Madagascar: Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management

Coursework

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research

Prerequisites:
Previous college-level coursework in environmental studies, ecology, biology, or related fields, as assessed by SIT. Three recent semesters of college-level French or equivalent, and the ability to follow coursework in French, as assessed by SIT.

Access Virtual Library Guide

Courses will be conducted mainly in academic French, with university professors and experts in relevant fields teaching the classes. The Environmental Field Study Seminar (EFSS), conducted mainly in English, focuses on research techniques and cross-cultural adjustment skills, and is intended to prepare students for the Independent Study Project.

EFSS readings and classroom sessions are supplemented by a short, independent field research project undertaken in a rural village. French language classes build students’ capacity through focus on both conversational French and examination of French in the context of the natural sciences. Coursework in Malagasy provides students with the foundational and essential tools required for daily use.

The following syllabi are either from a recent session of this program or for an upcoming session. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.

The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.

Biodiversity and Natural Resource Management Seminar - syllabus (PDF)
(ENVI 3000 / 4 credits / 60 class hours)
An interdisciplinary course conducted primarily in French, with required readings, analyzing the environmental challenges and conservation and development strategies in Madagascar across scales, from local to global. The focus is on Madagascar’s southern region. Resources utilized in the delivery of course content include international and local environmental nongovernmental organizations such as WWF and Azuay as well as the Department of Natural Sciences at the University of Antananarivo and the Marine Studies Institute of the University of Tulear.

French for Natural Sciences - syllabus (PDF)
(FREN 2000 – 2500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
French for Natural Sciences - syllabus (PDF)
(FREN 3000 – 3500 / 3 credits / 45 class hours)
Focusing on oral proficiency in the context of the natural sciences with a biodiversity and natural resource management concentration, language teaching is targeted toward the many activities in the thematic and field studies seminars in order to help students work more independently in the field. The objective is to facilitate students’ interactions with a range of professionals in the field working to manage resources while promoting development within the local cultural context. In support of these objectives, course content provides additional focus on fundamentals of spoken and written French to increase student capacity. Based on in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing, students are placed in the appropriate level, with additional language practice in homestays and on field visits.

Intensive Language Study: Malagasy - syllabus (PDF)
(MALA 1000 / 2 credits / 30 hours)
Emphasis on beginning speaking and comprehension skills through classroom and field instruction. Formal instruction is augmented by language practice with homestay families.

Environmental Field Study Seminar - syllabus (PDF)
(ENVI 3500 / 4 credits / 60 class hours)
Conducted primarily in English, this is a course in social and natural sciences research methods. The focus is on learning how to collect, analyze, integrate, and report social and ecological data to critically understand and evaluate program-related environmental issues. The course serves as an introduction to the Independent Study Project and introduces field study ethics and the World Learning/SIT Human Subjects Review Policy. Field studies may include designing a research project; writing a proposal; interviewing; surveys; and maintaining a field journal. Specific ecological field study methods may include habitat surveys; biotic sampling and analysis; fauna and flora identification; biodiversity monitoring; population censusing; and animal behavior.

Independent Study Project - syllabus (PDF)
(ISPR 3000 / 4 credits / 120 class hours)
Conducted primarily in southern Madagascar or other appropriate locations. Sample topic areas: reforestation; coral reef conservation; medicinal plants in the marketplace; ecotourism; carbon sequestration and financing; land tenure reform and agricultural production; conservation assessments of endangered species; sacred forests; community based resource management; behavioral ecology of lemurs in Berenty Reserve; sustainable land use techniques.

Credits: 17

Duration: 15 weeks

Program Base: Madagascar, Fort Dauphin

Language Study: French, Malagasy

Prerequisites: Coursework in environmental studies, ecology, or biology; 3 semesters French Read more...