semester

Kenya

Wildlife and Human Dimensions of Conservation

At A Glance

15 Weeks | 18 Credits
Spring 2023

Jan 27 - May 9

In The Field

Fall 2023

Sep 1 - Dec 12

Open

Prerequisites

One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science

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Wildlife and Human Dimensions of Conservation

Kimana, Rift Valley, Southern Kenya

In Kenya, the survival of human and wildlife populations hinges on the availability of all critical resources. Spend your semester in the world-famous national parks and stunning landscapes of Kenya while studying the country’s diverse wildlife and engaging in hands-on conservation research. Here, in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, climate change and land use adjustments are negatively affecting Kenya’s ecosystems and those living in them. Research the root causes of these changes and how different conservation strategies can benefit both humans and wildlife.

 

  • On a multi-day camping trip, explore Amboseli National Park – widely regarded as the best place in the world to observe free-ranging elephants.
  • On another multi-day camping trip, explore Maasai Mara National Reserve which hosts the 7th wonder of the world where wildebeest migrate.
  • Spend the day with a local Maasai family and learn about their culture, history, daily life, and relationship with nature.
  • Spend a day at Tsavo West National Park the land of lava, man eaters, and springs. This will also include day visits to Kimana Sanctuary.
  • Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings. Read more about SFS Directed Research projects.

Application deadlines:
Spring – November 15
Fall – May 1
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Program Costs & Financial Aid

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‌Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Kenya. Read more about the SFS program model.

Major academic themes include:

  • Wildlife management
  • Climate change resilience
  • Water conservation
  • Wildlife ecology and behavior
  • Conservation strategies
  • Community governance of protected areas
  • National parks management
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Courses

On the Wildlife and Human Dimensions of Conservation program, you will take three 4-credit disciplinary courses, one 2-credit language and culture course, and a 4-credit capstone Directed Research course. Courses are participatory in nature and are designed to foster inquiry and active learning. Each course combines lectures, field exercises, assignments, tests, and research. All courses are taught in English.

Click on each course to view a description and download a syllabus.

SFS 2060 Introduction to Swahili Language and East African Culture 2 credits
SFS 3071 Human Dimensions of Conservation 4 credits
SFS 3720 Wildlife Ecology 4 credits
SFS 3751 Techniques in Natural Resource Management 4 credits
SFS 4910 Directed Research 4 credits

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS, wildlife census techniques, natural resource valuation, water quality assessment, basic Swahili language skills, interview and survey methods, research design and implementation, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and research presentation.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include: the vast savannas at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, national parks and wildlife management areas in the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem, ranches and farms, rural villages, Maasai Mara National Reserve, conservancies, and farms, acacia forests, Indigenous communities, and wildlife migratory corridors.

Resources

Directed Research

In the Directed Research course, each student completes a field research project under the mentorship of a faculty member – beginning with data collection and analysis and concluding with a research paper and presentation. Project subject areas span ecology, natural resource management, conservation science, environmental ethics, and socioeconomics.

Find Out More
All program components are subject to change.

‌Where You'll Be Living

The Center lies in the heart of Kenya’s Rift Valley, nestled between three world-famous national parks. The snow-capped peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro towers over miles of savanna, replete with a diversity of wildlife. Students and staff live on a sprawling, grassy campus made up of traditional thatched bandas (cabins) and a central chumba (main building), just down the road from the small town of Kimana.

  • Dorm living with 4-person bandas
  • Chumba contains classroom, computer lab, and study spaces
  • Kitchen and dining hall, on-site cooking staff
  • Campus offers amazing views of Mt. Kilimanjaro
  • One-mile running trail on campus
  • Volleyball, soccer, Frisbee, and fire pit

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