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Biology in the Bahamas
30 November-15 December, 2009
Interested students are encouraged to contact Art Trese (trese@ohio.edu) or the Education Abroad Office as soon as possible, as participation is limited to 25 students.
The Bahamas Program
The field course, “An Island as an Environment,” takes place in the Bahamas and examines environmental issues in a tropical island ecosystem. The Bahamas provide a model for understanding the issues and processes impacting sustainability for the island's natural environments and biological diversity, the local people's livelihood and way of life, and the economic stability of the country. A wealth of diverse experiences provide students with firsthand knowledge of life at the land-sea interface.
Weather conditions permitting,approximately 2/3 of the course will involve firsthand exposure to marine environments and 1/3, terrestrial environments. Generally, students should be prepared to spend the first week snorkeling and the last few days making frequent hiking trips to study vegetation. The field course takes place during the winter intersession, November 30 -December 15. The field course is now offered under two options. You can register, winter intercession, for the course as a Tier III course if you are a junior or senior and need a Tier III course, or you can register in winter intercession for PBIO 313, Special Topics in Plant Biology, which would fulfill Natural Sciences credit in the College of Arts and Sciences, and may meet requirements for science credit in other Colleges or majors.
The Intersession field course is preceded by a mandatory, graded, 2-credit seminar (PBIO 409) meeting on Tuesday from 6-8 throughout the Fall quarter. During this seminar course, students will hear guest lectures on special topics, prepare and present Powerpoint seminars on diverse subjects related to the Bahamas and island systems, and participate in preparatory workshops.
Eligibility and selection process
Students from all majors with minimum 2.5 GPA may apply. For the Tier III option, students must be juniors in standing, for the PBIO 313 Special Topics in Plant Biology option, any student is eligible.
Program length
November 30 - December 15, 2009 (ca. 2 weeks)
Application deadline
We are accepting applications until the program is filled, the sooner we receive your application the better. To apply, simply go to the Education Abroad web page and print out an application. After you apply, we will review your application, and may call you for a phone interview. Once you are accepted into the program, you will be required to pay a $250 program deposit. The remaining costs of the trip will be billed to you during regular winter quarter billing (January, 2010) Applications are accepted by mail or by hand at Lindley Hall 185.
Visit Events and deadlines for more information.
The standard application asks for references. For this program, references are not required, only a personal statement attached to the application packet.
Interviews will be conducted shortly after we receive your application; you will be notified about your potential participation immediately after the interview. You must accept your nomination and pay the non-refundable deposit of $250 (applied toward the program fee) no later than 2nd week fall quarter, to have a guaranteed space in the programVisit Education Abroad Application to apply.
APPLY IMMEDIATELY! URGE YOUR FRIENDS TO APPLY, TOO!! DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !!!!
Living arrangements
Students will sleep on four sailing ships for the two-night visit to Nassau, and will lodge for the remainder of the course at Forfar Field Station on Andros Island. The Forfar Station is a rustic facility on the beach with electricity and in-door plumbing.
Courses and credits
Students committed to participate in the Intersession field course must be enrolled in the Fall quarter 2-credit PBIO 409 course. No students will be allowed to register for the field course without doing the PBIO 409 preparatory seminar and workshops. The Fall quarter seminar meets weekly for 1-2 hours unless otherwise specified by the instructor; students receive 2 credits and a grade. Students in PBIO 409 will be pre-registered by the Education Abroad office for T310 598C, "An Island as an Environment", or PBIO 313, Special Topics in Plant Biology. The students will then depart as a group with the primary instructor from Columbus Airport on Monday, November 30 and will return as a group to the same airport on Tuesday, December 15.
Travel documents
US Citizens
- Passports: All US citizens must have a valid passport for international travel. Students are encouraged to apply for their passport the summer before departure. Visit Passport and visa information for application details.
- Visas: US citizens will not need a visa or other travel documents for stays up to 80 days. If you are planning on studying or traveling outside of the program dates, please visit Bahamas immigration information for information on visa requirements and applications. You will need a passport when applying for a visa, please apply for your passport when you apply to the program
Non-US Citizens
- We recommend you speak with an advisor in International Faculty and Student Services before you commit to any program.
- If you plan to return to the US after your program, you must contact International Faculty and Student Services to verify that you will beeligible to re-enter the country. All international students holding a non-immigrant visa must visit International Faculty and Student Services to receive necessary signatures 4 to 6 weeks before your departure.
- Host country visas: You may need a visa or other travel document for travel to this country, visit Bahamas immigration information for more information. If you will travel through another country to reach this destination, you may need a transit visa for this stop-over. You can find more information from the embassy of the country you are traveling through; embassy websites are listed at http://www.embassiesabroad.com/.
Costs*
Billed by Ohio University
- Tuition-5 UG credits of OU winter intersession tuition [NOTE: credits DO NOTcount toward your 20 winter quarter credit hours, and are billed separate from your winter quarter tuition]
- Program fee - $2,200
- OEA Administrative fee - $150
Out-of-pocket expenses:
- Passport (including photos) - $110
- Additional snacks - $30
- Snorkeling Gear Rental (if you don't own gear) - $60
- Diving Fees - $25 per dive (optional, for those diving)
- Total Student Cost - $2,550+ 5 credits of OU tuition
Program fee includes all airfares, transport around Nassau and on Andros Island, sailing ship transit from Nassau to Andros, room and board (except breakfast and dinner in Nassau), excursions, health insurance, and admissions to Atlantis Resort for guided tour.
Costs billed by OU for the field course are separate from winter quarter billing. Specifically, the 5 winter intercession credits are not considered part of your winter quarter course registrations, and are billed as 5 credits independent of what you register for in winter quarter.
Financial aid may be applied to program costs; further information is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. For information about the OU College of Arts & Sciences Study Abroad scholarship, visit that office. Students wishing to pursue diving certification during the field course may do so for an additional fee, paid to the Forfar Field Station staff.
*Cost is subject to change. Please see the program director for up-to-date information.
For information about the OU College of Arts & Sciences Study Abroad scholarship visit the Funding for education abroad website.
Past participants
Contact
Dr. Art Trese
423 Porter Hall
Department of Environmental & Plant Biology
(740) 593-0260; or (740) 331-0449 (cell)
OR visit the Office of Education Abroad, Lindley Hall 185
trese@ohio.edu
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