Rainforests and Reality in Nicaragua

Spring Break 2009 closed

March 7 – 15, 2009

Sponsored by Lyman Briggs College, James Madison College, and the College of Natural Science

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The Office of Study Abroad is excited to offer a one-week, spring break program to study the ecosystems and cultures of Nicaragua.  The program will focus on exposing students to a wide variety of natural and cultural settings in Nicaragua.  Among the ecosystems visited will be rainforests, cloud forests, and dry forests.  The great cultural diversity of Nicaragua will introduce students to the modernized indigenous culture of the Miskitu, the impoverished lifestyles of campesinos, and the Afro-Caribbean towns of Pearl Lagoon and Bluefields.

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America and perhaps the most diverse both economically and ecologically.  It has vast expanses of tropical rainforest, dry forests, mountains, volcanoes, and large freshwater lakes – making it an incredibly diverse country. The country is as rich with history as it is in natural resources.  Rule by the despotic Somoza family for over 40 years led to the 1979 Sandinista revolution. Fluctuating governments since 1990 have done little to improve the standard of living, with Nicaragua the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. In spite of all this, Nicaragua has managed to maintain a large portion of its natural resources. It is the diversity, rich history, and spirit of Nicaragua that make it the perfect place to learn about Rainforests and Reality.

This program will give students an introduction to a world vastly different from their own, and develop further interest in learning in an international context. 

What can I study?

This course is introductory in nature, designed to give exposure to the world around us.

Students enroll in two credits from the LB 290a, LB 490a, FW 480, or MC 399 courses.  The two credits require attendance of pre-departure meetings and completion of a short term paper after returning from Nicaragua.  Credits are taken during spring semester and count in spring semester tuition and credit loads.  All students will be required to attend three to four pre-course meetings for orientation to the program.

Lyman Briggs students can also enroll in the program as a LB 492 Senior Seminar for four credits.  This option requires the completion of a semester-long directed study project with course instructors.  Requires approval of instructor PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

This program is intended for all majors and all class levels. 

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Undergraduate students who have not completed their first semester at time of application do not need to meet this requirement, but will be removed from the course if their first semester grade point average is less than 2.5.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission - additional eligibility criteria may apply.

The rigorous hiking and field study activities require that students be in good physical condition.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

During the program we will reside in different field research stations and hotels/hostels as we travel throughout Nicaragua.  Accommodations are very basic.  There will be one night of camping in a rainforest area on the Caribbean coast.

Most meals will be prepared and served on-site by local cooks, but some will be eaten in restaurants.  We will often be near towns to purchase snacks, etc.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Gerald R. Urquhart
Lyman Briggs College
Phone: (517) 353-1759

Dr. Daniel Kramer
JMC and Fisheries and Wildlife
Phone: (517) 432-2199

For more information, log-on to the program’s Web site. It contains a great deal of information and photographs of the area.

Do I need a passport or visa?

A valid passport is required for U.S. and Canadian citizens for entry into Nicaragua.  U.S. and Canadian citizens must also purchase a Tourist Card at the airport in Nicaragua upon arrival.  If you are not a citizen of the United States or Canada, please consult your consular office for regulations regarding travel to Nicaragua.

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

Students participating in this program are strongly encouraged to receive a series of immunizations specific for travel within Nicaragua and Central America.  Students should schedule an appointment to be seen at a travel clinic at least 4-8 weeks before the program to inquire about the recommended and/or required vaccines you may want to consider before departure.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $1,012 and includes the following:

• application fee ($100)
• deposit ($200)
• pre-departure orientation
• accommodations
• most meals
• in-country transportation
• accident and sickness insurance
• field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• additional meals
• books and supplies
• passport application fee
• Tourist cards ($10) and exit taxes ($32)
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $1,212 in 2009.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is February 1st for spring break programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by January 15th for spring break programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.