, social, and cultural challenges facing contemporary society. During the Environmental Field Study Seminar, students learn how to integrate both social science and ecological field techniques through anthropological and field ecology projects. These skills will then be applied during the Independent Study Project (ISP). Throughout their coursework and life in Ecuador, students apply their Spanish to the theme of the program and a deeper understanding of Ecuador.

Explore tropical ecosystems and the complexities of human adaptations to different environments in Ecuador’s four distinct ecological regions. This country is home to more than 1,500 species of birds and 10 percent of the world’s known vascular plant species. Interactions with community members and local stakeholders who are grappling with conservation strategies within the context of heightened political, economic, and social pressures provide valuable context. The program base is historic Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Educational excursions take students to the high sierras of the Andes, the epiphyte-rich cloud forest, the rugged snow-line páramo, and the vast rainforest of the Ecuadorian Amazon. A guided, weeklong visit to the extraordinary Galápagos Islands provides access to plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth.

Please inquire for costs: Fees include tuition, full room and board, all field trips and related fares, health and accident insurance, and other direct program expenses. Participants pay for international airfare and domestic travel to the point of departure from the USA.

Setting Description:

Three week-long field excursions interspersed throughout the semester introduce students to the varied and unique ecosystems of Ecuador. Coupled with day trips to highland forest and grassland sites near Quito, students are exposed to Andean cloud forest, Amazonian rain forest, and Galápagos Island ecosystems, so that they can understand and identify life forms and their adaptations in a comparative context. Besides familiarizing themselves with ecological processes in each ecosystem, students conduct taxon-specific investigations. Finally, students observe the human impacts on each ecosystem and study different strategies for conservation.

Additional Program Information

Scholarships:

Yes

Scholarships Description:

Please see our website for more information.