Faculty-Led Programs

Costa Rica

Drs. Andrew Miller and Jeff Stratford
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Every spring, Drs. Miller and Stratford teach a course related to Costa Rica. In even years, they teach Political Economy and Ecology of Coffee. This course examines macroeconomics, regional politics, ecology, and tropical conservation using coffee as an example. In odd years, they teach Ecotourism in Costa Rica. The course begins with an examination of the public policy and economic aspects of the development of ecotourism in Costa Rica and how it can benefit our community partner. The second portion of the course provides an intensive in-country experience with ecotourism stakeholders from both the public and private sector.

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Ireland and
Northern Ireland

Drs. Jonathan Kuiken and Ben Toll 

The course looks at the historical causes of the Troubles in (Northern) Ireland. Special attention is paid to the nature of disagreement between loyalist communities and republican communities on the island. The course focuses on the turbulent period during the Troubles (1960s-1998) and its consequences on the world.

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Malaysia

Dr. Gina Zanolini Morrison

Steeped in tradition yet technologically advanced, multicultural Malaysia is the ideal place to study a non-western but English-speaking culture. This course concludes with an optional 2-week trip through the futuristic capital Kuala Lumpur, the beaches of Penang, an elephant reserve, holy caves, temples and mosques—and 3 days in the oldest primary rainforest on earth. Students have described the experience as “unforgettable” and “eye-opening.”

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Galapagos Islands and the Amazon

Dr. Jeff Stratford
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Students will learn about ecological and conservation issues related to the tropics. This course covers lowland rain forest, seasonal tropical forests, paramo (high altitude) vegetation, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. At the end of the semester, one week will be spent in lowland forest and another week in a different habitat.

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