Spring Break: BI 299 Applied Tropical Biology in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is ideal for a course of this type of course, foremost because it is a tropical country. It is also politically stable, safe and easy to travel within. Flights to Costa Rica are also short and relatively inexpensive. Because of regional variation within the country, ranging from coastal to mountain environments, it provides the opportunity for many different types of tropical experiences. Costa Rica also has a wide network of national parks, environmental and agricultural areas. We have also designed the course to include a trip to a major environmental assessment project, where we will collect data on both the living and non-living components of a watershed. All activities in Costa Rica will be carried out in close collaboration with students and faculty from the San Carlos campus of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (Tecnológico de Costa Rica).

All activities in Costa Rica will be carried out in close collaboration with students and faculty from the San Carlos campus of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (Tecnológico de Costa Rica) ensuring that this will not only be a rewarding scientific experience, but also a rich cultural one. The closing day and half of the trip will be spent enjoying the coastline and beaches of the Pacific coast in the northwest area of the country, in the company of our collaborators.

This course requires the field laboratory component, which will be conducted in Costa Rica during our spring break (March 3 - 13, 2017).. Much of the work in Costa Rica will take place outdoors. During these labs you may be exposed to inclement weather/outdoor conditions. You must be prepared to work outdoors and participate in hikes and other outdoor activities.

Course Credit

This course will satisfy major course elective requirements for students matriculating in any major offered by the Department of Biology (Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Coastal and Marine Science. In addition, it will satisfy requirements for students pursuing a minor in biology. Finally, the course would be appropriate for inclusion in Freedom, Equality, and The Common Good thematic liberal arts core.

The field laboratory experience in Costa Rica will involve field trips to Costa Rica’s national parks, environmental and agricultural areas and a major environmental assessment project involving stream water quality analysis, characterization of species and population genetic diversity, and a camera trapping survey of mammalian and bird populations. Activities will be carried out in close collaboration with students and faculty from the San Carlos campus of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (Tecnológico de Costa Rica) ensuring that this will not only be a rewarding scientific experience, but also a rich cultural experience.

Spring Break 2017

Billable Program Costs: The Sacred Heart University Student Accounts Office will bill you for the following non-refundable amounts:

• Bio Lab Program Fee - $2200

The total billable program cost due to Sacred Heart University is $2200.

Bio Lab Program Fee Includes: Program orientation, local program transportation, housing in shared accommodations, meals, program excursions, airfare, and mandatory basic international health insurance

Bio Lab Program Fee Does Not Include: Snacks, major medical insurance, visa/resident permit fees, and all personal expenses

Please speak with Financial Assistance to determine how your aid package will apply towards studying abroad.N

Thomas Terleph, Ph.D.
Biology Assistant Department Chair/Professor
203-371-7784
terlepht@sacredheart.edu

Spring Break 2017

March 3 - 13