BIOL 2006: Tropical Ecology, 3 credits CRN 63588
Fulfills the following General Ed Requirements: IHIP and AIA
This course will survey the ecology of terrestrial ecosystems in Costa Rica, including rainforest, cloud forest, dry forest, and agricultural systems. Recurring themes will be similarities and connections between native ecosystems and agricultural systems.
This course will meet during Spring semester 2026 (in Science Building) with Professor Picone and then the group will travel in May for ten exciting days to apply what was learned in the classroom!
Program Price: TBD
Students should apply to the Global Ambassador Scholarship in September 2025. The scholarship will close on October 15. You will find out if you received the scholarship BEFORE the first payment deadline in November.
First Payment: Due Nov 15, 2025
Second Payment: Due Dec. 15, 2025
Third Payment: due Jan. 16, 2026
PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. Pending financial aid does not cover study abroad payments. Please call Student Accounts for more details at 978.665.4126.
View this presentation to learn more about the program
Sample Itinerary
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| May 19 | Flight arrival at Juan Santa María Airport - mid-afternoon (MVI coordinator meets group at airport exit), Airport transfer and Hotel Aranjuez check-in Dinner at restaurant, program and country orientation, health and safety orientation |
| May 20 | Morning breakfast at hotel Drive to Bijagual Ecological Reserve Stop along the way to buy rubber boots and raincoats (approx. 3.5 hrs. + time to stop) Orientation to field station Students explore local trails in groups or with professor Dinner at station Lodging Bijagual Ecological Reserve |
| May 21 | Early morning breakfast at station Natural history hike - with tour guide(s) Afternoon depart for Pocosol (2 hrs. 10 min drive) Tour of a large-scale, industrial farm Arrive at Pocosol field station Orientation to Pocosol with MVI Coordinator and Professor |
| May 22 | Early morning natural history hike - with local guide (First half of the class) Breakfast and lunch at station Afternoon service learning at the station (Second half of the class) Dinner at station Night tour hike (2 small groups, one after the other) |
| May 23 | Early morning natural history hike - with local guide (Second half of the class) Breakfast and lunch at station Afternoon service learning at the station (First half of the class) Dinner at station |
| May 24 |
Morning breakfast at Lodge |
| May 25 | Breakfast at hotel Natural history hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve on Wilford Guindon trail to go by the hanging bridge. Hummingbird gallery visit. Presentation and Discussion: Land Use Change in Monteverde Free time in Monteverde – Monteverde Coffee Center, CASEM artisans cooperative, bakeries, Caburé chocolatier, Bat Jungle and cheese factory Pizza dinner at MVI Bat mist-netting after dinner (With Vino De Backer, bat biologist) at Crandell Reserve |
| May 26 | Breakfast at hotel Morning visit LIFE Monteverde coffee farm Discussion time with Guillermo about reforestation and community development Afternoon service-learning projects at Finca LIFE (e.g., make compost tea) Free time in Monteverde Dinner on your own |
| May 27 | Breakfast at hotel Morning presentation: Ocotea Monteverdensis: The story of the conservation of a critically endangered species in Costa Rica (with MVI reforestation program coordinator- Daniela Quesada) Reforestation service work (could include nursery work, collecting data for long-term research, and possibly planting depending on rains) Afternoon tour El Cafetal to learn all about coffee production |
| May 28 | Morning breakfast at hotel Transfer to Carara National Park, transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest Afternoon boat tour of Tárcoles river estuary: avian and mangrove ecology and crocodiles (with local guide) Evening dinner at Villas Lapas Lodging Villas Lapas Hotel |
| May 29 | Morning Breakfast at hotel Spend time at Playa Blanca (optional snorkeling, kayak or swim) Debrief with MVI Staff (virtual session after the program) Evening farewell dinner at hotel |
| May 30 | Early morning breakfast at hotel or snack to go Transfer to airport for departure flight (approx. 3 hrs. drive) |