PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Biology of the Neotropics (BIO/ENVS 320) is a field study of Costa Rican tropical habitats — including lowland rain forests, montane rain forests, seasonally dry forests, and wetlands — conducted at four research sites throughout the country. Topics covered include diversity and natural history of key plants and animals, ecological interactions and evolutionary processes, and conservation. The course structure includes field investigations accompanied by readings, lectures, and a directed research project. This course meets for 15 hours on campus and three weeks in Costa Rica between the Fall and Spring semesters. It is worth four semester hours and fulfills the LINQ and XLP requirements. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and BIO-101Q.
Program Dates: tentatively run in January
Program Highlights
- BIO/ENVS -320 Biology of the Neotropics
- This course is open to BIO and ENVS students only
- 4 academic credits
- Core requirements: LINQ and XLP
Faculty leaders
- Dr. Denise Finney, Associate Professor of Biology and Chair of the Biology Department
- Dr. Tristan Ashcroft
Total cost
Exact cost to be confirmed.
Included:
✓ Airfare
✓ Accommodations
✓ Meals
✓ Entrance fees
✓ In-country travel
✓ Academic credit
✓ Orientation
Not included:
X Passport
X Pre-travel health appointments
X Clothing for travel in the tropics
X Souvenirs/personal spending
Required materials and gear ~$200:
X Textbook/field guides
X Binoculars
X Field notebooks
X Headlamp
Financial Aid
Students may look into the following for funding opportunities:
- Gilman Scholarship
- Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
- Rotary Club
- Espadas and Neborak Fund - Internal funding of up to $1,000 may be available to students with high financial need