All Programs

Required Spanish language course; classes at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán and Universidad Modelo. Anthropology, Archaeology, Public Health, Studio Art. The Exploring Community and Culture program is an excellent way to reflect upon the study abroad experience. Academic excursions to Mexico City and Chiapas. Excellent program director and faculty. Classes with Mexican students. Lively city. North American calendar. Total enr: 15,000. Students are encouraged to apply for IFSA-Butler scholarships.

Comparative Ecology and Conservation; significant field work in the cloud forest, the rain forest, the Galapagos. Independent study project. Previous Biology or Environmental Studies required. Early application recommended. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Program courses at the IES Center; opportunity for university courses at Universidad San Francisco in suburban Quito. Optional field trips to the Amazon and the Galapagos; internships; diverse student population. Fall: early August-mid December; Spring: early January-mid May. Total enr.: 15,000. Students are encouraged to apply for IES scholarships.

Direct enrollment at Universidad San Francisco, an affluent private university in Quito suburb; 40 minutes from city. Wide range of courses in the sciences. US calendar. Optional field trips to the Amazon and the Galapagos; internships. Calendar: Fall — early August-mid December; Spring — early January- mid May. Total enr.: 5,500. Students are encouraged to apply for IES scholarships.

For ES and Bio majors only. Ecology & Tropical Biology, Spanish. Based in rain forest, but travel to various ecological settings. Students are encouraged to apply for CIEE scholarships.

Large and attractive coastal city, 2 hours from Santiago, UN World Heritage site; warm and dry. Direct enrollment at three universities; Premedical Studies track. Internships. Required Middlebury writing course. Academic calendar: July-Dec, Feb-July.

Development and social justice theme. Two week excursion to the Mapuche region to study challenges facing indigenous populations. Independent study project and community service project. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Large urban environment in foothills of the Andes. Middlebury writing course; direct enrollment at Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; internships. For the more independent student. Semester calendar: July-Dec, Feb-July.

Large urban environment (city of 6.5 million); foothills of the Andes. Mandatory language course; optional program culture course; direct enrollment at Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (large universities). Semester calendar: July-Dec, Feb-July. Students are encouraged to apply for IFSA scholarships.

Classes at 3 universities with very large enrollments. Required course in Spanish Language and Argentine Culture. Option of enrolling in Cinema Studies, Diversity and Gender Studies or Human Rights concentrations. The Literature concentration is not recommended as more advanced courses are available at the universities. For the independent student with strong Spanish skills who wants the challenge of living in a large, cosmopolitan city of 10 million with rich heritage. Students with four semesters of Spanish may apply to the Intensive Spanish track. The Exploring Community and Culture program is an excellent way to engage in community service and to reflect upon the study abroad experience. Students are encouraged to apply for IFSA-Butler scholarships.

Development studies, with focus on issues of gender and public health; independent study project or practicum based at development organization. Academic excursion to Rwanda. Early Application needed. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Coastal ecology & natural resource management; impact of human activity and tourism on marine and coastal environments; prior biology/environmental studies coursework required. One week at University of Dar es Salaam. Best for the independent student. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Social and Political Development; a dynamic, multicultural city; academic excursions to Johannesburg and Mozambique; Zulu language; independent study project or internship. Home stay in township; briefer rural home stays. A dynamic, multicultural city with (similar to much of South Africa) high crime rates that require careful attention. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Focus on the challenges posed by underdevelopment, globalization, extreme inequality, and the legacies of apartheid. Very hot and arid. One required course: Racism and Resistance in Southern Africa and the U.S. Internship option. Academic excursions to Cape Town and Johannesburg (week long home stay in Soweto Township). Students are encouraged to investigate the Augsburg scholarship opportunities.

Natural Resource Management; experiential biology; course in French for Natural Sciences; community ecology project during rural home stay. Previous biology/environmental studies coursework required. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Required core course: Culture, Environment and Development of East Africa; and Swahili language; 2 electives. Excursions to rural village, Maasai homestead, Mombasa, Tanzania. Based in a gated campus in Karen (suburban Nairobi). Nairobi has high crime rates that require careful attention and strict adherence to program safety precautions. Previous coursework in African studies required. Airfare grants; lower program fee for Bates students. Early app required.

Large English-language university (total enrollment: 30,000) on outskirts of Accra; broad range of courses. Required Twi language course; Students must take at least one course that focuses on Ghana and/or West Africa. Internship option. For the independent student. Students are encouraged to apply for CIEE scholarships.

Politics and Religion; travel to India to visit Tibetan exile communities; high altitude trekking. Tibetan language; independent study project or internship; early application required. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Gender and development focus; Nepali language; independent study project or internship. Based in Kathmandu; village home stay; brief trekking excursion; week long excursion to India. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.

Herding culture and development themes; independent study project or internship. Excursion to Lake Baikal region of Russia. Cold and remote; program based in capital; 2 home stays with nomadic herders. Riding lessons part of the curriculum. Not for vegans. Students are encouraged to apply for SIT scholarships.