Tropical Field Ecology in Guatemala

Students fly together to Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. The capital, Guatemala City, features the stately National Palace of Culture and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Antigua, west of the capital, contains preserved Spanish colonial buildings. Lake Atitlán, formed in a massive volcanic crater, is surrounded by coffee fields and villages.

Students will explore the region’s tropical ecosystems during the two-week long field-based course and experience the diverse ecosystems of the tropics including rainforests, mangrove wetlands, flood plains, rivers, and tropical dry forests.

Students will perform fieldwork in Guatemala at diverse locations from the mangrove forests of the Pacific Coast to the azure shores of the Caribbean, aided by Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala’s national reach and expansive ecological research programs. Connections will be made with an indigenous organization in the historic capital of Antigua, exploring native responses to climate change while practicing Spanish and learning conversational K’iche’Mayan.

Following the program, students return to Michigan from Guatemala.

Requirements: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Students who don’t meet the GPA requirement may still be eligible and should speak with OU’s International Education Office prior to applying.

Course: BIO 3333: Tropical Field Ecology (3 credits)

Participants will be undergraduates from the Departments of Biology, and Chemistry (especially those from the Environmental Science Program). Priority will be given to students who have taken BIO 3330.

The course is taught in English by OU faculty.

Students will stay in hotels and lodges while in Guatemala in different regions of the country.

All meals are included in the program cost. Popular Guatemalan specialties are Tapado, seafood soup with green plantain and coconut milk, chiles rellenos, a blend of shredded meats and peppers, covered in egg batter and fried, gallo en perro, spicy stew, gallo en chicha, hen/chicken stew and garnachas.

Tuition: 3 Credits

You will be charged for these credits on your eBill at your normal rate of tuition.

Program Fee: $3,500

To be paid to OU on our MarketPlace payment system and includes: airfare, housing and most meals, ground transportation and all excursions while in Guatemala, and health insurance.

Additional Costs: $575

You will need additional funds for these expenses not covered by program fee. Amounts are estimated.
Meals: $200
Incidental personal expenses: $200
Passport (if you don't have one): $175

Scholarships and Financial Aid: You are able to use financial aid to cover your full cost of attendance to this program (tuition, program fee and additional costs). Scholarships are also available through your study abroad application.