School for Field Studies - Tanzania - International Programs Office

School for Field Studies - Tanzania

Multiple Locations, Tanzania

The program explores the human elements of these the complex conservation issues. Our curriculum and research focus on how changes in land use and resource availability in the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem can be managed to foster the well-being of local communities while safeguarding and promoting biodiversity conservation. Students learn about the socioeconomic, policy, and environmental drivers and implications of demographic change and land reform for wildlife conservation and rural development. Students hear lectures by park wardens, wildlife veterinarians, and field researchers. They also interview Maasai community members about challenges they face by the rapid loss of natural resources.

Northern Tanzania is a hub of wildlife tourism. Home to world-famous national parks such as Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this remarkably scenic area is the center of tourism in East Africa. It has also been the home of the Maasai, Iraqw, and other groups for centuries.

SFS’ field station is surrounded by wildlife using diverse migration corridors and seasonal dispersal areas. The Maasai, and now settlers from other ethnic communities, depend on these same areas as communal grazing grounds for livestock and for growing food. As a result, they often face economic hardship due to crop damage from migrating wildlife, loss of livestock, and resource depletion and competition. Agricultural expansion, pollution, and climate change threaten the already strained water supply and the health of people, livestock, and wildlife alike.

Program Information

Terms Available: semester

Languages of Instruction: English

Language Prerequisite: N/A

GPA Requirement: 2.8
Credits: 18
Course Catalog

Application

Application Deadline: Fall: May 1 | Spring: Nov 15
Program Application
Program website

Announcements

Gilman Program Application Is Now Open!: Thinking about study abroad? Receive up to $5,000 (or up to $8,000 if you’re studying a Critical Need Language) to go abroad as a college student if you’re a U.S. citizen and Federal Pell Grant recipient! If you’re interested in conducting STEM-related research while studying or interning abroad, you could receive an additional $1,000 by applying for the new STEM supplemental award. The application closes March 7! Learn more at gilmanscholarship.org.

IIE American Passport Project: Annually, IIE will make grants to U.S. colleges and universities in the IIENetwork  so they can help Pell-eligible students obtain a U.S. passport. More information.

Off-Campus Programs in Israel and the West Bank: The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4-Do not Travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and airlines have canceled flights. Reed College off-campus programs in this region have been canceled for the spring term. Students considering off-campus programs in Egypt and Lebanon must contact the Director of International Programs.