summer session II

Tanzania

Carnivores of the African Plains

At A Glance

04 Weeks | 04 Credits
Summer 2019

Jul 8 - Aug 7

Filling Fast

Summer 2020

Jul 6 - Aug 5

Open

Prerequisites

None

Sample Itinerary
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Carnivores of the African Plains

Rhotia, Maasai Steppe

Tanzania is home to more than 35 species of carnivores, including the African lion, cheetah, leopard, and wild dog – all of which are on the IUCN Red List. Spend your summer studying the behavioral ecology and conservation challenges facing these incredible creatures, while observing some of Africa’s largest remaining carnivore guilds up close.

  • Head into the field with the Tarangire Lion Project, a long-term field research and conservation program, and learn lion research techniques from the experts

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 Tanzania.

Major academic themes include:

  • Behavioral ecology
  • Human-wildlife conflict
  • Community conservation approaches
  • Wildlife and natural resource management policies

Courses

On the Carnivores of the African Plains program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English.

Click on the course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 3121 African Large Carnivores: Ecology and Conservation 4 credits

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: animal behavior observation, environmental impacts assessment, research design and implementation, species identification, wildlife census techniques, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, tourism impact assessment methods, research presentation, and Swahili language skills.

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include national parks and wildlife management areas, ranches and farms, rural villages, indigenous Iraqw, Hadzabe, and Maasai communities, freshwater wetlands around Lake Manyara, wildlife migratory corridors, the volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro, and the vast plains of the Serengeti.

Resources

Spend your summer with SFS!

Get more out of your SFS experience when you take back-to-back summer sessions. More time to explore the ecosystems and communities, more time to learn about complex environmental issues, and more time to build practical skills. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions.

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Kenya Session I: Primates of the African Savanna

Learn More
All program components are subject to change.

‌Life in the Field

Learn to live the pole pole lifestyle at SFS’ Moyo Hill Camp. Surrounded by Tanzania’s world-famous national parks and wildlife, it’s the perfect base camp for expeditions into the field. Campus is reminiscent of summer camp, with plenty of outdoor and communal spaces, while the small, friendly community of Rhotia is a short walk away.

  • Dorm living in 4-person bandas (cabins)
  • Classroom, library, and computer lab
  • Kitchen and dining hall, on-site cooking staff
  • Volleyball, gazebo, fire pit, and lounge areas
  • Community soccer games and local running routes

 
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