Course Structure: (4 credits)
BIO 369A: Fall 2022
Field Experience: January 2-16, 2023 (tentative dates)
Tags: COR 2, E, and G
This course will fulfill the COR 2 general education requirement*

*A single course can only fulfill one general education requirement. If students want this study abroad course to fulfill an alternative general education requirement, students must work with their advisors to achieve this. Alternative requirements available: Perspectives requirement

Program Criteria:
- Prerequisites: successful completion of COR 1 or COR 199
- Consent of Instructor

Course Description:
This course will meet during the Fall 2022 semester, followed by fourteen days of travel to Costa Rica during January 2023. Throughout the course we will discuss a variety of topics related to tropical ecology, sustainability, and conservation of tropical ecosystems, with a focus on Costa Rica in particular. During the travel component of the course, we will visit a number of ecosystems throughout Costa Rica -- from lowland rainforest and mangroves to montane cloud forest and tropical dry forest -- where we will see first-hand many of the topics discussed during the fall semester and engage in short research projects to explore these ecosystems in more depth. We will also visit a Costa Rican farm and coffee plantation to discuss issues related to practicing sustainable agriculture in the tropics.. Pre-requisites: COR 1 or COR 199 and Consent of Instructor.

Physical requirements:
Program participants will be expected to hike several miles at a time, often on steep and uneven terrain. There will also be a day of snorkeling during the trip. If you have any questions or concerns with your ability to participate in these physical activities, please contact the program director (tkuhman@edgewood.edu) to discuss options.


Travel itinerary:
Students will fly into San Jose and then travel to Corcovado (Costa Rica’s largest national park), take a boat tour of coastal mangroves and Isla del Caño, hike in the cloud forests of Monteverde, tour a local coffee farm, explore the tropical dry forests of the Guanacaste region, hike on the Rincón de la Viéja volcano and explore secluded Pacific Ocean beaches.

Application Requirements:
- Contact the program director to express your interest in the program: tkuhman@edgewood.edu
- Submit Program and Scholarship Applications by April 1 to be eligible for scholarships to support travel to Costa Rica.

Important Deadlines:
April 1, 2022: Program Scholarship Application due in AO
April 1, 2022: Register for BIO 369A (Fall, 2022).

Edgewood College continues to review and implement new health and safety protocols as we monitor new developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of our community and the communities in which we travel and engage are our top priority. We will inform applicants if any modifications or cancellations are made to their program. Before applying, please carefully consider the added health, financial, academic, and other risks associated with studying abroad during a pandemic.

Starting in the Spring 2022 semester, Edgewood College requires all study abroad participants to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.