Opportunities Abroad

Approved by: Biology and Environmental Studies departments

Costa Rica’s unique diversity of ecosystems, from lowland tropical forests, to cloud forests, species rich wetlands, dry forests and diverse coastal systems will be your classroom as you study tropical ecology, conservation, methods in field research. The studies you’ll conduct during the course will not only start you on the path to becoming a successful tropical biologist but will also make valuable contributions to long-term datasets that help inform our understanding of tropical ecosystems.

Approved by: Biology and Environmental Studies departments

This program trains you to become a tropical biologist by following OTS’ long tradition of conducting relevant field research and engaging with ecosystems and culture in Costa Rica. Through four interconnected courses that introduce you to biomes across Costa Rica, you will become versed in skills and knowledge necessary to address contemporary issues in conservation and ecology. You will focus on tropical ecology, environmental preservation, research skills and Spanish in OTS’ dynamic research stations, La Selva, Palo Verde, and Las Cruces, as well as other forest and coastal sites.

Approved by: Biology and Environmental Studies departments

This program consists of lectures, skill workshops, fieldwork, and visits to selected natural and historic sites of interest throughout South Africa. Students interact and learn from academics from local and international universities, conservation managers and other expert practitioners. Students work with their professors to design research projects that will contribute meaningful scientific data to issues faced by managers in the South African National Parks. Students will spend three-nights in a homestay at a rural community and provides important socio-economic context for the ecology courses.

Approved by: Anthropology, Environmental Studies, International and Area Studies departments

Examine the ecological and cultural patterns, processes, and dynamics of Australia’s two most diverse environments – the Wet Tropics Bioregion and the Great Barrier Reef. This program explores the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of far North Queensland and the relationship of traditional and contemporary human cultures with the environment. Students interact with scientists and local experts from organizations such as the Lizard Island Research Station and the Wet Tropics Management Authority to gain a firsthand understanding of ongoing conservation efforts in an exceptionally diverse environment.

Approved by: Environmental Studies and International and Area Studies departments

The SIT Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action study abroad program is designed to empower students to make a positive contribution towards making our societies more sustainable. Students are not only given the knowledge needed to make informed judgments about environmental issues; they are inspired to believe that they can make a difference and are motivated to take action to address environmental problems. The emphasis on environmental management is what distinguishes this program from other SIT environmental programs that place more emphasis on natural ecology.  The program is also characterized by the use of extensive field excursions and workshops as methods of teaching.

Approved by: Anthropology and International and Area Studies departments

Study the role of indigenous knowledge in health preservation, environmental protection, and sustainable development in China. Health-related indigenous knowledge is articulated in history, religion, environmental stewardship and other practices such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and ethnic minority healing systems. On excursion to minority areas, you’ll see the distinct cultural, consumption, and generational shifts that have accompanied unprecedented economic and environmental change in recent decades.

Approved by: Environmental Studies and International and Area Studies departments

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.

Approved by: Environmental Studies and International and Area Studies departments

This program offers classroom and field-based instruction in natural and social scientific methods to encourage students to analyze environmental issues in an array of ecosystems — including rainforest, dry spiny thicket, alpine and transitional forest, savannah, gallery and littoral forest, mangrove, and coral reef — and within multiple economic, socio-political, and cultural contexts.

Major topics of study include: Ethnobotany, Marine studies, Lemur ecology, Biodiversity in Madagascar, Environmental challenges and conservation and development strategies in Madagascar, Human pressures — including mining and economic development, deforestation and land use, and ecotourism — placed on the country’s ecosystems.

Approved by: Environmental Studies and International and Area Studies departments

Study tropical ecology in one of the world’s most diverse ecological countries, and explore the critical environmental and social issues affecting its conservation. This program provides students with an immersive opportunity to study in one of the world’s most diverse ecological environments. Topics of study include tropical forest ecology; marine and wetland ecology; mammal and bird conservation; indigenous resource use; and the human-natural resource interface. Students have seven weeks of field study, and study at world-renowned research institutions including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and EARTH University.

Approved by: Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and International and Area Studies departments

Develop insight into the delicate balance between socioeconomic goals and ecological concerns in the vast wilderness expanses of Tanzania. Home to Serengeti National Park–the site of the largest wildlife migration on earth–Tanzania features tropical, temperate, and alpine forests. Ngorongoro Crater, a 12-mile-wide extinct volcano, is one of the wonders of the natural world. Within these disparate ecosystems, issues of population growth, land use, and tourism development are in tense juxtaposition with wildlife conservation efforts.

Approved by: Environmental Studies and International and Area Studies departments

In the SIT Tanzania-Zanzibar: Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management study abroad program, students examine coastal ecology and natural resource management in one of the most remarkable areas of the world: Zanzibar and the islands of the Western Indian Ocean. The region’s geographic location and distinct ecological conditions allow students to study specific environmental topics, including tropical forest management and coral reef conservation, in a unique context. Through thematic coursework and direct field experience students are exposed to multiple sources of knowledge in order to better understand the dual imperatives of economic growth and environmental protection.