Studying BioAnthro at UCSD by going away

There are a lot of opportunities for students to study abroad. Doing so gives one firsthand experience with other peoples/cultures/ecologies; such experience used to be considered THE requirement for being a well-educated person (the whole "European tour" thing during the 19th century). For BioAnthro majors, it is obvious that if you want to see what nonhuman primates are like in their own habitats, it is going to mean going abroad to some sort of field school etc.

Why go abroad?

Why NOT go abroad?

Bottom line, it's a pretty good thing to consider!

I will add to the following links as I get time and think of them; if you have a recommendation (positive or negative) about any of these that you'd be willing to share (either signed or not) please send it to me and I will set up a feedback page. And if you know other programs, please send them to me. I know this is missing many, consider this page "under construction" for now...

UCSD Programs AbroadThis is the starting place for UCSD students to see what's offered out there.
Institute for Tropical Ecology and ConservationSummer field courses in primate ecology, cultural ecology, ethnobotany and a variety of other subjects, at Bocas del Toro Biological Station in Panama. In 2001, cost is $1,500 for 4-week summer course, $1,200 for 3-week winter; include tuition, room, board etc.
School for International TrainingWide variety of courses in nearly every country you can think of. Many include homestay experiences, and for getting a feel for a culture while earning UC-approved credits, this is hard to beat. Note also in some cases there are substantial scholarships available (e.g., the Freeman Foundation thinks more Americans should know about Asian languages and cultures, so they provide grants to support students in China, Vietnam and Mongolia).
Student Conservation AssociationThe SCA has internships in a wide variety of fields, including archaeology, wildlife, environmental education, etc. This one involves you working 40-hour weeks for 12-16 week or 6-12 month positions. You can get up to $4,700+ for college via AmeriCorps funding (restrictions apply to California internships, sorry...). College credit appears to be negotiable via internship programs (i.e., for UCSD it can probably be done, via petition, with a little planning). So earn money, do good, and get credit... [OK, this isn't "abroad"; it's USA.]
School for Field StudiesThis is (according to their website anyhow) the oldest and largest of the fieldschool brokers; emphasis is on environmental issues (broadly defined). Credit and scholarships available.
Earthwatch InstituteThis one is a little different. The Institute funds individual researchers, and then coordinates volunteers who pay to help out with the research for short visits (I think most are about 2 weeks). I don't know if any scholarships are available, and credit would not normally be obtained. On the other hand, it is an opportunity to participate in field research without prior experience. You can (a) find out if you can cope with leaches, and (b) meet and work with some fairly prominent scientists (Birute Galdikas has worked with Earthwatch for years in her orangutan project). If you're looking for an entry point and have the money to do it, this is a very useful route.

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Created 4/24/01