ÃÛÌÒTVÊÓƵ

In this spring semester course, you will travel in late May to São Miguel Island in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. In addition to hiking and exploring the natural wonders of São Miguel’s geothermal pools, colorful lakes, and verdant forest sanctuaries, you will tour sports facilities and meet female athletes who play basketball, surf, and contribute to the culture of sport on the archipelago. Other activities include meeting with local university students and learning about the agricultural and culinary traditions of this vibrant Atlantic island group.

This fall semester course presents an in-depth study of the biology and taxonomy of corals while examining the ecology of the coral reef system and the future of reefs, concluding with a field lab. You will snorkel in the beautiful lagoons of Ambergris Caye, the Hol Chan and Bacalar Chico Marine Reserves. The group is housed in a field station on the northern tip of Ambergris Caye with access to the reef ecosystem, mangroves, seagrass beds, and jungle.

This is a spring semester course that includes travel to Costa Rica for nine days over spring break, where you will explore the amazing biodiversity of both tropical rainforests and so-called dry forests.  Students will conduct fieldwork examining how human-induced changes in the environment — such as defaunation, invasive species, and global warming — impact these two forest types.  In addition, students will have the opportunity to zipline through the forest canopy, spend some time at the beach, and simply enjoy the sights and sounds of tropical forests. Upon return to the U.S., students will spend the rest of the semester drawing upon their travel experience to help them identify strategies to protect these natural systems from further human disturbance.  Note that this course can be taken at either the 200- or 400-level, with students enrolling at the 400 level having greater expectations in terms of both depth of study and workload, and serving as research team leaders on group projects before, during, and after travel to Costa Rica.

This spring semester course provides an in-depth study of the unique ecosystems for marine and terrestrial organisms, as well as the unique human history and culture of Iceland. You will explore geological features like volcanic craters and geysers, hike in the fault line between the American and the European plate and learn about adaptations to a subarctic climate. You will also explore the Viking history of Iceland, which is tightly related to the discovery of America, and Iceland's sustainable energy production.

This spring semester course will investigate comparative education theories and philosophy to examine education in different contexts. By investigating contexts locally, nationally and globally, you will extend your knowledge about society and how this is enacted through the institution of its schools. In Ireland, students will visit schools and learn about Irish culture by touring castles, the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, and the EPIC Museum. Other highlights include the Ring of Kerry, Galway, Kinsale, Killarney and Dublin.

This spring semester course covers topics in history and geology of the Caribbean with an emphasis on the island of Bocas del Toro in Panama. You will study topics such as terrestrial, island, and marine biodiversity, and the ecology and evolution of populations. You will explore both Panama City and the Bocas del Toro, where you will stay at a field station for the Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation. Highlights include a boat tour of the Panama Canal, a cacao farm tour, and snorkeling and hiking in Bocas del Toro.