Boston University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Boston University’s Center for Ecology & Conservation Biology offers a semester-long program in Ecuador for Biology and Environmental Science for students interested in field work. This abroad experience is available in both the fall and spring semesters and combines lectures given through the Universidad San Francisco de Quito with onsite studies that last anywhere from several days to several weeks. The program is comprised of four, upper-level 4-credit courses focused specifically on Tropical Ecology. Beyond this, participants live in a homestay program to bolster their acquisition of conversational Spanish skills. This is supplemented with the required enrollment in a 2-credit Spanish and Ecuadorian Culture. While in Ecuador, students engage in surveys of montane, coastal, rainforest, and tropical ecology before ending with a capstone course. Said course is designed to allow students the opportunity to evaluate and perform statistical analysis on the data previously collected in the field, gather extensive library research, and to craft both written and oral reports to convey findings. Field work in Ecuador is enriched by opportunities to experience a scientific excursion to the Galapagos Islands led by a knowledgeable guide, a month-long trip to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon Rainforest and a coastal project conducted at Los Piqueros.

http://www.bu.edu/cecb/tep/academics/