The Smithsonian's Barro Colorado Island

Summer 2009 (May 23 - June 13, 2009) closed

Sponsored by the Lyman Briggs College

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Tropical rainforests, cloud forests, mangroves, coral reefs, and dry forests provide the settings for studying issues of biodiversity and its conservation in Panama.  The tropical ecosystems of the world are home to over two thirds of the world’s species.  In Panama alone, there are over 1,000 bird, 217 mammal, 207 reptile, and 155 amphibian species.  This program will take you into these tropical ecosystems to give you firsthand experience studying their unique and spectacular organisms.

The goal of this program is to introduce students to the extraordinary biodiversity of Panama, while studying its plants, animals, people, and conservation.  Your studies will consist of a combination of field, natural history and short-term experimental studies.

Where does it take place?

Panama, a narrow isthmus connecting Central and South America, is a beautiful and diverse country.  The program begins at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, just 30 minutes from Panama City.  Using the nearby Panama Canal and ancient trails as our highways, we will explore the lush tropical forests of Soberanía National Park and Barro Colorado Island National Monument.  We will stay at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Gigante Peninsula and Gamboa Research Centers, with over 4,000 acres of tropical forest containing thousands of species.

Stops in the program include field stations in tropical cloud forests, tropical beaches and mangrove estuaries.  In Chiriquí Province, we will be in the mountains to study the incredible diversity of organisms in the tropical cloud forest and the Páramo (Alpine Chaparral). 

The final section of the program takes us to the Caribbean coast to study the rainforests and coral reefs of Bocas del Toro.  The Bocas region consists of dozens of islands with high levels of endemism, creating some unique organisms found nowhere else in the world.

What can I study?

At each site, the program combines ecosystem natural history with field research projects. With each field project, students will participate in:

Students will enroll in six (6) credits from the following courses:

Option 1 (for non-Briggs students)
LB 493	Field Experience	6 cr.
Option 2* (for Briggs students who need a 300-level STS course)
LB 330	Topics in Science and Technology Studies	4 cr.
LB 493	Field Experience	2 cr.
Option 3* (for Briggs students who need a senior seminar)
LB 492	Lyman Briggs Senior Seminar	4 cr.
LB 493	Field Experience	2 cr.

*Please contact Dr. McCright before choosing the program as an STS or senior seminar option.

Please note:  You do not have to be a Lyman Briggs major to register for these courses.  Your department should recognize the LB 493 Field Experience credits in fulfilling any field requirement, but please check with an adviser.

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

What are the requirements?

This program is intended for science majors, although other majors may also apply if they have a strong background in science. 

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

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 stations as we travel throughout Panama.

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

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Chuck Elzinga
Phone: (517) 355-7544

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

Dr. Aaron McCright
Phone: (517) 432-8026

Dr. Jim Smith
Phone: (517) 353-3939

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

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.

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 immunizations specific for travel within Panama 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 $2,543 and includes the following:

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

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $1,555 for 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 deadlines to apply for these scholarships are February 1st for spring break programs, March 1st for summer, academic year and fall semester programs, and October 15th for winter break and spring semester 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.

The College of Natural Science also offers its students special study abroad scholarships.  Check with your academic adviser for further details.

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 March 1st for summer 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.

What's next?
Come to a study abroad fair
Talk with a Peer Adviser
Read program evaluations
Attend an info meeting
Apply online
Additional Resources...
Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu
MSU Travel Clinic	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu
Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html
Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu
Area Studies Centers	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu
MSU Global Access	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/
OSA contact info:	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu