Every year, we take dozens of students on study away trips. Their journeys cover every corner of the globe, from the savannahs of Africa to the rainforests of Costa Rica. Furman Biology faculty lead these experiences, providing continuity with your campus-based curriculum. Sample a few of our study away programs:
Travel to the islands that inspired Charles Darwin. You will travel through the archipelago by boat, observing the unique species of birds, reptiles, and plants that led Darwin to conclude that species change and evolve over time. Before traveling to the islands, you’ll explore the cultural history and diversity of Ecuador in colonial Quito and the Otavalo region.
Questions about the program? Contact Dr. Greg Lewis.
Want to spend part of the semester in Belize? You’ll begin this study away program by taking courses in marine biology and ethnobiology at Furman. Then, when you’re prepared, you’ll head to Belize for the final three weeks of the semester. The trip won’t prevent you from taking other courses. In fact, we’ll work with faculty in biology and other departments to ensure that you’ll meet the requirements of your other courses even though you’ll leave early. In some cases, you may need to complete a project or exam while you’re in Belize.
When you get to Belize, you’ll snorkel over the country’s coral reefs, visit at a coffee farm, and visit Mayan ruins.
Want more information about the trip? Contact Dr. Dennis Haney.
Slow Food Italy proposes to engage students in an extended, thoughtful discussion about ways to promote and maintain environmentally and socially responsible food production, procurement and preparation in modern society. Readings will motivate discussion on current and historical problems posed by industrial food production; solutions will be considered through the examples offered by traditional foodways as observed and experienced through our residence on an organic farm in Italy and meetings with experts in different facets of food production and consumption. Activities regularly include working in the farm’s gardens, watching fresh cheese being made, hunting for truffles and other wild foods, visiting an organic winery, and preparing handmade pasta and sauces. Time in Rome at the beginning of the program will give insights into Italians’ attitudes about eating and provide the experience of shopping for fresh foods in urban markets
Do you have more questions about this class? Contact Dr. John Quinn.
The National Wilderness Preservation System is a distinctive feature of U.S. conservation. As of 2016, there were 765 designated wilderness areas, totaling 109,129,657 acres, ~ 4.5% of the U.S. land area, administered by four federal agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. The unique characteristics and legal restrictions associated with wilderness, as a land management category, mean that wilderness plays a special role in the conservation of U.S. biological resources. Students will examine the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in the Gila National Forest, New Mexico.
Have more questions about the program? Contact Dr. Travis Perry for more information.
Take a journey into the wild. Over the course of a single semester, you’ll observe and study animals on two different continents. First, you’ll travel to New Mexico where you’ll track mountain lions, observe elk and bison, and study complicated water and land use issues. From there, you’ll travel to South Africa to observe the planet’s last great mammal communities. Seeing endangered black rhinos, leopards, lions, elephants, and giraffes in the wild will make memories that last a lifetime.
When you’re not in the field, you’ll study ecology, conservation issues, field zoology, and natural resource management. You’ll take weekend field trips, and listen to guest speakers. Local and federal wildlife officials, field biologists, museum curators, and environmental activists will share their expertise with the class.
Have more questions about the program? Contact Dr. Travis Perry for more information.