ECUADOR
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
May 25 - June 22, 2013
Students interested in this program may qualify
for the federally funded Gilman Scholarship.
Click here for details.
Total Program Fee: $5500
Due to limited accommodation space, this program has a maximum capacity. Interested students are strongly encouraged to apply by the early application deadline. TnCIS anticipates that a wait list will be initiated for the regular acceptance applicants. Contact TnCIS if you
have questions.
Academics and Courses Application, Cost, and Important Details
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IMPORTANT NOTE: It is possible that not all TnCIS programs or all TnCIS courses are available at your institution. A complete listing of courses offered at each member institution is available at www.tncis.org/members. Please contact your TnCIS campus representative for instructions on registering and paying fees.
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Program Location:
The Galápagos Islands is one of the world's most beautiful and biologically diverse places in the world. The crystalline waters of the Galápagos sustain schools of fish with brilliant colors, playful sea lions and dolphins, and ancient sea turtles. But the beauty of the Galápagos extends beyond the wildlife of the ocean. On land, the fauna of these islands is equally as diverse. Lava lizards, land iguanas, pelicans, flamingos, giant tortoises, swallow-tailed gulls, and blue-footed boobies are just some of the animals that make their home here. It is the biological diversity of the Galápagos that helped inspire Charles Darwin and his theories long ago. While on Galapagos we will be staying in Puerto Ayora which is located on the Santa Cruz Island. We will also be visiting the Islands of Isabela, and North Seymore.
Program Description:
This program brings students to one of the world's most biologically-diverse island locations to study topics in genetics, biology, drawing, and philosophy. During this four week program, students will experience the biodiversity of the Islands. Simultaneously, the students will have the additional opportunity of being immersed in local culture and the Spanish language. Biology courses will study in a living labratory that provides opportunities to see and experience coursework hands on. Students in the genetics course will study basic concepts of genetics, specifically population genetics, evolution leading to speciation, and molecular genetics. Biology students will be able to observe the flow of energy, chemistry of life, cellular respiration and photosynthesis in the wide diversity of animal and plant species in this area. Drawing students will be inspired artistically by the natural environment and philosophy students will have the opportunity to discuss issues of genetics as well as ethics of sustainability and the environment. All courses will incorporate the islands into their classwork to culminate in a unique academic experience that cannot be compared to a US classroom.
Please note: Prospective students should be aware that study abroad programs require a great deal of walking. You should be prepared to walk at least 2 to 3 miles per day. You may also walk over uneven, possibly slippery or rocky terrain, even in cities. There will be significant time spent outdoors during the program. Students will need to take appropriate precautions with sun exposure and drink plenty of water.
Excursions: There will be multiple excursions in the Port Ayora Island as well as to two other Islands of the Galapagos. Excursions will include visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station, Bay tour, Santa Cruz highlands, Volcano Negro on the Isabela Island and the North Seymore Island.
Classes: Lectures will be held for three hours per day in the mornings and the labs will be held in the afternoons. We will meet for classes six days a week.
Accommodations: Students will share rooms with other same-gender students in clean, comfortable hotels. Students will be provided 3 meals daily. Given the structure of the program and the resources available in some locations, the program may not be able to accommodate students with specific dietary preferences. If you have dietary concerns, please contact TnCIS.
All TnCIS programs are academic in nature and course work that takes advantage of the program location will be the central focus. TnCIS program courses are for credit only. In Ecuador, students will enroll in ONE of the following courses for
3 or 4 credit hours:
ART: Drawing I (3 credit hours - No prerequisites)
Imagine drawing on an enchanted island where the wildlife is curious and approaches you! Discover a blue-footed booby fearlessly nesting on a trail, a friendly baby sea lion napping beside you on a beach with crashing emerald blue waves. Observe an egret standing on the back of a 150 pound tortoise munching on cactus. Be totally immersed in a creative experience by spending 4 weeks on the Galapagos Islands. Observation of the biodiversity of the flora and fauna of these islands will be used for inspirational subject matter as students are introduced to basic drawing techniques and materials. See course syllabus
ART: Drawing II (3 credit hours - Prerequisite: Drawing I)
Imagine drawing on an enchanted island where the wildlife is curious and approaches you! Discover a blue-footed booby fearlessly nesting on a trail, a friendly baby sea lion napping beside you on a beach with crashing emerald blue waves. Observe an egret standing on the back of a 150 pound tortoise munching on cactus. Be totally immersed in a creative experience by spending 4 weeks on the Galapagos Islands. Creativity, originality, and imagination are emphasized in this intermediate drawing course. See course syllabus
BIOLOGY: General Genetics with lab (4 credit hours - Prerequisites: BIOL 1010 and 1020 or two years of high school biology; and CHEM 1010 and 1020 or consent of instructor.)
Mendelian genetics, chromosomal inheritance, chromosome mapping, linkage, gene and chromosomal mutations, recombination, gene expression, population genetics, and quantitative genetics will be discussed. Students will use classical Mendelian genetics and the theories and methods associated with population genetics principals, learned in this introductory genetics class, to explore and analyze the biodiversity, evolution and the extant speciation of the island through field trips to natural locations and visits to museums of natural history. Students will receive 4 credit hours for this course and lab. See course syllabus
BIOLOGY: General Biology I with lab (4 credit hours - No prerequisites)
This is the first of a two semester course sequence for students majoring in biological sciences. The following concepts are included: chemical basis of life, cell structure and function, metabolism, cell reproduction, genetics, evolution, the chemical basis of heredity and protein synthesis, ecology, and the behavior and relationships of organisms. Through lectures, laboratory activities, and field excursions, the course will foster an understanding of foundational concepts in biology and how to apply scientific process. The site will be incorporated into the course by taking multiple excursions to observe native terrestrial and aquatic organisms and their interactions with one another. The islands are one of the best preserved sites of marine biodiversity in the world. During Charles Darwin’s tour on the H.M.S. Beagle in the 19th century, he made many important observations of the native organisms, such as finches and tortoises, that were formative contributions to the theory of evolution. Studying abroad in this exotic ecosystem will give students from Tennessee a novel field experience and will bring the history of Darwin’s travels alive. See course syllabus
PHILOSOPHY: Introduction to Philosophy (3 credit hours - No prerequisites)
This course is an investigation of the fundamental questions pertaining to reality, truth, freedom, the nature of humankind, the existence of God and social/political theory. The Galapagos Islands are the ideal site to study the philosophy of genetics and environmental ethics due to the islands' history and environment. See course syllabus
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